Smiling person petting a tiny kitten on their shoulder

Saving homeless pets in Odessa

You know the joy of pet companionship, but some homeless pets in Odessa will never get to experience the comfort of knowing a safe place to call home. You can help change that.

Every day, dogs and cats in Odessa are killed just because they don't have a home. The Odessa area is one of five areas in the state of Texas where the most killing in shelters is happening, where only 37% of pets in shelters made it out alive in 2023.

Of those homeless pets killed in Odessa, cats are among the most at-risk, and in 2023, only 28.7% of them made it out of shelters alive. Cats who prefer to live outdoors (also called community cats) are often brought to shelters by people trying to help them, but they have a lower likelihood of finding an adoptive home because they’re not used to interacting with people.

But together, we can end the needless killing. Best Friends is ready to help local shelters and elected officials with updating policies using proven strategies that help make the community a better place for both pets and people. We can save lives here in Odessa when our communities allow trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) programs that prevent community cats from reproducing.

Targeted TNVR is the only humane and effective way to reduce community cat populations and end nuisance behaviors associated with cats reproducing while saving cats' lives. This proven approach ensures that cats in the community won't have more kittens, and that means fewer cats entering shelters. 

And you can be a part of that lifesaving. You can help today by using your voice to urge local leaders to help protect pets in the community, as well as by adopting, fostering, and supporting local shelters.

Cat Photo Icon - Drizzle the cat

Support change for homeless pets in Odessa

Here at Best Friends, we believe that all dogs and cats deserve to be in a place where they are comfortable and safe — whether that’s in a house or on their favorite neighborhood stoop.

We need your voice to stand up for homeless pets in Odessa so that every pet can safely find their way out of shelters.

When you communicate to city leaders about the problem of pets dying in shelters, you’ll be letting them know that Odessa wants to end the killing and create a no-kill community.

Urge Odessa Leaders to Help Animals

By implementing TNVR, community cats continue to live outdoors after they’ve been spayed or neutered and vaccinated for rabies, keeping them out of shelters and freeing up resources for other pets in need of sheltering and care. 

Support TNVR in Odessa

You love your pets more than words can say. (We get it — we do, too!) Luckily for homeless pets everywhere, you can spread that love to save lives.

No-kill: Ending the killing of pets in shelters

For a shelter to be considered “no-kill,” at least 90% of the cats and dogs coming into the shelter must leave the shelter alive. In 2023, Odessa’s save rate was 37.5%.

Even with the best of care, there will always be pets who come into a shelter with health or other issues that make it inhumane to prolong their suffering, but for most shelters that doesn’t make up more than 10% of the pets taken in. The remaining 90% is how Best Friends arrived at the no-kill benchmark of 90%.

Find out how the shelter nearest you is doing and work with them to save lives. 

See How Your Shelter Is Doing
Tiny kitten outside in grass

You found a kitten. Now what? 

If you find kittens outdoors, bringing them to a local shelter is not always the best option.
Help kittens found outside

What you can do to save the lives of pets

You can spay or neuter your pets, foster a homeless pet, volunteer with your local animal shelter or rescue group, or join campaigns to show elected officials how important it is to save more lives in your community.

No matter what you do for homeless pets, you'll be helping to save lives. When we work together, we save more lives.

Smiling person holding a cat while sitting on a couch

Foster a pet

Welcoming a furry houseguest into your home, even for just a few nights, helps that pet while freeing up space in the shelter to save more lives.
The fun of fostering
Person cradling a brown and white tabby cat in her arms

Adopt a pet

When you adopt a cat or dog from a rescue group or animal shelter near you (instead of buying one from a puppy mill or breeder), you’re making a lifesaving difference for a loving and grateful animal.
Find adoptable cats and dogs near you
Smiling person sitting with dog outside next to a gray wall

See where your community stands

Animal shelters, local leaders, lifesaving groups, and individual community members are working together to save at-risk pets right where they live.
Is your community no-kill?
Black and white dog looking at a person's hands holding a Best Friends bowl containing dog food

Help provide lifesaving assistance

Lifesaving assistance is available to the pets and their families who need it most, thanks to the generous support of the community.
Making a lifesaving gift

Helping pets stay with families

From securing pet-friendly housing to purchasing items or supplies for pets in need, you can help pets stay in their homes.

Cat outdoors on a fence

Help cats in your community

Community cats (you might think of them as stray or free-roaming cats) are felines who call the outdoors their home, and they’re among the most at-risk animals when they end up in shelters.
Helping cats in your community
Smiling person sitting with a dog outside on some steps

Promoting pet-friendly housing

Ensure the availability of more pet-inclusive housing to keep pets with their families.
Promoting pet-friendly housing
Person using a stethoscope to listen to the chest of a husky dog

Keep your pet healthy

Spaying and neutering are routine medical procedures that not only help prevent unintended litters, but they may also prevent medical and behavioral problems.
Learn about spay/neuter
Two people interacting with a large white dog

Reunite lost pets with their people

Before taking a stray pet to your local shelter, try visiting a veterinarian’s office to see whether the pet has a microchip; then try to reunite the pet with their family via social media and talking to your neighbors.
Reuniting pets with people

Microchip your pet to keep them safe 

A veterinarian or shelter staff member will scan for a microchip when stray pets are brought to them. This safe and effective technology can help get your pet back to you quickly if they’re ever lost. 

Smiling person sitting on the grass with a senior dog

Happily ever afters

Looking for a little inspiration? Check out these pets and their stories of hope, love, and resilience.

Val Hardin hugging Anna and Racer the dogs

An extra-large, extra-floofy canine birthday surprise

When Val and Ty Hardin volunteered at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, they never anticipated going home with 200 pounds of canine companions.
Bringing home a double dose of love
Feature
Mackenzie Wilhite sleeping with Nikki the dog on her chest

Opening heart to new dog is adopter’s antidote to grief

After her dog of 16 years passed, Mackenzie found sweet, happy Nikki and turned loss into a new beginning.
Now they're on a new journey together
Feature
Happy looking husky dog in a home setting

These pets are home and loving it

Recent adoption stories showcase Hamburglar the cat’s new friend, a charmed life for a sweet senior dog, and a variety of aww-dorable foster wins.
Read about them
Best Friends Magazine

You can help a shelter or animal rescue group near you

Best Friends Network Partners are made up of thousands of public and private animal shelters, rescue groups, spay/neuter organizations, and other animal welfare groups, all working to save the lives of dogs and cats in your community and across the country.

Each and every one of our network partners needs caring people like you to adopt, foster, donate, volunteer, and advocate to help save the lives of pets where you live.

Find an animal shelter or rescue group near you today: 

Search by City/State/Zip
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Make your voice heard

If you can’t adopt or foster, you can spread the word about the importance of stepping up to save the lives of cats and dogs.

Let your family, friends, and neighbors know that together we can make a difference in the lives of pets. 

Let your city leaders know that saving the lives of pets in shelters is important to you.

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Cat outside on patio

Show your support

When you communicate to city leaders about the problem of pets dying in shelters, you’ll be letting them know that Odessa wants to end the killing and create a no-kill community.
Sign The Petition
Best Friends Animal Society logo mark

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.

As recently as 2016, 2 million cats and dogs were killed in shelters 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 400,000 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 committed to saving the lives of homeless pets by working with shelters and passionate people like you. We’re sharing our resources and what we know to help shelters around the country achieve no-kill in their communities. 

Together, we will bring the whole country to no-kill in 2025.