The bar chart illustrates the adoption figures for dogs, cats, and a combined category of birds and reptiles at an animal shelter in Madison, Wisconsin, over a ten-year span from 1990 to 2000, with data presented biennially.
Overall, while the adoption rate for cats witnessed consistent and significant growth, eventually overtaking that of dogs by the end of the period, the number of birds and reptiles adopted remained largely unchanged. In contrast, dog adoptions showed a downward trajectory.
In 1990, dogs were by far the most frequently adopted animals, with around 580 adoptions, compared to approximately 300 for cats and just over 100 for birds and reptiles. Over the ensuing decade, cat adoptions experienced a steady climb, peaking at roughly 650 in 2000. Meanwhile, dog adoptions underwent a gradual but consistent decline, falling to 400 by the same year.
Adoption numbers for birds and reptiles fluctuated only marginally throughout, remaining close to 100 in every recorded year. By the year 2000, cats had not only surpassed dogs by a notable margin of 250 but had become the most sought-after category among adopters. Birds and reptiles, on the other hand, consistently lagged behind the other two categories.