354 - The State of Shelter Pet Adoption

Dr. Chelsie Estey, Chief Veterinary Officer for Hill’s US, joins Dr. Andy Roark to unpack the brand-new 2025 State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report. If you think shelter trends are all about “too many pets, not enough adopters,” think again. This massive study digs into the real barriers behind pet adoption and relinquishment, from the rising costs of care and housing challenges to surprising generational differences in how people make adoption decisions.

In this episode, Dr. Andy Roark and Dr. Chelsie Estey talk through what keeps pets in shelters longer, why affordability is shaping adoption choices, and how shelters are innovating with foster programs and community support. You’ll hear success stories from shelters tackling adoption hurdles in creative ways and learn how veterinary teams can play a critical role in keeping pets and families together. If you work in shelter medicine, general practice, or just want to understand where pet adoption trends are headed, this conversation is packed with insights you can use right away.

This episode is brought to you ad-free by Hill's Pet Nutrition!

Hill's Pet Nutrition: https://www.hillspet.com/

Hill's Food, Shelter and Love Program: https://www.hillspet.com/food-shelter-love/my-shelter

2025 Hill’s Pet Nutrition State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report: https://www.hillspet.com/shelter-report?lightboxfired=true

Shelter Animals Count National Database: https://www.shelteranimalscount.org/

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Chelsie Estey, MSc, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology) was appointed U.S. chief veterinary officer of Hill’s Pet Nutrition in March 2025. Dr. Estey, a veterinary neurologist, has contributed to the field through scientific publications and book chapters. She holds a doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the Atlantic Veterinary College and completed a neurology and neurosurgery residency at Cornell University. She also has a master of science degree from the University of Ottawa and a bachelor of science degree from the University of New Brunswick.