Where Does Kentucky Rank Among States For Dog Adoption?

Fact Checked by Nate Hamilton

Dogs are the most popular pet America, with an estimated 44.5% of American households containing at least one canine. Unfortunately, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) over three million dogs are admitted to pet shelters annually.

Of those the ASPCA estimates that two million dogs get adopted each year — with many more being lost dogs who are subsequently reunited with their owners.

But still, there are plenty of good boys and girls out there in need of a fur-ever home. In this spirit, BetKentucky.com wanted to take a quick breather from Kentucky sports betting discussions to see where the Bluegrass state rates amongst the country's best regions for pet adoption. To do so we used RescueMe.org’s list of all the country’s dog rescue groups and adoption agencies and then ranked all the states based on how many rescue organizations they had per square mile.

States with Most Dog Rescues per Square Mile

Here are some interesting stats you wouldn't find on Kentucky sportsbook apps.

RankState# Dog Rescue GroupsRescues per Sq. Mile
1Rhode Island920.059551165
2Connecticut2450.044196623
3New Jersey3480.039896453
4Delaware860.034555916
5Maryland2580.020796506
6Massachusetts1670.01528228
7New Hampshire1090.011658801
8Florida6230.009445634
9Pennsylvania4350.009445364
10Vermont830.008631124
11North Carolina4580.00850998
12Ohio3670.008187289
13Tennessee3440.008162442
14Virginia3470.008112228
15Georgia4510.007589252
16New York4050.007423704
17South Carolina2340.007307821
18Indiana2570.00705665
19California9150.005589673
20Alabama2750.005246082
21Kentucky1920.004787099
22Illinois2690.004644854
23West Virginia1120.004622361
24Texas10300.003834749
25Arizona4200.003684524

Where Kentucky Rates in America

According to our thought experiment, Kentucky is rated out as the 21st best state for dog adoption. While it’s down on the list, the state boasts plenty of dog lovers, with 46.5% of households in Kentucky owning at least one pup. Forbes Magazine also rated Louisville as one of 2023’s best cities for pet owners based on factors like the cost of veterinarian services and pet-friendly spaces within the city.

In terms of adoption, last year, the Kentucky Humane Society (KHS), the state’s largest shelter, found homes for over 6,000 dogs, cats, and horses. In fact, over 96% of all KHS entrants eventually find homes.

According to KHS’s adorably named quarterly publication, “The Paw Street Journal,” recent rescues include Magic, a shepherd mix who survived a bullet wound, and Nakey Jakey, who arrived to the shelter fur-less due to intense neglect. 

Clearly, plenty of dogs need a loving home, so if you have the desire and means to adopt, consider getting in touch with the Kentucky Humane Society or one of the other 191 rescue groups located across the state.

Author

Jeff Parker

Jeff Parker is a writer for BetKentucky.com. A writer for film, television, and the internet, Jeff is a life long movie buff, with an actual Masters Degree in Popular Culture. He lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he works full-time as a documentary filmmaker and producer.

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