Outreach and Embed Programs Stories

Luna the cat in a kennel

Transformative changes for cats at York County SPCA

Pennsylvania animal shelter revamps its approach to saving cats with assistance from Best Friends embed team.
Collaboration increases save rate
Best Friends Magazine
A person cradling a dog while another person checks out his feet at a Ruff Haven Crisis Sheltering clinic

Streetwise help for people and their pets

Ruff Haven Crisis Sheltering, formed in the midst of the pandemic, is blazing trails in Utah with new, innovative community sheltering services.
Keeping people and their pets together
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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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Volunteer reaching down to pet a brown dog in a kennel

Unique volunteer roles at Florida animal shelter

Pasco County Animal Services in Florida welcomes volunteers to help with everything from driving animal control officers to making TikTok videos.
See their innovative opportunities
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Keith Slim-Tolagai with a dog on his lap, sitting in the open door of a transport van

Lifesaving rides for pets in Navajo Nation

Hundreds of dogs and cats each month find a fresh start in a new place, one drive at a time.
Read about their transports
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Esmerelda the cat lying on her person Chase

Happy tails from adopted pets

These pets recently adopted from Best Friends are living (and loving) large
See their happy faces
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Smiling person holding a small black kitten, next to a mobile home

Community conversations help cats in a Louisiana parish

With guidance from the Best Friends national embed program, staff at St. Tammany Animal Shelter talked with neighbors to get them on board to help save cats.
Read about their lifesaving programs
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Family adopting a puppy at the National Adoption Weekend

Thousands of pets go home, thanks to Bounty

Bounty picked up adoption fees for the pets of Best Friends and our partners during National Pet Month, helping more than 5,000 find homes.
See some happy new families
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Leon the blind orange tabby kitten lying on a blanket

Blind kitten with the heart of a lion

Leon lost his eyes when he was a tiny kitten, but today he’s having the time of his life with his best kitten buddy in his new home.
Read about his progress
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Best Friends caregiver hugging a boxer dog

It’s time we have a conversation about pay

Personal sacrifice and passion cannot be the price of admission into nonprofit animal welfare.
Fair compensation needed for animal caregivers
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
Brown puppy with a cast on his leg

New veterinary resources for pets in Navajo Nation

Soul Dog Rescue and Nuzzles & Co. team up to provide spay/neuter and wellness resources for pets with the help of a grant from Best Friends.
Read how they keep pets and people together
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Family adopting two cats

5 animal shelters with soaring cat save rates

Best Friends’ embed program is helping these shelters save more cats than ever before.
Read about their successes
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Person holding a puppy on an orange leash next to a Best Friends-branded vehicle

Communication, collaboration and cooperation

People are coming together in the spirit of saving animals and sharing knowledge and experience to save more lives.
Julie Castle Blog
Couple adopting a kitten from Little Lion Foundation in front of a backdrop that says I adopted a Little Lion

Embed program helps California kitten rescue expand fundraising

Little Lion Foundation gets help in building financial sustainability to save more kittens.
Meet Owen, the kitten who changed everything
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