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 kittens, take an adoptable dog on a fun-filled outing for the day or toss a ball in the play yard, sit quietly with an older pet, 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 in the dog yards

Each day, a selection of adoptable dogs will visit the pet resource center to take part in enrichment opportunities and to meet potential adopters.

Many of these dogs are in foster homes with families in our community; others have come to the pet resource center for the day from our partner shelters. Each dog is assigned a volunteer handler for the visit, and you’re invited to meet and get to know any of these deserving animals.

The volunteers can provide information about them and help guide you through the process should you decide you are interested in 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 the adventure — a quick walk in the park or an all-day movie day at home.

To get started, visit Shelterluv to sign up as a foster volunteer and complete the Dog Day Out program application. Next, you’ll plan a day and time you’d like to pick up your buddy-for-the-day and a staff member will contact you to confirm.

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. 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

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