Animal Refuge Center

Animal Refuge Center is a partner of Best Friends, working together to save the lives of dogs and cats in communities like yours across the country

The Best Friends Network is made up of thousands of public and private shelters, rescue groups, spay/neuter organizations, and other animal welfare groups — all working to save the lives of dogs and cats in communities like yours across the country.

From Animal Refuge Center

The Animal Refuge Center (ARC) is a private, non-profit, no-kill animal welfare organization and sanctuary located in North Fort Myers, Florida. In the 29 years since ARC's inception in 1988, ARC has grown to become the largest no-kill sanctuary located in Southwest Florida and services Lee and surrounding counties. Our mission focus is to reduce the homeless pet population and euthanasia rates in our area through education, outreach, community programs, and collaboration with other animal welfare government and non-government organizations. ARC does not euthanize for behavior or treatable illnesses/injuries and often takes in animals in need of urgent or prolonged medical care. All cats and dogs who make their way to ARC are spayed or neutered (if needed), chipped, receive necessary shots and medical attention, receive behavior training, and have a home for life if not adopted.

North Fort Myers, FL 33917-5825
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How is your community doing when it comes to lifesaving? 

Our partners support each other and inspire their own communities to increase lifesaving of dogs and cats across the country.

Every partner has one common goal: to save the lives of homeless pets.

Animals in Florida need your help

You can make a world of difference in the lives of cats and dogs in your community when you work with Animal Refuge Center and Best Friends to support homeless pets and save more lives.

woman smiling with a dog

Adopt a pet

When you adopt a homeless dog or cat you’re saving the life of a loving and loyal animal. You’re also making space for other pets to find families of their own.
woman holding two kittens

Foster a pet

Fostering a pet is a short-term commitment with long-term impact. By opening your home to a dog or cat for even a few days, you can save lives.

Heartwarming stories from our partners

Just like , shelters and rescue groups around the country are saving the lives of homeless cats and dogs. Read more about their lifesaving work. 
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Who we are

Best Friends Animal Society  works alongside thousands of animal shelters, rescue groups, and other animal welfare organizations to save the lives of cats and dogs across the country and to make the entire country no-kill in 2025.

The Best Friends Network is comprised of thousands of animal welfare groups from every single state, all working to save the lives of pets in their own communities.

Ranging from animal shelters and rescue groups to spay/neuter and trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) organizations, they collaborate with Best Friends to save even more lives in every corner of the country.

Best Friends provides marketing help, fundraising events, webinars, grants, and other resources so that, together, we can Save Them All.

Interested in becoming a partner? Visit bestfriends.org/network »