Best Friends Staff Stories

Best Friends co-founder Francis Battista with his dog Jasper

The dogs who shaped me

Best Friends co-founder shares how each of his dogs has been an essential part of the story of his life.
Read how they touched Francis' life
Best Friends Magazine
Group shot featuring nine of the co-founders of Best Friends Animal Society with a dog

Best Friends’ 40th anniversary: History of our world, part I

Nothing says “anything is possible” like Best Friends’ first 40 years.
Read about the beginnings of the organization
Julie Castle Blog
Best Friends Animal Society co-founder Diana Asher outside with a white horse whose mouth is open

Remembering Diana Asher

Best Friends’ original cat woman
She will be missed
Julie Castle Blog
Family holding a puppy they adopted along with some Best Friends signs

Reaching Hispanic/Latino communities to save more pets

Q&A with Mia Navedo-Williams on connecting Spanish-speaking communities with information about dogs and cats in shelters and how they can save pets’ lives
Hear what's being done to help save lives
Feature
Group of Best Friends co-founders from an All Staff meeting

The evolution of Best Friends Animal Society

What the founders are most proud of is the decision to pass the baton.
From co-founder Francis Battista
Best Friends Magazine
Women's History Month - Caroline Earle White

Honoring the trailblazers this Women’s History Month

And their achievements and breakthroughs made despite major obstacles
Celebrating Women's History Month
Julie Castle Blog
Julie Castle hugging Shadow the dog

For the love of Shadow: A tribute to a big dog with a big personality

Reflecting on a lifetime of boundless love after a sudden goodbye
In memory of a beloved friend
Julie Castle Blog
Captain the dog next to Jill Shaw, who is looking at him, smiling and petting him

Faith leads a dog home

Captain was returned from every home he had and diagnosed with two heart conditions and cancer. But thanks to inspiration from Best Friends co-founder Faith Maloney, he’s now home for good.
Faith and the universe guide adoption
Feature
Best Friends co-founder Charity Rennie on a phone with a small dog in her lap

Remembering Charity Rennie, a Best Friends ‘main ingredient’

From the West End to Kanab
She will be dearly missed
Julie Castle Blog
Best Friends CEO Julie Castle after she had lost her hair

The most vulnerable thing I’ve ever written

I was really stupid.
Remember to take care of yourself
Julie Castle Blog
Best Friends CEO Julie Castle sitting on the floor with a cat in her lap and other cats around her

Best Friends recognized in Fast Company’s 2022 Brands That Matter

But what is a brand and why does it matter?
More about this recognition
Julie Castle Blog
Best Friends co-founder Celeste Fripp with a shepherd dog

Celeste Fripp, a woman who could do it all

Remembering and paying tribute to a Best Friends co-founder
Honoring her memory
Julie Castle Blog
Faith Maloney, co-founder of Best Friends Animal Society, with a scruffy dog

Remembering Faith Maloney, Best Friends co-founder

Mentor, visionary, leader, teacher and champion of always doing the right thing
Julie Castle Blog
Two people sitting outside with a happy dog between them

Best Friends introduces paid family leave benefit

Your job should make it easier for you to take care of your family, not harder.
Becoming an even better place to work
Julie Castle Blog
Best Friends caregiver hugging a boxer dog

It’s time we have a conversation about pay

Personal sacrifice and passion cannot be the price of admission into nonprofit animal welfare.
Fair compensation needed for animal caregivers
Julie Castle Blog