Saving the lives of animals in your community is in YOUR hands

Every day, 1,000 dogs and cats are killed in America's shelters just because they don't have a home. But we’re working to change that, and we can't do it without your help.

Kitten fostering and community cat programs are keeping cats safe and healthy. Local action teams are working to connect people with resources for their pets and to create pet-friendly policies that save lives. You have a place in that lifesaving picture, and finding it has never been easier.

You can make a difference for dogs and cats in your own community and nationwide, no matter where you live.

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Raise your hand to help save animals

Let’s be friends!

We're sharing uplifting stories of saving them all on our socials with caring people just like you. Follow us for the latest in lifesaving.

Sign up for updates

We'll send you all the ways you can help save homeless pets when you give us your email.

Join a local team of advocates

We make the most change for animals when we work together, which is why we formed the Best Friends 2025 Action Team. Once you sign up for the 2025 Action Team, you’ll receive emails with more ways you can help save homeless pets.

Start saving lives right now

Change starts with you when you raise your hand to help. There are so many ways you can save dogs and cats where you live, and we'll show you how.

Volunteer near you

Wherever you live, whatever your experience or interests, there are countless ways to volunteer your time for pets in need.

Volunteer Near You

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Foster a pet

Welcoming a furry houseguest into your home, even for just a few nights, helps those pets while freeing up space in the shelter to save more lives.

The Fun of Fostering

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Advocate for animals

You can help create the kind of community you want to live in by teaming up with fellow community members to support progressive pet programs and policies.

Advocate for Animals

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Join the Best Friends team

Whether you’re into accounting or animal care, strategy or social media, technology or training, there’s a career waiting for you at Best Friends.

Start Your Career

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Learn with Best Friends

If you’re always learning and eager to create positive change in the world, pursuing a professional certificate or degree in animal services could be your perfect fit.

Start Learning Today

Make a lifesaving gift

Your gift will go straight to work saving the lives of homeless pets at Best Friends and around the country by providing them with the help and healing they need.

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Looking for more ways to raise money for the animals?

You can start your own fundraiser to help save homeless pets.

About Best Friends

Best Friends Animal Society is working to save the lives of cats and dogs all across the country, giving pets second chances and happy homes.

Just a few short years ago, cats and dogs were killed in staggering numbers in this country simply because shelters didn't have the community support or the resources to save their lives. That number is now less than half a million per year, but there’s still work to do to ensure a bright future for every dog and cat in America.

Best Friends operates the nation's largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals and is committed to saving the lives of homeless pets by working with shelters and passionate people like you. Together, we will bring the whole country to no-kill by 2025. Together, we will Save Them All.

This Thanksgiving, Best Friends will be live in Times Square in New York City where we're spreading the word about the importance of saving homeless pets on a billboard and on the ground. We'll also be handing out 1,000 recyclable balloons, each one representing the life of one of the 1,000 dogs and cats killed in shelters every day.