Coming soon: the future of animal sheltering

Fuzzy dog peeking over the edge of a table

Come be part of a new era of lifesaving with the Best Friends Pet Resource Center in Northwest Arkansas.

Opening in early 2023, the center will be a place where families can count on getting helpful services for their pets. At the center, homeless dogs and cats can get the care and help they need to find loving homes, and all members of the community can gather and share resources.

The center will transform the way homeless pets are cared for and serve as a nationwide model for animal sheltering — and it’s located right here in Northwest Arkansas.

The Best Friends Pet Resource Center in Northwest Arkansas will be the largest facility for animals in the region, serving an estimated 13,000 cats and dogs each year.

A place for pets and people who love them

The pet resource center is a first-of-its-kind, fully reinvented shelter that turns the traditional model of animal sheltering on its head.

Everything about the center — from its design to its function to its operation — reflects the understanding that our animal companions are an integral part of our families and our communities.

The space features open areas to interact with adoptable dogs and cats, fun events and exhibits for people of all ages, a DIY dog bathing center, a café where guests can hang out with cats and kittens, a pet food and supplies pantry, and much more.

Support the Lifesaving

Serving the pets and people of our community

The Best Friends Pet Resource Center will not only be a destination where people can celebrate pets and find resources to help them care for their animals, but a place of opportunity and lifesaving, where homeless pets can find families of their very own.

From providing vital pet services at low cost to families in need to ensuring that homeless pets have a chance to heal and find homes of their own, the center will be the place where it all happens.

This will be a place where community members can adopt a new best friend, and a place where people can gather to share knowledge with others and build awareness about issues facing animals today.

Happy dog in a living room with two people

Meet your new best friend

Adoptable dogs and cats will be ready to meet you.

Programs for your pets

We'll offer socialization and behavior help for pets.

Pet supplies and food

Our pet food pantry will offer food and other supplies.

Smiling person holding a fluffy cat in a veterinary clinic

Keeping pets healthy

Low-cost medical and spay/neuter clinics will be offered.

Big happy dog sitting on a sidewalk with a smiling person

A space for community use

For local social services and animal welfare organizations.

Cat looking on as a person paints on a canvas

Educational activities

A place to come for educational exhibits and events.

Looking for some good news?

Be the first to hear about upcoming events and adoption specials when you sign up for our monthly emails.

You can also look forward to adoption success stories, adorable photos of cats and dogs looking for foster homes, and more ways to help save pets in Northwest Arkansas.

We’ll let you know about the latest developments at the center, including construction updates and grand opening information.

Yes, Sign Me Up

The community giving tree at the Best Friends Pet Resource Center

Created by a local artist, the six-foot-tall tree will feature a shimmering canopy of inscribed pet tags that represent leaves — each leaf a symbol of your generosity and kindness to the animals.

On your tag, you can choose to include your name, your family’s name, your pet’s name or the name of your organization. After making your gift, you will be presented with the opportunity to add your tag inscription.

Please know that every time the tree’s tags sway in the breeze, all of us here at Best Friends and everyone who visits the center will be reminded of your incredible dedication to the animals and to the community’s unwavering love for pets.

Add Your Recognition Leaf

You can be part of the future of animal sheltering

The pet resource center is opening in 2023! In the meantime, there are plenty of ways to get involved and help save homeless cats and dogs in Northwest Arkansas.

Two smiling people sitting in a yard with a happy dog

Adopt a pet to help save lives

When you adopt a homeless dog or cat from a shelter or rescue group in Northwest Arkansas, you’re making a lifesaving difference for a loving and grateful animal.

View Adoptable Pets

Person playing with a tiny kitten in a home

Foster a pet to help save lives

Welcoming a pet into your home for a short time not only benefits that animal, it helps make room in shelters for more cats and dogs in need.

Foster to Help Save Lives

Volunteer to help save lives

From socializing shy cats to walking dogs to driving pets to and from our clinic, there are so many fun ways to make a lifesaving difference.

Become a Volunteer

Your support means everything

Your gift will go straight to work helping the pets and people who need it most, right here in Northwest Arkansas.

Like you, we understand that our animal companions are an important part of our families and communities.

Generous supporters make lifesaving options accessible to everyone in our community through services like the pet food pantry and low-cost spay/neuter clinic at the Best Friends Pet Resource Center.

Support the Lifesaving

About Best Friends

Best Friends Animal Society is working to save the lives of cats and dogs all across the country, giving pets second chances and happy homes.

Just a few years ago, cats and dogs were killed in staggering numbers in this country simply because shelters didn’t have the community support or the resources to save their lives. That number is now less than half a million per year, but there’s still work to do to ensure a bright future for every dog and cat in America.

Best Friends operates the nation’s largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals and is saving the lives of homeless pets across the country by working with shelters and passionate people like you. Together, we will bring the whole country to no-kill by 2025. Together, we will Save Them All.

Let’s be friends!

Connect with us on social media to stay in the loop about what’s happening at the Best Friends Pet Resource Center.

Follow along to see photos and videos from our events, hear about upcoming adoption events, admire adorable adoptable pets, discover kitten care tips, check out foster success stories and so much more.