Best Friends Animal Society: No-Kill Animal Rescue & Advocacy

Joe Gatto wearing a Be Kind T-shirt (Photo © Michael Schwartz)

Only one month left to Strut Your Mutt for homeless pets.

Give a lifesaving gift today.

With Best Friends, you're working to save the lives of cats and dogs all across America, giving pets second chances and happy homes.

Person wearing a Best Friends shirt with arm around a German shepherd

Do You Have a Pet Emergency Plan?

Keep you and your pets safer during a natural disaster by planning ahead.

Disaster preparedness for pets

Meowing tabby and white community cat kitten

Doing Right by Outdoor Cats

When you spot a new cat in your neighborhood, what’s the right thing to do?

Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends, sitting cross-legged on the ground with a cat in her lap with other cats around her

Julie Castle's Blog

Cryptocurrency is helping to save animals. Best Friends is now accepting donations.

Read latest post

Mary Jane the pig eating from a person's hand

A Shy Pig’s Journey

Mary Jane was scared of everything before coming to Best Friends, but now she’s relaxing and starting to come out of her shell.

Homer the tabby and white cat sleeping on a multi-colored blanket

5 Animal Videos to Bring You Calm

Unwind to the sights and sounds of animals who remind us to be happy in the moment.

Volunteer Sophia Lim out on a walk with a blond colored dog

Volunteer Finds Her Calling

After a life-changing volunteer trip to Best Friends for her birthday, Sophia Lim has become a volunteer extraordinaire.

The heart of Best Friends is the Sanctuary, located in the majestic red-rocks of southern Utah.  Come see the animals that inspire our work around the country.

Happy brown and white dog

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.

two tabby kittens in gloved hands

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.

Long hair tabby with green eyes getting a head pet

Teaming up with you »

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.

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. »

Animal characters mule pig cat and dog

Working Together

All across America, pets in shelters are getting connected with loving new families -- increasing the national save rate from 50% to 79% since 2014. »

Line drawing of people and pets

Last year, shelters partnering with Best Friends reduced the number of pets killed at 3.5 times the rate of other shelters. That’s 63,374 cats and dogs saved. »

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.

Brown and white pit bull terrier wearing an orange Adopt Me bandanna out on a walk during Strut Your Mutt

Wanna strut?

Strut Your Mutt virtually to save the lives of homeless dogs and cats.

Register today »

Black and white dog with orange map of the United States behind him

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? »

Woman with a large German shepherd puppy in her lap whose ears are upright and tongue out

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.

Person holding a pair of Siamese mix kittens

Volunteer

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

Volunteer near you »

Pair tan puppies chewing on the same toy

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 »

Adopt Slurpee a brown horse with black mane

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Help animals all year round by making a monthly gift today.

Adopt Raquel a heeler at Best Friends

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Martin the white and orange senior cat in a green box

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Slidell the brown tabby cat with gold eyes

Get to know Slidell

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Adopt a parrot, with two parrots cuddling

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Choose a Sanctuary animal to sponsor. Your gift helps find a loving home, spay/neuter, and much more.

Sponsor an Animal

Phantom is a husky at Best Friends

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

Fresh Step Cat Litter

Best Friends credit card