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Boonie Tails

By Grace Keilbach

Limited freezer space

Megan Thee Stallion , a Grammy-winning rapper, recently shared on TikTok that she adopted a dog, stating, "I've rescued a dog because I was yesterday years old when I found out that there's such thing as a kill shelter and they are putting down dogs when they cannot find them a home". Although some people may hear this and think "duh", the vast majority of the public, like her, does not realize just how many dogs are euthanized in the U.S. simply because we cannot find them a home.

Megan’s new "son" a Pitbull mix who was scheduled for euthanasia, is one of hundreds of thousands of animals a part of a crisis that remains largely invisible to the general public. The "shelter crisis" may just be a phrase for those who don't work in animal rescue but for those of us we do, its heartbreaking goodbyes and not enough freezer space for bodies. According to the latest 2025 Annual Data Report from Shelter Animals Count, the numbers share the reality. Here are the facts:

• In the U.S., a healthy or treatable pet is euthanized roughly every 90 seconds.

• While community intake slightly decreased to 5.8 million animals in 2025, adoptions haven't risen fast enough to accommodate .

• Approximately 597,000 dogs and cats were euthanized in shelters last year. While this is a decrease from decades past, it still represents over half a million lives lost simply because of a lack of space.

• For the first time in recent history, dogs are facing higher euthanasia rates than cats in many regions. Large mixed breeds, like Megan's new son, often stay in shelters twice as long as smaller dogs, making them the most at risk when a shelter hits capacity.

Most people assume that "euthanasia" is a mercy reserved for animals who are sick, injured, or have behavioral challenges. They don't realize that in municipal shelters, it is often a matter of logistics, not health. When a shelter built for 100 dogs receives 160 in a single weekend, animals are euthanized to create space. And again, most people know this, the disconnect is just at what rate it is truly happening. Shelters across the U.S. are drowning, largely because of backyard breeding and lack awareness of the issue’s severity. If just a fraction of the people who purchase pets chose to adopt instead, we could effectively end the space-based euthanasia crisis tomorrow.

Are you interested in pursuing adoption but don’t know where to start? Email us today at [email protected] with any questions! We are happy to help you research ethical and responsible rescues in your area, suggest breeds based on your lifestyle, discuss fostering, or anything else you may have questions about. We know there are rescue horror stories out there, please do not let these scare you as this is not the norm. There are easy ways to ensure that you and your new best friend are successful together. Email us today to save a life!

We are low on dog food… again

Much to our dismay, these dogs and cats keep requiring more things like food and litter. If you are interested and able, please consider showing your support by purchasing something from our wishlist HERE or Wayne’s cat wishlist HERE. All items are directly shipped to Saipan, Boonie not included with purchase. To everyone who has sent something our way whether it be a donation, item, or support by following along, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you!

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Boonie of the Week

Much to my delight, she shares some of the same characteristics of Lilly: burrowing under blankets, sleeping in the nook of your knees, getting the other dogs to chase her and more. To my surprise, my three Boonies adore her. My dogs get along with other dogs, but they don’t typically like them. This week, they have shared chairs and sunspots while napping together, took turns playing with toys, and even get into games of chase around the house. ‘

I started watching Allie March 25 which just so happens to be Lilly’s birthday. Perhaps only a coincidence but I like to think that it was Lilly’s way of saying she’s watching over us and all the dogs she inspired us to save.

As much as we loved Lilly , we will never purchase another dog. Please let this story be a reminder that no matter what you are looking for, you can find it in a rescue.

Boonie Tails is free to read. But if you liked this post, support Boonie Babies and this newsletter by pledging a monthly or annual donation. Thank you for reading and we’ll see you next week!