Houston PetSet commissioned Rice University’s Houston Action Research Team at the beginning of 2017 to assess the state of animal welfare in Houston and Harris County. The research team’s findings can be found in the Houston Animal Welfare Study, available for download via the button below.

The UT Health of Houston (2010) found that nearly 40% of surveyed residents identified stray dogs and cats as the most significant problem in their neighborhood, outranking crime, drinking water, and air pollution.

The Rice Kinder Houston Area Survey (2018) found that more than one in four Harris County residents say that stray dogs and cats are a very serious problem in their neighborhood. In addition, a total of 54% of Harris, Montgomery and Fort Bend residents identified that stray dogs and cats are a problem in their neighborhood.

The stray animal population is a quality of life problem that has an impact on the public safety and public health of communities in the Greater Houston area. Fortunately, it is a solvable problem, and once it is rectified the lives of people in these neighborhoods will improve instantly.