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Person cradling an orange tabby cat in her arms
Join us to bless the pets we've lost
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Give a lifesaving gift today.

Midas the dog on a couch with two kids

A story of love and learning with an anxious dog

When Lou adopted a strong malamute-husky mix named Midas who had bounced between homes, he changed her life, too.
See how love makes it work
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Kelly Burkhart holding Trinna the black kitten in front of a yellow wall

Adopter sees underdog kitten as a champ

Trinna arrived at Best Friends with a painful eye condition called entropion, but Kelly looked past that and adopted her.
Read about her perfect home
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Chunky-cheeked cat in a kennel

5 feel-good animal stories

These five stories from shelters and rescue organizations across the country are surefire pick-me-ups.
See their good news
Best Friends Magazine
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Best Friends satellite foster programs take off

Best Friends teams are building foster programs remotely for shelters all across the country
See how it works
Best Friends Magazine
Selfie of Rikki-Lynn holding Van Gogh the cat

Teenager adopts a cat who has just months to live

Rikki-Lynn fell in love with a senior, scruffy cat named Van Gogh, and her family gave him a home for the last months of his life.
Read about their 'bonus time'
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Peanut Butter the tortoiseshell cat with Jasmine behind her

From cat curious to fans of felines

Peanut Butter the cat shows a kind couple how much fun it can be to have a feline in your life.
They all hit the jackpot
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Woman with dog
Natural Disaster Preparedness for Families with Pets
Make plans to care for your pets during a natural disaster.
Learn what to do
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Saving lives

We ensure second chances to pets at our sanctuary and lifesaving centers, even as we expand programs nationwide that keep animals out of shelters in the first place.
Saving lives
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Standing with shelters

We work to save more lives faster by providing shelters and rescue groups with ways to collaborate and connect so they can increase the number of animals they can rehome in their communities.
Standing with shelters
Orange tabby kitten being held by a child wearing a Best Friends Purritos T-shirt

Teaming Up

We're right there with you as you make a better future for homeless cats and dogs, giving you the support you need to care for your pets and the pets and people in your community.
Teaming up with you

Who We Are

We started over 35 years ago with a no-kill sanctuary in Utah. Today, we’re helping homeless pets in every corner of the country.

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Working Together

All across America, pets in shelters are connected with loving new families, increasing the national save rate from 64% in 2015 to 83% in 2021.

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Line drawing of people and pets

Our Impact

In 2021, shelters that engaged with Best Friends reduced the number of dogs and cats killed by 0.1%. That number at unengaged shelters increased by 15.3%.

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dog tag with Best Friends logo
Small dog wearing a bandanna and walking on a leash at a Strut Your Mutt event
Strut Your Mutt for homeless pets
Register Today

Act for Animals

We’re saving more animals now than at any point in our history, but our work isn’t done until every dog and cat gets the chance to know care and companionship … in a safe and loving home.

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Is your community no-kill?

See how you can help your local shelters save more animals with comprehensive, up-to-date shelter and rescue group data for your community.

How's your community?
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Join the 2025 Action Team

Help create big change for the pets and people in your community. Connect with a local team of advocates today.

Get started
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Volunteer

Whether at the Sanctuary, or a shelter in your community, make a real difference in the lives of homeless pets.

Volunteer near you
Person holding a pair of Siamese mix kittens

Foster

Help save lives this kitten season by opening your home (and your heart) to fostering.

Foster a kitten
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Find a pet

Ready to bring home a new best friend?  Adopt, foster or sponsor, and help a homeless pet find their forever home.

Adopt, Foster or Sponsor
- Best Friends Animal Society
Meet Opie
Help animals all year round by making a monthly gift today.
Give Monthly
- Best Friends Animal Society
Adopt a rabbit
- Best Friends Animal Society
Adopt Raquel
- Best Friends Animal Society
Get to know Snickers
- Best Friends Animal Society
Adopt Holy Moly
Choose a Sanctuary animal to sponsor. Your gift helps find a loving home, spay/neuter, and much more.
Sponsor an Animal
- Best Friends Animal Society
Meet Bryce
 

Thank you to the brands that love our pets, too:

Fresh Step Cat Litter Credit One Best Friends credit card Arcana logo