No-Kill 2025 Stories

Mac the brindle dog being reunited with is family at Fresno Humane Animal Services

Fresh start for pets in Fresno

City takes on the goal to save more animals
Read about their lifesaving grant
Best Friends Magazine
Large black and white pit bull type dog smiling and out on a leashed walk

10 advocacy wins for the animals

Good news for dogs and cats across the country.
See some 2022 highlights
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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
Three people from Horry County Animal Care Center and Best Friends in a dog kennel, with one person pointing

Reviving the spirit of a South Carolina animal shelter

A county shelter in Conway, South Carolina, was overcrowded, underfunded and suffered from a low save rate until a mentorship with Best Friends inspired lifesaving changes.
See their improvement
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Fluffy puppy between a person's legs with hands holding her

Stopping puppy mills

It involves not only passing humane laws, but thwarting the industry’s ever-expanding sales tactics.
Learn more
Best Friends Magazine
A dog being spayed or neutered in Houston

Surgical superstar volunteers help with pet spay/neuter

More Houston pets are being spayed or neutered each week, thanks to help from an amazing volunteer team.
See the different ways they help
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Black and white medium-hair cat lying on a shelf

Vancouver area felines hit the jackpot

Cats of all kinds benefit from Rachael Ray Save Them All Grant to Humane Society of Southwest Washington
See how TNVR helps
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Person smiling and hugging a black and white speckled dog

Raining cats and dogs at the Sanctuary

The team welcomes hundreds of new dogs and cats to their canyon-cradled home-between-homes.
Collaboration saving lives
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Person wearing Best Friends hat, hugging a German shepherd, by the Mission Hills location

A new chapter in Los Angeles

Best Friends is centralizing operations in the city.
See what's changing in L.A.
Julie Castle Blog
Three puppies on a Kuranda-type bed

A setback in lifesaving and what it means

The number of cats and dogs killed in U.S. shelters increased in 2021.
See why
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
Smiling person getting kissed on the face by a dog

Matchmaking, animal shelter style

Shelter collaborative program may be the last piece of the no-kill puzzle.
See our matchmaking in action
Best Friends Magazine
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No-kill 2025 halftime report

We're at the midpoint from the time I announced the goal of taking the country to no-kill by 2025, so let's look at what we've accomplished.
Julie Castle Blog
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Southern Utah University and Best Friends team up to offer nation’s first university-backed leadership program

Best Friends is now offering an Executive Leadership Certification (ELC) program in animal welfare backed by Southern Utah University (SUU).
Julie Castle Blog
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Zeroing in on no-kill nationwide by 2025

Texas, California, Florida, North Carolina and Georgia are the states with the most dogs and cats in shelters being killed. Here's how we're helping.
Julie Castle Blog