Smiling brown pit bull wearing an orange 'Adopt Me' bandanna and outside for a walk
Smiling brown pit bull wearing an orange 'Adopt Me' bandanna and outside for a walk
Strut Your Mutt for homeless pets
Register today

Give a lifesaving gift today.

Black and white community cat with tipped ear

Community Cat Day is October 16

Have you spotted cats outside? Saving the lives of community cats starts with you.
Watch to learn how
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?
Learn more
Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends, with brindle colored dog

Julie Castle's Blog

Cryptocurrency is helping to save animals. Best Friends is now accepting donations.
Read latest post
Three tabby kittens in a feral box

Second Chance for Cats in New Mexico

More than 1,000 cats helped by Best Friends grant and embed team at Farmington Animal Services.
Read about it
Brindle and white dog licking the face of a man

8 Tips for Adopting a Dog

October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, so here are our tips for finding your perfect pooch.
Learn more
Joe Gatto in bed with dogs (Photo © Michael-Schwartz)

SYM Spokesperson: Joe Gatto

'Impractical Jokers' star talks about his dogs and his motivation for participating in Strut Your Mutt.
Learn more
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.
Saving lives
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.
Standing with shelters
Long hair tabby with green eyes getting a head pet

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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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.

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Line drawing of people and pets

Our Impact

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.

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dog tag with Best Friends logo
Tabby and white kitten surrounded by pine boughs and round gold ornaments
Spread joy. Save lives. Honor a loved one.
Give a symbolic gift

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.

Get started
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 of 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
Meet Slurpee
Help animals all year round by making a monthly gift today.
Give Monthly
Adopt Raquel
Adopt Martin
Get to know Slidell
Adopt a parrot
Choose a Sanctuary animal to sponsor. Your gift helps find a loving home, spay/neuter, and much more.
Sponsor an Animal
Meet Phantom
 

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

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