Pet Adoption

Make it easy — and appealing — for your community to adopt a furry family member.

Adoption is one of the most important parts of no-kill. Show off your pets with great marketing, and reduce barriers to adoption so more cats and dogs can be adopted, and safe in homes!

Get the help you need

Find the answers you need for common questions related to pet adoption.

Pet Adoption

75 results

Blog

New Data Finding: Weekend & Evening Hours = Higher Adoption Rates

There are only so many hours in a week that a shelter can be open. So which ones are best to maximize adoptions? Data says: Evenings and weekends!

Excited adopters talking with a shelter employee in front of an adoptable cat in a cage.

Blog

Here’s the Data Supporting Open Adoption Practices

When Helping Hands Humane Society in Topeka, Kansas, tested their fears of fee-waived adoptions, they found their worries didn't stand up to the data.

A woman in pink cat ears gently greets a kitten through its kennel at a community adoption event.

Blog

New Data Finding: More Pets Posted = Higher Save Rates

Shelters that post more of their pets to Adopt a Pet and Petfinder have higher save rates than those that post fewer of their pets — with shelters that post all the avail...

Webinars & Videos

From Kennels to Clicks: What Marketing Strategies Actually Drive Adoptions

Our expert panelists will dig into how marketing efforts across social media platforms and your shelter’s website impact adoption success, and if listing pets on Adopt a ...

Studies & Publications

Shelter Pet Lifesaving Data 2025 Mid-Year Report

January–June 2025 data report shows important progress — and how to keep going, to reach no-kill.

Kittens on a table pawing at each other, with a scrubbed in employee behind them.

Blog

Lifesaving in Animal Shelters — a Need for a Different Approach

Strategic managed intake is a proven practice that recognizes that entering an animal shelter is not the best outcome for many pets and that remaining in their homes, or ...

Animal services officer smiling at dog sitting on the back of a van.

Blog

Setting the record straight on managed intake

Resources & Tools

Place More Pets Now With These Easy Changes

Event

Bring Love Home Challenge

The Bring Love Home Challenge

Podcast

The Best Friends Podcast Ep. 149: Capacity Crisis Marketing

Animal shelters across the country have been in a capacity crisis for the past two years due to rising intakes and adoptions that are simply not keeping pace with the num...

Shelter officer walking dog out of shelter with rows of empty kennels

Blog

Should you or shouldn’t you change your adoption fees?

A black and white dog outside in a yard looking into the camera

Blog

Are you doing everything you possibly can to find positive outcomes for large dogs?

A big light brown and white dog looks just off camera

Blog

Kick your old kennel cards to the curb in favor of more effective designs

A row of dogs in kennels in a pet adoption center

Blog

July National Adoption Weekend's happiest tales

Participants in July’s National Adoption Weekend share some of their happiest tales

Blog

Roundup of resources advocating for fee-waived or reduced-cost adoptions

A roundup of resources advocating for fee-waived or reduced-cost adoptions

Young boy sitting in grass with black and white dog

Podcast

The Best Friends Podcast Ep. 146: Time for a language checkup!

This week we sat down with two Best Friends staff members to get their take on words and terms we use in our work; the senior director of lifesaving programs for the east...

A cat talking and looking into the camera

Browse by related topics

Strategic Intake & Pathway Planning

Foster Programs

DEIB

Community Support & Pet Retention

About the Best Friends Network

The network is a free community of over 5,000 animal welfare organizations, including shelters, rescue groups, spay/neuter groups, transport groups, and other support organizations.

The Best Friends Network is your support system in your journey to save the lives of dogs and cats in your communities. Network partners gain access to exclusive challenges, grants, resources, and dedicated support.

Connect with partners across the country, access proven strategies, and collaborate to increase lifesaving nationwide.

Two tiny puppies sitting on the floor side-by-side, with one waving

Meet the team

The Best Friends Network team is your lifeline to support for your organization, collaboration with other network partners and connection with Best Friends experts, resources, funding opportunities and so much more.

Meet The Team

Let’s be friends!

Connect with us on social media to stay in the loop about the lifesaving progress we’re making together. 

Pet Adoption

Make it easy — and appealing — for your community to adopt a furry family member.

Get the help you need

Find the answers you need for common questions related to pet adoption.

Adoptions Training Playbook

Pet Adoption Barriers and Solutions

Strategies for Adopting Out Hard-to-Place Pets

How to Plan & Execute a Memorable Adoption Event

New Data Finding: Weekend & Evening Hours = Higher Adoption Rates

Here’s the Data Supporting Open Adoption Practices

New Data Finding: More Pets Posted = Higher Save Rates

From Kennels to Clicks: What Marketing Strategies Actually Drive Adoptions

Shelter Pet Lifesaving Data 2025 Mid-Year Report

Lifesaving in Animal Shelters — a Need for a Different Approach

Setting the record straight on managed intake

Place More Pets Now With These Easy Changes

Bring Love Home Challenge

The Best Friends Podcast Ep. 149: Capacity Crisis Marketing

Should you or shouldn’t you change your adoption fees?

Are you doing everything you possibly can to find positive outcomes for large dogs?

Kick your old kennel cards to the curb in favor of more effective designs

July National Adoption Weekend's happiest tales

Roundup of resources advocating for fee-waived or reduced-cost adoptions

The Best Friends Podcast Ep. 146: Time for a language checkup!

Browse by related topics

About the Best Friends Network

The network is a free community of over 5,000 animal welfare organizations, including shelters, rescue groups, spay/neuter groups, transport groups, and other support organizations.

Meet the team

Let’s be friends!