No-Kill Stories

Bedford Animal Shelter staff in front of an American and Texas flag holding a Best Friends award and stuffed dog

Texas town celebrates animal shelter’s no-kill milestone

Bedford’s amazing accomplishment brought a wave of pride as city leaders and anima...
They are an example for the region
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Child lying in grass between two dogs

5 lifesaving wins you might’ve missed...

If summer slipped away from you too, here are 5 wins for the animals to get you ca...
Stories to inspire you
Julie Castle Blog
Animal control officer petting a shepherd dog

Sometimes lifesaving happens on the road, not in a shelter

When you do what’s right for an individual animal, everybody wins. What I love ...
Helping pets and their people
Julie Castle Blog
Coda the brown and white dog with tongue out, outside wearing a harness and leash

W.Va. animal shelter goes from last stop to lifesaving

Kassy Slack and her team are making changes at Harrison County Animal Control and ...
Compassion in action
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Rio the dog beside a chain-link fence

A better way to reunite lost pets with their people

Communities are stepping up to get pets back home quickly, easing stress for pets,...
Golden rule for found pets
Best Friends Magazine
Person holding a Chihuahua rescued from a puppy mill over her shoulder. The dog is tattooed on his ear and is wearing an identification collar.

The simple way to stop puppy mills

Pet sellers keep finding new ways to churn out unhealthy puppies and kittens, and ...
Lessons learned
Best Friends Magazine
Three people rescuing two dogs in a boat

Hurricane Katrina, 20 years later: What we saw, learned, and how animals fare better today

A solemn remembrance of the catastrophe that changed us all. Twenty years ago t...
Hurricane Katrina was lifechanging for the rescuers and reshaped disaster response within animal welfare itself
Julie Castle Blog
Person cradling a cat in her arms

No-kill is inevitable — the Magnolia State is showing us how

Mississippi communities are writing the blueprint for no-kill. They’re showing us ...
Mississippi is making lifesaving possible despite all odds
Julie Castle Blog
Tan and white dog with upright ears smiling

Texas shelter redefining what it means to help pets

Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter is taking creative approaches to help pe...
Shelter raises the no-kill bar in Texas
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Williamson County Animal Shelter plaque in front of dog kennels

The communities rewriting what’s possible for pets in shelters

When we face challenges head on –– and succeed –– we celebrate those wins with pla...
Celebrating lifesaving wins with plaques
Julie Castle Blog
Two people, one holding a cat and one holding a dog

Shelter pet lifesaving is up 19% — but that’s only half the story

We are gaining ground, but we need you in the fight. For many of us, statistics...
By working together, lives are saved
Julie Castle Blog
Ledy VanKavage smiling and interacting with a dog

5 steps to using your power for pets

Expert advice from one animal lover with decades of experience in changing laws to...
Start a campaign in your community
Best Friends Magazine
Black and white dog lying on a floor wearing a pink collar beside a person's foot

Animal shelters’ no-kill state of mind

A look at the progress toward no-kill nationwide — from the states that are alread...
Everyone can do something
Best Friends Magazine
Dog gets some love at the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia

No-kill animal shelters: The new normal in America

From a large shelter in Las Vegas to a smaller one in rural Georgia, U.S. animal s...
Steady progress saves more lives
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A group of human hands wearing Best Friends logo temporary tattoos all together in a circle

Sailing through 2025: The Pelican State on no-kill

Louisiana continues to honor its legacy as the Pelican State by protecting its ani...
Have your representatives made a proclamation yet?
Julie Castle Blog