From finding your new best friend to making memories with the one already by your side, Best Friends Animal Society offers pet events for every kind of animal lover.
Upcoming Events
12 upcoming events
* = registration required
Jul
6
Monday
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Jul
31
Friday
Soak up Summer with a new Best Friend!
Soak up Summer with a new Best Friend!
Jul
6
Monday
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Jul
31
Friday
Soak Up Summer with a New Best Friend!
Soak Up Summer with a New Best Friend!
Jul
16
Thursday
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Jul
20
Monday
Ready to fall in love... with fostering?
What's your type? We've got some great matches for our Love Island Foster Sleepover Weekend!
Couple up with a cat from Thursday, July 16th - Monday, July 20th and find out how rewarding it is to be a foster parent. Fostering helps save more lives and gives pets the break they desperately need. It's a short-term commitment with a lifelong impact!
No need to sign up beforehand! Just stop in on Thursday or Friday (232 Varet St, Brooklyn NY) and we'll match you with a cat, get you registered in our system, give you all the supplies you'll need, and you'll be off with your new weekend best friend!
Location:
The Spot BK
232 Varet St
Brooklyn, NY 11206
United States
Join us for an evening packed with games and good vibes.
Join us for an evening packed with games and good vibes. Bring your friends or come solo and meet fellow animal lovers while enjoying a variety of games for all skill levels. Between rounds, take a break to learn more about our resources, events, and meet some of our adoptable pets.
Location:
Best Friends Pet Resource Center in Bentonville
Jul
18
Saturday
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Jul
19
Sunday
Looking for your new best friend?
Looking for your new best friend?
We're excited to be hosting a special Pop-Up Adoption Event, featuring wonderful pets from Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC)!
🗓️ Saturday, July 18th from 11AM - 5PM &
Sunday, July 19th, from 11AM – 4PM
📍The Spot BK, 232 Varet St, Brooklyn, NY 11206
Waived adoption fees for large dogs and adult cats! $25 adoption fees for kittens.
(Does not include $8.50 -$34 NYC dog licensing fee. Unaltered pets may require a $150 spay/neuter deposit)
We can't wait to see you there!
Location:
The Spot BK
232 Varet St
Brooklyn, NY 11206
United States
Saturday, July 18:
11:00am–5:00pm ET
Sunday, July 19:
11:00am–4:00pm ET
Join Best Friends and Queer Craft Corner at the Best Friends Pet Resource Center to create some chalk art on the center's spacious patio, meet some adoptable dogs and cats, and get crafty to make some dog toys for the pups in Best Friends' care!
Join Best Friends and Queer Craft Corner at the Best Friends Pet Resource Center to create some chalk art on the center's spacious patio, meet some adoptable dogs and cats, and get crafty to make some dog toys for the pups in Best Friends' care!
Brookyln, your Sunday just got a whole lot cuter.
We’re heading to Pet Club BK (522 Myrtle Ave) on Sunday, July 19th with some of our adoptable feline friends!
Stop by between 1pm - 4pm to meet the adoptable kittens/cats, we'll also have an adoptable dog or two! Start your summer off with a new best friend!
Adoption fees $25
Location:
Pet Club BK
522 Myrtle Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11205
United States
Find your next trail companion and give a pet a loving home.
Get ready for a night of fun, friendly competition, and furry friends at Gotta Save 'Em All!
Get ready for a night of fun, friendly competition, and furry friends at Gotta Save 'Em All!: Bingo Night! Join us for a Pokémon-themed bingo adventure at Best Friends, where every game helps support pets on their journey to finding loving homes.
Test your bingo skills, win exciting prizes, and meet some of our real-life rescue stars who are waiting to be "caught" by their perfect families. Whether you're a lifelong Pokémon fan, a bingo enthusiast, or simply passionate about animal welfare, this event is sure to be an unforgettable evening.
Come dressed as your favorite Pokémon Trainer, Pokémon, or in your best themed attire, and help us prove that while we may not be catching Pokémon, we're dedicated to helping homeless pets find their forever teams.
Gotta Save Them All! Because every pet deserves a chance to evolve into a beloved family member.
Location:
Best Friends Pet Resource Center in Bentonville
Paint with Purpose: You’ll have the opportunity to paint one of the bright faces of our adoptable animals looking for a home!
Paint with Purpose: You’ll have the opportunity to paint one of the bright faces of our adoptable animals looking for a home! Any artist level is encouraged to come and paint a portrait of any of our adoptable animals that will go home with their future adopter.
BYOB!: Feel free to bring a drink or snacks to enjoy as you paint, we'll have limited options to drink for attendees. Don't forget to bring a friend to enjoy the food and fun with!
Meet the Models: Get to know the pets you’ll be painting! Before we begin, you’ll have the chance to meet and learn about the furry friends who will be featured in your artwork.
Let’s paint a brighter future for our pets, one brushstroke at a time.
The event is free, but registration is required. Space is limited, so be sure to reserve your spot early!
Location:
Best Friends Pet Resource Center in Bentonville
Featuring dozens of rescue groups and animal shelters from around the area, Best Friends Super Adoption is the perfect way to meet hundreds of adoptable cats and dogs in one convenient spot.
Featuring dozens of rescue groups and animal shelters from around the area, Best Friends Super Adoption is the perfect way to meet hundreds of adoptable cats and dogs in one convenient spot. So bring the family and enjoy pet-related vendors, kid-friendly activities, food, a photo booth, and more.
Early access passes are available, which entitle attendees to enter the event at 10 a.m. and get you a free tote bag and discounts on Best Friends swag.
Location:
Mountain America Expo Center | 9575 S. State St., Sandy, UT
The Best Friends Benefit to Save Them All is an annual fundraising gala in New York City that brings together passionate animal lovers, philanthropists, and advocates from across the country.
Location:
The Glasshouse
660 12th Ave.
New York City, NY
United States
Pet events happening across the country
Whether it’s finding your next best friend at one of our many animal adoption events, volunteering at your local shelter, or participating in pet-friendly activities, there’s something for everyone.
Don’t live near a Best Friends location?
There are still plenty of shelters and rescue groups around the country hosting events to help homeless pets.
Simply fill in your email address, and we'll send you a list of shelters closest to where you live, along with some simple tips about how you can help homeless pets and all the dog adoption events and free adoption events happening near you.
Special events
Join thousands taking action for no-kill
National Action Week for Animals | August 24-29
Learn how to advocate and make real change for the animals in your community at this free virtual event. Whether you’ve advocated for years or this is your first time, you’ll leave knowing exactly how you can help create a brighter future for pets.
Join Us for the Best Friends Benefit to Save Them All
The Best Friends Benefit to Save Them All is a special evening that brings together passionate and dedicated people in New York and from around the country.
When: Monday, October 19
Where: The Glasshouse, 660 12th Ave., New York City, NY
Common questions about pet events and activities
What kinds of events does Best Friends Animal Society host?
All kinds! We host animal adoption events, galas, animal welfare conferences, kitten yoga, puppy yoga, crafts for pets, volunteer days, and pop-up events at partner locations across the country. Some events are on a national scale, while others are specific to our centers in Los Angeles, Houston, Salt Lake City, New York City, and Northwest Arkansas. Be sure to browse all our upcoming events above or check your city’s page for more local programming.
How do I find pet events near me?
The easiest way is to check the upcoming events list at the top of this page, or go directly to your nearest Best Friends location using the links above. You can also enter your ZIP code to find partner shelters and dog and cat adoption events in your community.
Are Best Friends’ adoption events free?
Adoption fees vary by event and location. Many of our adoption events feature waived or reduced fees, especially during national campaigns. Check the individual event listing for details.
Can I volunteer at a Best Friends event?
Yes. Volunteers are a big part of what makes our events work. Visit our events volunteer page to find opportunities near you.
How do I host my own fundraising event for Best Friends?
Anyone can host a fundraiser to benefit Best Friends and the animals in our care. From backyard bake sales to community walks, every event counts. Visit our “Host an event” page to get started.
What is Best Friends National Conference?
Best Friends National Conference is our annual gathering for animal welfare professionals, shelter staff, rescue volunteers, and advocates from across the country. It covers the latest in lifesaving strategies, shelter programming, and no-kill advocacy. Check this page for dates and registration when the next conference is announced.
Get involved with animal events near you
Once a year, we bring animal lovers and advocates together for something worth getting dressed up for. Reserve your tickets and be part of it.
Host an event
You don’t have to wait for us to bring an event to your community. People across the country host fundraisers, adoption drives, and awareness events that raise critical funds and save lives.
Ready to get started?
Become a Golden Circle member
Golden Circle members are dedicated supporters who go the extra mile for animals and receive exclusive access to special Best Friends events. Join a community of animal lovers and make a long-lasting difference in the lives of homeless pets by becoming a Golden Circle member today.
Volunteer at an event
Behind every Best Friends event is a team of volunteers who make it all possible. Become a part of the magic and join a team of volunteers near you.
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.
