Time With Animals in Northwest Arkansas

Best Friends’ goal is to ensure loving foster homes where pets can stay until they’re adopted, as well as a love-filled, stress-free experience here at the center where you can help them feel right at home by coming to visit.

Whether you want to socialize cats or kittens, take an adoptable dog on a fun-filled outing for the day, or schedule a meet and greet with one of our pets in foster care, you’ll be brightening an animal’s day with the gift of your time.

Schedule a meet and greet with an adoptable pet

Interested in one of the dogs or cats? Scheduling a meet and greet is a great way to get to know an adoptable pet.

If you would like to meet one of the animals currently in foster care, please contact our foster team at fosternwa@bestfriends.org. Our team will work with you and the foster family to set up a time to meet the pet here at the center.

View All Available Pets

Visit the cat rooms

The cat rooms were designed with the comfort of the residents in mind, and they will happily show you around when you visit.

Anyone may visit the cats and kittens in our two cat rooms and indoor/outdoor “catios.” We ask that anyone under the age of 16 be accompanied by an adult at all times when visiting the cats.

View All Adoptable Cats

Visit adoptable dogs

Each day, you can meet a selection of adoptable dogs at the pet resource center

Many of these dogs are in foster homes with families in our community and are at the center for "doggie day care:" a day of enrichment activities, training, and socialization. Others are recent arrivals available for adoption who are in need of a loving foster home.

The Best Friends staff or volunteers can provide information about each of them, get you set up to spend some one-on-one time with them, and help guide you through the process should you decide you are interested in fostering or adopting.

View All Adoptable Dogs

Take an adoptable dog on an outing

The Dog Day Out program gives adoptable dogs the chance to have off-site adventures. And you get to choose — a quick walk in the park, a day hike, or an all-day movie binge at home.

To get started, complete the simple online Dog Day Out program application at the link below. You’ll choose a day and time you’d like to pick up your buddy-for-the-day, and a staff member will contact you to confirm. You may also visit the Best Friends Pet Resource Center and choose your buddy from the available dogs on site for the day.

This program is available every day, and pickup can be as early as 10:30 a.m. Drop-off is as late as 6:30 p.m.

You must be at least 18 years old to sign up as a Dog Day Out volunteer and an adult must always handle the dog. We will even provide you with a list of dog-friendly locations around the area that you might explore! Absolutely no visits to dog parks, please.

Sign Up for an Outing

Host a sleepover for an adoptable pet at the 21c Museum Hotel

Visiting Bentonville? Consider giving an adoptable dog some one-on-one time by hosting a sleepover in your room at the 21c Museum Hotel.

Whether you’ve spent your day volunteering at the Best Friends Pet Resource Center or exploring Northwest Arkansas, consider hosting a sleepover with a dog from the pet resource center at the pet-friendly 21c Museum Hotel.

Sleepovers give adoptable dogs a chance to experience life in a homelike setting while you enjoy the company of an adorable overnight snuggle buddy. And, because the dog is from Best Friends, 21c Museum Hotel will waive any pet fees. Plus, your feedback can provide insight into your sleepover pal’s personality, which is valuable information for potential adopters — it's a win-win.

Ready to plan your sleepover? Get ready for fun, snuggles, and the soothing sounds of doggy snoring.

Sign Up for a Sleepover

A place for animal lovers like you