Man in shelter with cat resting on his upturned elbow

The Data Is In: 2025 National Shelter Data Report

Read the report
person and dog icon

Increase return-to-home rates

In 2024, network partners participated in the Return to Home Challenge to help lost dogs find their way back home faster, resulting in a 170% increase in return-to-home in-field outcomes alone.
How they did it
line drawing of house with heart

Drive more adoptions

Last year, network partners participated in the Bring Love Home Challenge to decrease barriers to adoption and fostering, resulting in an 11.4% increase in adoption and foster placements for 209 reporting organizations.
Replicate their results
line drawing of people with sign

Build lifesaving momentum

2024 data shows a 7.5% increase in transfers out, but there’s still work to do to create more movement in the animal welfare ecosystem and open up space in shelters for those in need.
Increase transfers

Resource Library

Access proven lifesaving strategies in our free library of resources for shelters and rescue groups. Information-sharing is a key component of the Best Friends Network.

779 results
Type
Issue
Species

Browse by popular topics

 

speakerphone icon

Advocacy & Legislation

medical icon

Animal Care & Disease Prevention

dog icon

Behavior

community cats icon

Community Cats

pet retention icon

Community Support & Pet Retention

wheel icon

Compassion Fatigue & Burnout

research icon

Data & Technology

DEIB icon

DEIB

paw icon

Field Services & Officers

foster adopt icon

Foster Programs

fundraising icon

Fundraising

plus icon

More


— NETWORK PARTNER STATISTICS —
5 points

Higher save rate on average for network partner shelters than non-partners.

6,000+

Shelters, rescue groups, and support organizations make up the Best Friends Network.

$2.4M

In grants. This year, our partners can access more than $2.4 million in grant funding.

Get Involved

The Best Friends Network is committed to saving the lives of homeless cats and dogs through collaboration, information-sharing, and implementation of proven strategies. Get involved for free!

Woman smiling at a kitten she's holding up.

Join the network

Our network of shelters, rescue groups, and other support organizations help each other and inspire their own communities to save lives across the country. Sign up for free in a few simple steps.

Join the network
Network at HSUS Expo 2024

Upcoming events

Tailored events, support, and resources to take your lifesaving to the next level. Plus, this year, we’re offering $2.4 million in grants.

Explore opportunities
Cat stretching

Shelter Pet Data Alliance

Our free data analysis tool for organizations like yours to navigate through intakes and outcomes, see trends, and improve your daily decision-making.

Submit your data
Dog in orange glasses sitting politely next to laptop

Get updates

Get email updates for everything on everything happening with the Best Friends Network and exclusive partner opportunities.

Subscribe for updates
Two men handling a pet transport outside a car

Get support

Our regional teams want to help you be successful. Contact our local experts to take advantage of this free support opportunity.

Find your regional strategist
Events Icon

Opportunities to connect and save the lives of pets

Have fun and connect with fellow network partners and animal lovers at these upcoming events.

2 upcoming events
* = registration required
Jun 10 Wednesday
How Do We Keep Veterinary Staff From Leaving? Wellbeing and Retention in Animal Shelters
2:00pm–3:00pm MT

Recruiting veterinary professionals is hard.

Recruiting veterinary professionals is hard. Keeping them can feel even harder. We'll review the literature on veterinary wellbeing and staff retention, with a focus on animal shelter medicine. We'll discuss organizational and leadership strategies that improve job satisfaction, reduce burnout risk, and help staff not only stay in the field, but enjoy their lives outside of work too.

Register now
Jun 18 Thursday
The Best Tools You Aren’t Using: How Data Can Help You Build Stronger Transfer Networks
2:00pm–3:00pm MT

Expanding your transfer network can save more lives.

Expanding your transfer network can save more lives. But building the right partnerships is often the biggest challenge. Data can help pave the way. Learn about the free tools that can help organizations of all sizes identify transfer opportunities, strengthen collaboration, and better understand regional shelter and rescue trends in your region — with practical examples of how partnerships are formed and maintained, and how data can help identify gaps and opportunities within existing networks.

Register now
Photo of a kitten with its arms up

Get the support you need

The Best Friends Network team is your lifeline to support for your organization and collaboration with other network partners.

We can also connect you with Best Friends experts, resources, funding opportunities, and so much more. Meet the team or connect with us on social media to stay in the loop about the lifesaving progress we’re making together.   

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.

Facebook logo    Instagram logo     LinkedIn logo   

Best Friends Animal Society logo mark

About the Best Friends Network

The network is a free community of over 6,000 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.