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This study used Pearson correlation test to analyze statistical correlation between shelter canine intake and number of dogs euthanized in municipal animal shelters in 20 counties/cities in Taiwan from 2001 to 2011. Data of animal shelters were official data provided by the Council of Agriculture, the competent authority of the Animal Protection Act in Taiwan. Among the 20 counties/cities in Taiwan, Hualien County, Penghu County, Keelung City, and Chiayi County were excluded from this study due to incomplete data. Pearson correlation test was used to analyze the data of other 16 counties/cities from 2001 to 2011. Among these 16 counties/cities, excluding New Taipei City, there was a very significant correlation between shelter canine intake and number of dogs euthanized (p < 0.001) and the correlation efficient of the result was positive. This suggested that the number of dogs euthanized was subject to shelter canine intake. The research findings suggest that to decrease the number of dogs euthanized, reducing the number of shelter canine intake is the way to start. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]