No-Kill Stories

Amra and Rhonda the dogs beside a pick-up truck at Dogtown

40 fun facts about Best Friends Animal Society

Celebrate Best Friends’ 40th anniversary with little-known fun facts about the San...
Learn more
Feature
Francis Battista with multiple dogs outside in Angel Canyon

Reflections on our relationship to pets

Ultimately, animals are essential to our wholeness as human beings, so we must sav...
The core of our mission to end the killing in shelters
Best Friends Magazine
Black, brown and white dog with upright ears

Reinstate funding and staff positions at Los Angeles Animal Services

Tax dollars should not fund the killing of dogs and cats in shelters.
Funding and staffing should be dedicated to lifesaving
Julie Castle Blog
Cricket

Yes, I’m going there: My thoughts on Kristi Noem killing her dog Cricket

How could a no-kill organization not weigh in?
Read my thoughts
Julie Castle Blog
Childing hugging a brown puppy who is wearing a red bandana

From Times Square with love

Pop-up event in New York City spreads the message to help get pets out of shelters...
See some puppies and familiar faces
Feature
Smiling person rubbing the belly of a dog lying on his side

Killing in shelters would end if 6% more people adopted

Best Friends takes over Times Square to bring love home.
Help get more dogs and cats out of shelters and into homes
Julie Castle Blog
Emily Hirtle in a vehicle holding a small black puppy with a gloved hand

Meeting the challenge of saving pets in Mississippi

Best Friends is implementing proven strategies at the Rankin County Animal Shelter...
Shelter save rate increasing
Feature
Selfie of Kylie LaVigne hugging Koda the dog

Spirited stray dog loses leg but gains a new home

When the word went out that Koda needed a foster home following surgery, Kylie vol...
Now they're a happy family
Feature
Person at eye level with an orange tabby cat

New programs help save more dogs and cats in Nebraska

Best Friends and Nebraska Humane Society are working together on programs and stra...
They now hope to be a guiding light to other organizations
Feature
Best Friends marketing intern Jazmin Aguilar holding a dog wearing a pink Adopt Me bandanna

Intern makes lasting impact for Brownsville pets

Through her shelter marketing internship with Best Friends, Jazmin is helping home...
Residents encouraged to get involved
Feature
Person bending down to kiss Pluto the puppy

Tennessee animal shelter’s rapid turnaround

Rhea County Animal Shelter’s save rate hit the no-kill threshold four months in a ...
Embed program offers a solid foundation
Feature
Person walking a heeler-type dog outside

Public support is the answer to Los Angeles Animal Services' crisis

Angelenos are a largely untapped reservoir of support for shelter pets.
Urge Los Angeles Animal Services to engage the public
Julie Castle Blog
Mama the dog with a smiling woman

A new life for dogs rescued from dogfighting

29 dogs put cruelty in the past and begin new lives after being saved in South Car...
Helping the underdogs
Feature
A group of people outside the Sevier County Animal Shelter in Utah

No-kill in Sevier County: A big win for dogs and cats

Shelby Jackman made it her mission to bring her rural county shelter in Utah to no...
Establishing a network for lifesaving
Feature
The governor of Utah, Gov. Spencer Cox, holding the written declaration as well as a kitten with Best Friends CEO Julie Castle behind him

Gov. Cox declares 2024 No-Kill Shelter Year in Utah

A commitment on a government level to reach no-kill by year’s end
Utah is so close to no-kill
Julie Castle Blog