Julie Castle with Sunny the dog

Julie Castle's Blog

Julie Castle is Chief Executive Officer of Best Friends Animal Society. Read More @bfas_julie

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Smiling dog outside on a leash with a person behind him
Does the public support no-kill shelters?
While animal welfare continues debating the term “no-kill,” Americans across the political spectrum have already made up their…
The general public has already embraced “no-kill”
Julie Castle Blog
Best Friends CEO Julie Castle in front of a Supergirl world premiere sign
SUPERGIRL and Krypto: a tale of heroic second chances
My experience at the world premiere reminded me just how heroic this work is
Celebrate the local heroes around you
Julie Castle Blog
A dog wearing protective glasses lying on a mat, beside two people
Summer bestsellers: The stories you won't want to put down
The only reading list you need this summer
Enjoy some feel-good stories
Julie Castle Blog
Marlan Roberts holding two puppies at the New York Stock Exchange
Animal welfare needs to look like the communities it serves
Best Friends NYC Executive Director Marlan Roberts on race, representation, and the future of this movement
Thinking about the future we are building
Julie Castle Blog
View at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
How rappelling into the Golden Cathedral set me straight about work, work, work
Invest time in your version of rest.
Stop saving your rest for a “someday”
Julie Castle Blog
Person holding a pair of kittens in their hands
What to do with all those kittens in your yard
Answering your questions about kitten season.
The most powerful thing you can do for community cats
Julie Castle Blog
Two people holding puppies in front of a backdrop
Puppies are still America’s most reliable bipartisan issue
What a room made up of senators and adoptable pups reminded me about all of us.
The unconditional love of a pet can be for uniting
Julie Castle Blog
Orange tabby kitten in a crate
Super El Niño is coming ... let’s not forget the animals
As El Niño looms, shelters and communities across the country show us what it looks like to get creative, ask for help, and put…
Reminder to imagine the very best case scenerios
Julie Castle Blog
Best Friends CEO Julie Castle addressing the audience at the Best Friends National Conference with a large slide behind her featuring Angel Canyon with the words Save Them All
Overheard at Best Friends National Conference 2026
Three days of learning, inspiration, and possibility.
When a movement becomes ours, it becomes durable
Julie Castle Blog
Person kissing the side of the head of a large gray and white dog
This May, the no-kill movement is everywhere
From Salt Lake City to your neighborhood Walmart — join us.
Partnerships can help save pets' lives
Julie Castle Blog
Photo of Angels Overlook
In animal welfare, mental health can't be a side conversation
Check in with yourself this Mental Health Awareness Month.
Take an honest look at what you're carrying
Julie Castle Blog
Large gray dog outside wearing a harness beside a fence at a beach
Best Friends and ASPCA make historic joint commitment to Los Angeles animals
Together, we are making the largest coordinated investment either organization has ever infused into a single shelter system.
Developing a lifesaving blueprint
Julie Castle Blog
Two brindle dogs on a floor beside a plant
Best Friends reports sharpest drop in pets killed in U.S. shelters since 2020
Data reveals one of the most hopeful moments for animals in modern history.
What's your next move?
Julie Castle Blog
Dr. Erin Katribe assessing Sadie the cat
Best Friends’ own named shelter veterinarian of the year
A national honor recognizing Dr. Erin Katribe’s work in shelter medicine.
She’s shaping the field in real time
Julie Castle Blog
Rock formations at Big Bend National Park in Texas
Lost in Big Bend, found by kindness: How 2 dogs got home to Mexico
While a story of unlikely heroes saving lives feels like it should be a blockbuster film, this is a tale of everyday heroism.
Multiple acts of kindness save two dogs
Julie Castle Blog