No-Kill Stories

Smiling person sitting on a couch while holding a cat

National adoption weekend for dogs and cats

Thinking of adopting a pet? The time is now.
Learn more
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Group of people surrounding a dog outside a wire crate

How animal services officers are saving more pets

Best Friends works with animal services officers to reduce shelter intake and reun...
See how their work affects no-kill 2025
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Two brown puppies wearing shirts sitting on a chair

Supporting California animal shelters to reach no-kill

Best Friends’ shelter collaborative program leverages one shelter’s no-kill status...
Read about their new lifesaving efforts
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Black and tan dog standing on a gray cushion

Best Friends’ 2022 dataset points to no-kill progress

Let’s make every shelter and every community no-kill by 2025
See the big picture
Julie Castle Blog
Green cart holding a litter of five black and white puppies

Lifesaving soars with new shelter practices

Lehigh Valley Humane Society celebrates reaching a 90% save rate for the first tim...
See what's changed
Best Friends Magazine
Several dogs snuggling together on a dog bed

27 dogs and cats find sanctuary at Best Friends

A mystery in the middle of the desert, these dogs and cats needed help — but now t...
From the Sanctuary to homes of their own
Best Friends Magazine
Person wearing an animal services officer shirt holding a small dog or puppy backwards over his shoulder in a kennel area

Helping small animal shelters has a big impact

Best Friends is leveraging the power of networking and peer mentoring to engage or...
See how mentorships help save cats and dogs
Best Friends Magazine
Volunteers Russ and Elizabeth Duszak in front of a display at the Best Friends Pet Resource Center in Northwest Arkansas

Nearly 2 decades of volunteering with Best Friends

Russ Duszak, a commercial pilot, and his wife, Elizabeth, have volunteered in anim...
Helping Best Friends animals around the country
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Volunteer Lisa Zarek holding a black and white puppy

From finance exec to service for animals

Lisa Zarek supports new volunteers, coaches foster caregivers, and connects with s...
Read what motivates her to volunteer
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Volunteer wearing a Best Friends T-shirt sitting down and hand-feeding a treat to a dog

An enormous thank-you to Best Friends volunteers

This week is for you.
Celebrating volunteers who help animals nationwide
Julie Castle Blog
The outside of the Best Friends Pet Resource Center in Northwest Arkansas at dusk

The next wave of animal sheltering is here

Celebrating the grand opening of the Best Friends Pet Resource Center in Northwest...
Read about history being made
Julie Castle Blog
Two people holding puppies standing in front of dog kennels

Pine Bluff Animal Control makes huge lifesaving strides

Best Friends embed program helps Arkansas shelter save more dogs and cats.
Read about their big changes
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Sadie the black and white pit bull type dog, smiling with tongue out

A new day for animals at an Alabama shelter

Prattville/Autauga Humane Society welcomes Best Friends embed staff to assist them...
Efforts increase their save rate
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Captain Cowpants the dog lying in front of a Capitol building

How you can advocate for shelter animals in 2023

A few suggestions for your New Year’s resolutions
10 ways to make a difference
Julie Castle Blog
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