Working with our Regional Teams
The Best Friends regional teams can help you achieve your lifesaving goals — for free!
In 2024, shelters that worked with Best Friends reduced the number of pets killed 11% compared to an increase in killed among shelters that didn’t.
Our regional programs team is here to help you overcome the hurdles — whatever they are — standing in the way of saving pets in your shelter and your community.
We are experts in animal welfare, based in every part of the country, knowledgeable about your state, and ready to work with you. There’s no catch. In fact, in some cases our regional team’s support comes with grant funding!
“Best Friends support has not only improved our work, it has changed the arc of our shelter, our staff, and our community. Your team didn’t just send resources; you sent relief. You helped us change the very story of our shelter. Thank you, for every conversation, every resource, every ounce of faith you poured into us. We carry it forward in every reunion, every adoption photo, every TNVR return, every volunteer hour, every pantry bag, every post that reaches one more neighbor who says “yes.” You have changed not just our numbers, but our capacity to love and to last.”
What does that mean for you?
Our regional programs teams support shelters in lifesaving. We will work with you without judgement to identify the specific obstacles standing in the way of lifesaving and work sideby- side with your team to implement the tools, resources, relationships, and other support you need to save animals’ lives.
We can help you work more efficiently, increase your capacity, create a positive relationship with your community, and see more pets go home. We provide customized support that targets your specific programs, issues and barriers, including training, funding and mentorship.
To get started, contact your regional representative.
Working with the regional team, you will get:
“The challenges that [our shelter] is always facing are locating resources and increasing adoptions. Best Friends was able to provide aid. Their friendly staff provided encouragement and classes to help us think outside the box and come up with creative ideas to make this shelter a big success. The financial help enabled us to sponsor our TNR program that saved hundreds of cats, giving them a second chance. We are excited to see what the future holds for this shelter.”
What is no-kill and why do we want to help shelters achieve it?
“It’s crazy the difference a year makes. We have four open small dog kennels and several open large dog spaces, going into a holiday weekend! Every piece of the puzzle has come together to make this happen. Daily rounds, elevated customer service, open volunteering, and more. Thanks to Best Friends for being a piece of our puzzle! We’ve come such a long way, and it’s amazing to see the hard work pay off like this.”
The regional teams are divided up into eight geographical areas
Click on the map, or use the email addresses below:
Pacific (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington) — pacific@bestfriends.org
Mountain West (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming) — mountainwest@bestfriends.org
Great Plains (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota) — greatplains@bestfriends.org
South Central (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas) — scregion@bestfriends.org
Midwest (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Wisconsis) — midwest@bestfriends.org
Northeast (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont) — northeast@bestfriends.org
Mid-Atlantic (D.C., Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia) — midatlantic@bestfriends.org
Southeast (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina) — seregion@bestfriends.org
You can also find specific staff members on Meet the Team!