Proclamations push no-kill progress for pets

It started with a single proclamation.

When Utah Gov. Spencer Cox declared 2024 the state’s first official No-Kill Shelter Year, it wasn’t just a symbolic gesture. It was a call to action, and Utah’s animal shelters responded. By year’s end, 79% of them had reached no-kill, and dozens more were within reach of that goal.

The momentum was undeniable. Best Friends’ advocacy team saw it happening in real time: Shelter staff energized their efforts. Communities rallied. Lifesaving programs expanded. It was proof that official support from the top could drive measurable change on the ground.

[Pets win big with laws that save lives]

By the summer of 2025, a dozen governors, state legislatures, and mayors had followed Utah’s lead. From the Deep South to the Pacific Northwest, leaders declared their commitment to ending the killing of pets in shelters, often timed to coincide with public awareness campaigns, adoption events, and new shelter partnerships.

“These proclamations create real momentum,” says Laura Donahue, senior director of advocacy at Best Friends. “When the highest elected official in a state says, ‘This is our goal,’ it generates energy. It gives our mission urgency, and it helps us mobilize the public in a way that nothing else can.”

In addition to Utah, here’s where other leaders have stood up and spoken out for pets in shelters:

• Arizona: Gov. Katie Hobbs proclaimed January as No-Kill Shelter Month, encouraging residents to support shelters through adoption and fostering.
• Arkansas: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared April No-Kill Shelter Month, recognizing the 50+ shelters already at no-kill and aiming support at those still working to achieve that goal.
• Georgia: Lawmakers in both the House and Senate named April 30 No-Kill Awareness Day, timed with a statewide adoption push.
• Idaho: Gov. Brad Little declared February 5 Idaho Loves Shelter Animals Day.
• Louisiana: Gov. Jeff Landry declared April 30 Louisiana Loves Shelter Animals Day, celebrating the state’s lifesaving progress and spotlighting shelters close to reaching no-kill.
• Mississippi: Gov. Tate Reeves proclaimed January as Mississippi Loves Shelter Animals Month.
• Montana: Gov. Greg Gianforte issued a proclamation honoring Montana Loves Shelter Animals Day on April 9, helping to increase visibility for rural shelters across the state.
• North Dakota: Gov. Kelly Armstrong proclaimed January as North Dakota No-Kill Animal Shelter Month.
• Nashville, Tennessee: Mayor Freddie O’Connell declared May No-Kill Shelter Month and issued a citywide proclamation supporting no-kill efforts, highlighting the work of local shelters and signaling a future where no adoptable pet is left behind.
• Virginia: A General Assembly resolution applauded the state’s progress — 80 shelters reached no-kill in 2024 — pushing Virginia closer to becoming the largest no-kill state.

“This is a milestone for our movement,” Laura says. “When we first set our 2025 goal, it felt like a moonshot — this big, bold, almost unbelievable idea. But now we have governors, mayors, statehouses embracing it. It’s no longer outrageous. It’s expected. It’s real.” 

The proclamations don’t just inspire. They activate.

“Strategically, this is about energy and momentum,” Laura says. “These proclamations serve as a catalyst, not just for shelters and rescue groups but for the public. Because most of these declarations are also a call to action — they urge people to adopt, to foster, to volunteer. And they validate the work being done by organizations across the state, especially those still striving to reach no-kill.”

[Progress for pets: Looking back at a year of advocacy]

That validation matters, particularly for shelters that haven’t always had support from their local governments.

“If you’re a municipal shelter that’s never heard your city council talk about no-kill, imagine what it means to see your governor say this is the goal,” Laura adds. “That kind of leadership sets a new standard. It changes the conversation, and it changes what’s possible.”

The impact of these proclamations is clear: They energize communities, validate the hard work of shelters and rescue groups, and bring us closer to a no-kill country.

Even as you read this, more cities and states are joining the movement, issuing proclamations, launching new partnerships, and rallying their communities to save lives. You can be part of that progress. Whether you're just getting started or have years of advocacy under your belt, Best Friends has the tools and resources to help you take action for pets and the people who love them. Visit our advocacy page to learn more and get involved.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.