Shelters across the country are severely underfunded because their budgets were built for a system that no longer exists. Your community expects humane care, lifesaving programs, and responsive service. This calculator shows what that costs.
Enter your county's shelter data below. The calculator estimates what it actually costs to provide the level of animal services your community expects: proper daily care and enrichment, adequate staffing, responsive field services, and lifesaving programs.
Methodology is based on the HASS (Human Animal Support Services) framework developed by Austin Pets Alive, which benchmarked shelter costs against private industry standards for similar functions.
Pre-loaded with Jefferson County, Alabama data. Hit "Clear for New County" to enter your own numbers.
Default values reflect industry best-practice targets. Adjust to match your jurisdiction's goals.