Leaders across America stand with shelters to save pets’ lives
This past year marked a significant milestone for the no-kill movement: 22 states have now officially proclaimed their commitment to ending the killing of pets in shelters.
Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia have all signed proclamations calling on their communities to work together toward no-kill.
Each proclamation is a promise to the public that compassion belongs at the heart of animal sheltering. When a state issues a no-kill proclamation, it tells shelters, advocates, and residents that their leaders believe what we believe: that every pet’s life has value.
What makes these proclamations so special, though, is what they represent. They’re proof that people from every corner of the country, across political and geographic lines, can agree on something this important. From the coastline of Oregon to the plains of North Dakota and over to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, compassion knows no boundaries. And that is something to hold dear.
These moments of togetherness reflect years of hard work by local advocates, shelter staff, volunteers, and community members who show up day after day for animals in need. They’ve built trust, changed policies, and shown their communities what’s possible when we choose kindness.
At Best Friends, we’ve long advocated for a better world through kindness to animals. Seeing that belief recognized by elected leaders — Republicans and Democrats alike — gives me so much hope for where we’re headed. It tells me that kindness to animals is a uniting conviction transcending party lines, that this lifesaving movement has taken root, and that the work of thousands of people in every corner of America has the backing of leaders who believe in the same future we do.
No-kill works. It saves lives, strengthens communities, and inspires collaboration. When leaders step up to affirm this approach, they help pave the way for even more progress.
And as we celebrate these 22 states, I keep coming back to a question our founders asked 40-something years ago: “Why are we focusing on the best ways to kill our best friends, instead of the best ways to save them?” Decades later, the answer is right in front of us. Communities everywhere are showing what happens when we stop asking how to kill and start asking how to save.
Change starts locally, with one person saying the lives of dogs and cats in their community matter and choosing to do something about it. Those small actions add up to something extraordinary. By lending your voice, your vote, and your heart, you can create that change in your community. Together, we’re saving lives and creating compassion in action.
-Julie
