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A sure way to learn what people think about shelter pets and adoption is to ask — and recently, Best Friends Animal Society did just that. Now, the organization has released conducted by Ketchum Global Research and Analytics in November 2012. Some findings were predictable and heartwarming ­— for example, 95% of ����Ӱҵns believe that having a pet makes people happier.

On the other hand, the survey uncovered disturbing results about what people — especially young adults — think of shelter pets. It shows us that although we’ve come a long way, we still have work to do.

Some good news about people and shelter pets

There is no question that ����Ӱҵns love pets. In fact, 89% of respondents consider themselves pet lovers. Overall, people believe pets in shelters are lovable and ­sweet.

Another point of agreement is spay/neuter surgery. 80% of ����Ӱҵns believe that all cats and dogs should be spayed or neutered. About half of them agree that one of the benefits of adopting a pet from a shelter is that their new pet is already spayed or neutered.

����Ӱҵns are still more than twice as likely to say they would adopt, rather than purchase a pet for their family.

Misperceptions about the fate of pets in shelters

Best Friends’ study revealed that most ����Ӱҵns know that when pets arrive at shelters, many of them won’t make it out. However, 28% believe that pets stay in shelters until they are adopted. Among young adults, that number is 38%.

In reality, of the estimated 8 million pets who enter U.S. shelters every year, only about 4 million of them are adopted. Many of those who remain are euthanized – at a rate of roughly 11,000 a day. Adding more urgency to these statistics, just 47% of the respondents to Best Friends’ survey — fewer than half — said they are very likely to adopt a pet from a shelter.

PetSmart Charities® uncovered similar results in in 2011. In that study, 88% of respondents underestimated the number of pets euthanized each year in shelters. The average estimate was 1.2 million pets, nowhere near the industry estimate of 4 million.

We think that if people knew the real numbers and the truth about shelter pets, the 47% from Best Friends’ survey would be higher — more people would be “very likely” to adopt from shelters. Our challenge is getting the word out.

Myths about shelter pets

����Ӱҵns still believe some unfortunate myths about pets in shelters. For example, 6 in 10 of the survey’s respondents said that shelter pets are unhealthy or malnourished.

The truth is…