The problem is that 2.9 million of them are Pitbull or Chihuahua mixes, even though the shelters try to pass them off as other breed mixes like they’re keyword stuffing Alta Vista in the 90s. True strays are from unneutered/spayed dogs, and the majority of people leaving their dogs intact, at least in my area, are assholes with “Pitties”.

There are also a lot of dog adoption services that are feel a lot more like revolving clearing houses for puppy mills.

They “shut down” a mill, rescue all the dogs and then a month later do it again. Someone is still making money with petfinder fees.