Person hugging a dog while sitting outside in a yard

Saving homeless pets in Arkansas

Every day, homeless dogs and cats are being killed in animal shelters in Arkansas simply because they don’t have a place to call home. But you can help change that.

Shelters all around the state — including both the larger shelters and smaller rural shelters — need your help to get lost dogs back to their loving homes without entering a shelter. We also need to ensure the safety of cats who prefer living outdoors and prevent them from entering shelters in the first place. With your help, we can end the killing in animal shelters throughout Arkansas and make the state a safe place for all cats and dogs to call home. 

house with heart line drawing

Help pets stay with families

From reuniting lost pets with their people to microchipping your pet, you can help pets stay in their homes right here in Arkansas.

70% of loose dogs are found within 1 mile of their homes, so trying to reunite lost dogs or cats with their families before taking them to your local shelter is essential in saving their lives. When you find a pet you think is a stray, try visiting a veterinarian’s office to see whether the pet has a microchip. If they don't have a microchip, try to reunite the pet with their family via social media and talking to your neighbors. 

Reunite lost pets with their people

Visit a veterinarian to check for a microchip; then try to find the pet's family.
Smiling person sitting with a dog outside on some steps

Microchip your pet to keep them safe

A veterinarian or shelter staff member will scan for a microchip when lost pets are brought to them.
Veterinary staff examining a happy dog

Keep your pet healthy

Spaying and neutering are routine medical procedures that help prevent unintended litters.
Person holding a tiny puppy in a veterinary clinic
Courthouse icon

Ending restrictions based on dog breed in Arkansas

Breed-specific legislation (BSL) refers to laws that ban or restrict certain types of dogs based simply on their appearance, usually because they are perceived as dangerous. 

These outdated laws and ordinances limit responsible people’s right to love and care for any breed of dog they choose. In addition, BSL often forces people to give up their innocent pets, which no one should have to do. That’s why, with your help, Best Friends is dedicated to eliminating breed-specific legislation once and for all. 

Help End Breed Bans in Arkansas

Many dog breed bans violate the Constitution

Understanding your rights
White smiling pit-bull-type dog on a leash outside with a person

Why breed-specific legislation is ineffective

Breed-specific legislation (BSL) happens when dog breed restrictions become law.
Two dogs sitting on a rock together in a park

Pet-friendly housing guide

Need help? Check out our pet-friendly housing guide. 
Woman sitting on porch with Los Angeles foster dog
Community cat icon

Protecting cats in Arkansas communities

Community cats (aka stray or free-roaming cats) are felines who prefer to live outdoors rather than in homes. They are among the most at-risk animals when they end up in shelters.

These cats are often brought to shelters by well-intentioned people. But they need to be returned to their outdoor homes, and the inability to return the cats to their outdoor homes often means they are killed.

In fact, many cats you notice outdoors aren’t actually lost. The cat might be someone’s pet and have an indoor/outdoor life, or they might not belong to anyone and simply live outdoors. If the cat seems healthy, comfortable, and confident outside, they’re probably doing fine and don’t require your help. So before you scoop up a cat outside, assess the situation and ask yourself: Does this cat need my help?

Together, we can save lives here in Arkansas when our communities use trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) programs to prevent cats from reproducing.

Trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) for cats

TNVR is the most effective way to stop cats from reproducing and to help them stay safe.
Cat resting on a cement wall outdoors

What to do if you've found kittens

They’re cute, cuddly, and desperately in need of your help. Or are they?
Small kitten sitting outdoors in a bed of straw
Person kissing the top of the head of a white puppy

Do you believe more animals should be saved in Arkansas?

Use your voice to stand up for homeless pets in Arkansas so that every pet can safely find their way out of shelters.
You can pledge your support and commit to helping us save every pet possible in the state of Arkansas. Your support lets us know that you want to advocate for homeless pets, get shelters and communities the resources they need to save cats and dogs, and keep pets with their families.
I Want to Help
line drawing of person with heart

No-kill is within reach, thanks to you

The goal of ending killing in shelters is called no-kill. No-kill is a community commitment to saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved.

A dog or cat is killed every 90 seconds in a U.S. shelter, including those in Arkansas. That's why Best Friends is working to get more pets out of shelters and into loving homes. We believe that every dog and cat deserves a home, and we're not alone. 85% of adults in the United States believe it's important or essential to have no-kill shelters in their area. 

The ultimate goal of no-kill is to ensure that all shelters — like the ones in communities like yours in Arkansas — have the resources to save every dog and cat possible. You can help us achieve no-kill in Arkansas when you adopt, foster, volunteer, and advocate for homeless pets.

Knowing where each shelter and community stands not only helps determine the best way to move forward, but it also helps track the progress we’re making together. To determine where shelters need the most help, we’re using our latest data to inform our decisions and looking for new ways to save more lives.

See How Your Community Is Doing
Smiling person holding two tiny kittens in their hands

How do we reach no-kill?

We reach no-kill with YOU. Be a part of the lifesaving here in Arkansas when you adopt, foster, volunteer, advocate, and keep pets with their families.

Two smiling people sitting outside with a dog between them

Adopt a pet

When you adopt a dog or cat from an animal shelter or rescue group, you’re not only adding a loyal and loving companion to your family, but you’re also making room in shelters.
Find adoptable cats and dogs near you
Person holding a tiny kitten in their arms

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 holding a puppy over her shoulder in front of kennels

Volunteer in your community

Whatever your experience or interests, there are countless ways to volunteer your time for pets in need here in Arkansas.
Getting started as a volunteer
Two people sitting outside with a small dog on stairs leading into a hous

Advocate for animals

You can help create the kind of community you want to live in by teaming up with fellow community members to support progressive pet programs and policies.
Advocating for animals
Person bending down to pet a black and white community cat

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

Help your local animal shelter or rescue group 

At Best Friends, our goal is to get more dogs and cats out of shelters and into homes and make every shelter in America no-kill. Each and every one of these shelters needs caring people like you to adopt, foster, donate, volunteer, and advocate to help save the lives of pets in your community. 

Find an animal shelter or rescue group near you today:
Search by City/State/Zip
Units: Miles
Address, City, Zip-Code, Country, ...

Making Arkansas a no-kill state

Looking for a little inspiration? See what Best Friends and our partners are doing on behalf of pets and their people in Arkansas.

Person scratching Nala the dog's chin

Dog overcomes fear — with some help from her friends

Playing with other dogs helped a German shepherd open up, giving her the confidence to turn on the charm and win over an adopter.
Now she's a different dog
Feature
Maddy the cat lying on a blanket playing with a toy

Resilient kitten having a ball at home

After overcoming obstacle after obstacle, Maddie is exactly where she belongs: in a home filled with love and adventure.
Now the good times roll
Video
Sabine the dog in her foster home

Faces of No-Kill: Dog goes from shut down to shining

Sabine’s story shows that even the most broken spirits can heal.
Foster care transforms her
Video

Spread the word about saving the lives of homeless pets in Arkansas

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.

Facebook logo    Instagram logo    icon

Smiling people relaxing on a patio chair with a dog between them

Show your support

Do you believe that the killing in Arkansas shelters needs to end?
I Agree
Best Friends Animal Society logo mark

About Best Friends Animal Society

Best Friends is working to end the killing of dogs and cats in U.S. shelters in part by getting more pets out of shelters and into loving homes.

We’ve come a long way since the first known city reached no-kill in 1994, and now we’re closer than ever to making the entire country no-kill. Today, nearly 2,500 shelters are no-kill throughout the U.S. — and over 600 more are just 100 pets or fewer away from reaching that milestone.

Best Friends is committed to working with passionate people like you to save homeless pets through adoption, volunteering, fostering, and advocacy. In addition to our lifesaving centers around the U.S, we also founded and run the nation's largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals.

Working together, we can save homeless pets in our communities and secure a better future for our best friends. Together, we will bring the whole country to no-kill.