Smiling person talking to a person holding a cat

Lead lifesaving in your community as a no-kill ambassador

You’re already making a difference for animals where you live. And as a no-kill ambassador, you’ll have the tools, the community, and the strategy to help bring your local shelter to no-kill.

Community-focused volunteers like you can help advance lifesaving policies and programs to end the killing of dogs and cats in shelters as part of Best Friends Animal Society’s (brand new) no-kill ambassador program.

When you team up with fellow animal advocates as a no-kill ambassador, you’ll use your voice to reduce the number of dogs and cats entering shelters in your community, help them find homes of their own, and bring the entire country to no-kill.

Dog Cat

Animals in your community need advocates like you

Ready to be on the front lines of advocacy, combining grassroots energy with government relations to lead lasting, systemic change in your community?

As a no-kill ambassador, you’ll be a trusted messenger, community leader, and animal advocate who helps drive lifesaving change forward. You’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with Best Friends staff to align efforts with organizational priorities and community needs.

Here’s how you'll bring about change for animals as a no-kill ambassador:
Cultivate strategic relationships in your community

You’ll collaborate with elected officials, shelter leaders, and decision-makers to drive lasting change for animals. Together we can connect directly with local leaders whose decisions can help us keep pets in your community’s shelters safe.

Help your community adopt no-kill as a shared value

As a trusted community member, your connections with your neighbors, friends, and local officials enable us to directly deliver the no-kill message. You’ll deliver this messaging through education, community engagement, and attending local meetings.

Connect local needs with Best Friends resources

You’ll have full access to our national expertise, resources, and support — from crafting policy messaging to preparing for meetings with local officials. We’re ready to help you save the lives of animals in your community.

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Time commitment for ambassadors

Ambassador volunteers are asked to commit an average of 1-3 volunteer hours per week. Time commitments might increase temporarily during key moments, such as legislative sessions, urgent shelter crises, or major advocacy opportunities.

We ask for a minimum one-year commitment. Building trust, relationships, and momentum in a community takes time, and longer-term engagement leads to greater impact.

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What we ask of our ambassadors

No prior advocacy or government experience is necessary. We look for individuals who are committed advocates for animals, communicative, and willing to learn. Best Friends provides onboarding, training, and ongoing guidance to help you succeed.

To become a volunteer no-kill ambassador, you’ll need to be at least 18 years old, a registered voter, and an engaged supporter of Best Friends Animal Society. We ask that all ambassadors agree to follow all program policies and guidance.

Because of the nature of the work you’ll be doing, it’s essential that you have reliable access to a computer, phone, and the internet. The initial onboarding includes required paperwork.

Two smiling people standing with a dog at a community event
Animal advocates like you transform life for dogs and cats in your community's shelters.

We’re here for you every step of the way

Ambassadors are never expected to do this work alone. Together with our advocacy team, you’ll receive support and community from fellow animal advocates.

As an ambassador, you will receive training, tools, and ongoing support from the Best Friends advocacy team. You'll also get one-on-one strategic guidance from Best Friends advocacy staff, including help identifying the right decision-makers, opportunities, and pressure points, with support tailored to your community’s shelter landscape and unique barriers to change.

You’ll also have access to a full suite of advocacy tools and training, including messaging frameworks and talking points, policy and ordinance education on trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR), no-kill benchmarks, and shelter best practices. We’ll also provide meeting prep guides for elected officials; media and communications support for letters to the editor, op-eds, interviews, and social content; event and community engagement toolkits; and emergency response and rapid-activation guidance.

And you won’t be working alone. You’ll be connected with a national network of like-minded ambassadors with ongoing opportunities for learning, collaboration, and peer support, all backed by the credibility of a national no-kill leader.

Commonly asked questions about the no-kill ambassador program

What is a no-kill ambassador?

A no-kill ambassador is a trained volunteer and animal advocate who works with Best Friends Animal Society to help advance no-kill policies and practices in their community.

How is this different from an action team?

Best Friends action teams are grassroots, action-oriented groups focused on mobilizing community members around specific campaigns. No-kill ambassadors, on the other hand, play a more strategic and relationship-driven role, often working directly with elected officials, shelter leadership, and community influencers. This program is designed for individuals who want to lead at a higher level.

Do I need prior advocacy or government experience?

No. While experience is helpful, it is not required. We look for individuals who are committed, communicative, and willing to learn. Best Friends provides onboarding, training, and ongoing guidance to help you succeed.

How much time does this role require?

Ambassadors are asked to commit an average of 1-3 hours per week. Time commitments might increase temporarily during key moments, such as legislative sessions, urgent shelter crises, or major advocacy opportunities.

Is there a minimum commitment period?

Yes. We ask for a minimum one-year commitment. Building trust, relationships, and momentum in a community takes time, and longer-term engagement leads to greater impact.

Can I choose the issues I work on?

Ambassadors collaborate with Best Friends staff to align efforts with organizational priorities and community needs. While your local insight is valued, all advocacy work must align with Best Friends’ mission, strategy, and guidance.

Is this a paid position?

The no-kill ambassador role is a volunteer leadership position. However, ambassadors receive significant training, support, and opportunities for growth and impact.

Can this role be used for court-mandated community service?

Here’s what we ask of our ambassadors

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Be a registered voter
  • Be an engaged supporter of Best Friends Animal Society
  • Have reliable access to a computer, phone, and the internet
  • Agree to follow all program policies and guidance
  • Complete all required onboarding paperwork

How do I apply?

I’m interested but not sure I’m ready. Should I still apply?

Yes! If you’re motivated to help your community achieve no-kill and are open to learning, we encourage you to apply. The interest form helps us understand your background, community, and goals, so we can determine your best path forward.

Join us as a no-kill ambassador

Turn your passion for animals into real, lasting change.

Apply to become a no-kill ambassador and join a growing movement of community leaders and animal advocates to end the killing of dogs and cats in shelters across the country with the full support of Best Friends behind you.

Become a No-Kill Ambassador

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Have questions about becoming a no-kill ambassador? 

We're here for you at action@bestfriends.org
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About Best Friends Animal Society

Best Friends is working to end the killing of dogs and cats in U.S. shelters in part by getting more pets out of shelters and into loving homes.

We’ve come a long way since the first known city reached no-kill in 1994, and now we’re closer than ever to making the entire country no-kill. Of the roughly 3,900 shelters operating in America today, 1,300 of them are not yet no-kill, but nearly half are close with 100 or fewer additional pets to be saved, and we know what to do to get them there.

Best Friends is committed to working with passionate people like you to save homeless pets through adoption, volunteering, fostering, and advocacy. In addition to our pet adoption centers around the U.S, we also founded and run the nation's largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals.

Working together, we can save homeless pets in our communities and secure a better future for our best friends. Together, we will bring the whole country to no-kill.