Outreach and Embed Programs Stories

Taylor Hill with Kiba the dog in her lap

Playgroups at Arkansas shelter let a shy dog shine

Kiba was standoffish around people, but around other dogs she proved she’s a socia...
Proof that initial dog labels can be flawed
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Calico cat lying on a cat tree in the Benson Animal Shelter shed

Keeping cats cool

Benson Animal Shelter in Arizona gets a new climate-controlled space for cats, plu...
Read how networking helped
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Community service officer Sean Bus giving a thumbs up sign with Wilson the pug

The right tool reunites lost pug with family

The day after officer Sean Bus received a microchip scanner, he put it straight to...
Wilson's now reunited with his family
Best Friends Magazine
Smiling person looking at a cat they're holding in animal shelter setting

Q&A: Best Friends national shelter embed program

Michelle Logan answers questions about a one-of-a-kind program that places Best Fr...
See how it supports shelter staff and animals
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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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Person wearing a dog T-shirt with arm around a smiling pit-bull-type dog

Historic victory for dogs in Florida

Passage of legislation moves the state one step closer to a day when no breed can ...
Learn how the legislation was overturned
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RJ the cat in a kennel

Working together for pets at California shelter

Best Friends and several other organizations came together to take in 32 cats and ...
See how collaboration saves lives
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Group of dogs in a play group, some in a purple kiddie poop

Kansas animal shelter staff sees dogs in a new light

By changing the way staff members evaluate dogs, Helping Hands Humane Society gain...
See how the mentorship is helping
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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
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
Smiling person scratching the chin of a brown and white dog

The new face of animal services in Fresno

Best Friends embed program assists Fresno Humane Animal Services in setting up a c...
See how the animals and people benefit
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Person touching a smiling heeler-type dog in the back of a pick-up truck

Navajo Nation residents go the extra mile for pets

Local volunteers play a key role in how Best Friends programs serve dogs, cats, an...
See how pets are receiving veterinary care
Best Friends Magazine
Smiling person standing with two dogs outside

Animal shelters work smarter to save more lives

How Best Friends shelter assessments help organizations move closer to no-kill ...
See how small changes solve big issues
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Sophia Proler selfie with Gus the black and white dog following the tornado in Pasadena

Teamwork saves pets after Texas tornado

A tornado blew the roof off Pasadena Animal Shelter, but quick action and collabor...
Cooperation helps save lives
Best Friends Magazine