The Facts

Euthanasia in Wichita: almost three times the national average

Did you know that the euthanasia rate in Sedgwick County is almost 3 times the national average? For every thousand people in Wichita, 35.1 potential pets have to be “put to sleep” — the national average is 12.5 animals per thousand. There’s a figure that should make you toss and turn in your bed.

In 2007, Wichita Animal Shelter and the Kansas Humane Society took in 24,882 dogs, cats, kittens and puppies — 16,511 (66%) were euthanized. Animals reproduce so quickly that there just aren’t enough loving homes available. The only real way to reduce this figure is to reduce unwanted pet births.