Search Best Friends Network

Brent Toellner, senior director of national programs

A priority for Best Friends is building a nationwide, grassroots movement of advocates who are willing to work together, all driven by the belief that people and their pets deserve compassion. We need to connect with others who share the common goal of ending the killing of cats and dogs in our nati…

To get us started for 2023, we take a moment to think about the year ahead. What has happened over the last few weeks and months that can help us plan for what’s coming next?

It’s been a challenging year for animal shelters and rescue organizations across the country. Lifesaving gains made during the COVID pandemic seemed to disappear for many as a new set of external factors played havoc with the animal welfare industry.

The human-animal bond transcends all, regardless of where someone lives, their race, or how much they have in their bank account - pet ownership is for everyone. It’s a concept that is gaining more and more acceptance across animal welfare, and it has brought new approaches to keep people and pets t…

Animal service officers historically have been trained to function as code enforcement officers, and in many communities that is still the case. While this training is integral, it is not always a holistic representation or acknowledgment of all the tools officers have to do their work.

In 2016, 2.3 million Americans lived in a home that was served an eviction notice. During the foreclosure crisis in 2008, 10 million Americans lost their home. Experts believe that by the end of this year, 28 million Americans will face eviction due to the economic downturn related to the COVID-19 p…

In 2018, Abilene Animal Services (AAS) had a 55% save rate. That put them at 27th on the list of shelters nationwide most in need of help. The community wanted the shelter to succeed and the city’s elected officials took action.

This week we speak with Lawrence Nicolas, the Chief Operating Officer for the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League in West Palm Beach, Florida (currently, he is the COO of the Jacksonville Humane Society in Florida). Lawrence tells us about their open adoption process that sends roughly 6,000 animals to…

Heartworm Disease Management Playbook