Smiling couple outside petting a large white dog

Saving lives in Salt Lake City

Last year, hundreds of thousands of loving dogs and cats were killed in shelters like the ones here in Utah just because they didn’t have a safe place to call home.

But you can change that. Best Friends Animal Society in Salt Lake City, is working collaboratively with animal rescue groups, city shelters and passionate individuals dedicated to making Utah a no-kill state.

With that goal in mind, we run a lifesaving center  in Salt Lake City, and lead NKUT (No-Kill Utah). Our lifesaving center is foster-based and takes in over 2,500 animals each year, including neonatal kittens, dogs and cats, and provides resources to the community.

Working together, we'll make Utah — and the entire country — no-kill in 2025.

¿Hablas español? Haga clic aquí.

Smiling person sitting next to a dog in front of Best Friends in Salt Lake City

Open daily!

11 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week 
          
801-574-2454           
utahadoptions@bestfriends.org

    Instagram logo   

Upcoming events

Salt Lake City
- Best Friends Animal Society
Adopt a Pet Today
When you give a dog or cat a home, you’re saving a life.
Adopt a Pet Today
- Best Friends Animal Society
Foster a Pet Today
You can help save lives by fostering a pet today.
Foster a Pet Today

Adopt to help save lives

When you adopt a dog or cat who’s been patiently waiting for a place to call home, you’re not only saving a life.

You’re making space in the shelter for other homeless pets in Salt Lake City and giving them a chance to grow, thrive and find families of their very own. You might not feel like a hero, but to one animal, you’re the entire world. 

Find out more about pet adoption through Best Friends in Salt Lake City.

Group of smiling people sitting with a dog to celebrate its adoption

Volunteer to help save lives

Passionate, caring people like you who volunteer to help the animals are the heartbeat of our organization here in Salt Lake City.

Whether you volunteer locally or at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary (located in Kanab, Utah), whether you help to transport pets across the country or help animals from your home via one of our national opportunities, you can make a tremendous difference in the lives of homeless pets. 

Become a Lifesaving Volunteer
Two curious adoptable kittens sitting with person in a Salt Lake City pet adoption center
Events Icon

Events: make a difference for pets

Have fun and connect with fellow animal lovers through a variety of local and national events, big and small.

Big dog wearing a scarf while relaxing on a fuzzy blanket
Bring magic home with Chewy Claus this holiday season
—
Best Friends and Chewy Claus believe that everyone deserves a home, including pets in shelters.
See How You Can Bring Magic Home

Looking for help?

Spay/Neuter Services

Preventing unwanted litters

Spaying or neutering animals helps to reduce the number of pets entering shelters.
Person in scrubs holding a tiny puppy
Community Cat Programs

Helping cats in the community

Trap-neuter-return (TNR) and working cats adoptions are saving the lives of cats in Salt Lake City.
Person releasing a cat from a trap outdoors
Neonatal Kitten Care

Saving the smallest and most vulnerable

We keep kittens from entering shelters by finding foster homes for them.
Person bottle feeding a neonatal kitten in Salt Lake City kitten nursery
Pet Food Pantry

Keeping animals in their homes

The pet food pantry provides food to dogs and cats who need it most.
Dog sniffing orange food bowl

Give to save lives

Your contribution supports our lifesaving work and helps shelters nationwide achieve no-kill.

You’ll be helping to save the lives of homeless pets here in Salt Lake City and around the country when you make a gift to the animals.

Give to Save Lives
Smiling person holding a newly adopted cat in Salt Lake City

Recent tales from Salt Lake City

Looking for a little inspiration? Check out these pets and their stories of hope, love and resilience.

Group of people and dogs walking on a path in Strut Your Mutt outside surrounded by trees and grass

Sit, stay, strut: Thousands raised to bring pets home

Best Friends’ 2024 Strut Your Mutt fundraising walk and festival benefited animal welfare organizations in and around Salt Lake City.
Strutting to Save Them All
Video
Bert the dog lying in the grass on his back with his feet up

Dog’s story of healing will give you all the feels

Surgery would allow Bert to walk and run without pain. But he would need months of special care in a foster home to recover.
Special bond forms at foster home
Feature
Dr. Christina Boekhout holding Stone Cold the cat who is wearing a protective e-collar

Faces of No-Kill: Cat noses way into vet’s heart

During Stone Cold’s time in treatment for a hole in his nose, this charming gray tabby won over everyone he met — including his surgeon.
Now he's found love
Video
Person wearing a Best Friends sweatshirt while petting a dog

Shop to save lives

When you shop at the Best Friends store, the proceeds go right to work providing lifesaving care and companionship to animals in Salt Lake City, at the Sanctuary and around the country.
Shop Now

Contact us

2005 South 1100 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84106
801-574-2454
utahadoptions@bestfriends.org

11 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week

Facebook logo     Instagram logo

See our partners