Danville Deserves Better — and it’s happening

In Danville, a powerful shift is underway — one that’s making it easier for families to care for the pets they love. Through community outreach, free resources, and positive engagement, the Danville Deserves Better campaign is helping write a new story for pets and their people in southern Virginia.

Spearheaded by Best Friends Animal Society, Danville Deserves Better is a locally driven effort to support the community with lifesaving resources, education, and compassionate collaboration. At its heart is a simple mission: save more lives by working together.

Danville has historically struggled with one of the lowest save rates (the percentage of pets who leave the shelter alive) in Virginia. But that reality is starting to shift, thanks to a growing network of local partners, national support, and passionate advocates coming together to create a more humane system for pets and people. This movement isn’t about placing blame; it’s about building trust, increasing access to care, and giving the community the tools and support it needs to keep pets safe and loved. It also means calling for more transparency in how the local shelter operates and reports outcomes, so progress can be measured, shared, and improved upon. When it comes to saving lives, it’s a challenge — and a responsibility — that belongs to all of us. Together, we’re proving that progress is possible when we lead with compassion, not judgment.

A cornerstone of this work is the Danville Deserves Better Pet Resource Center & Pet Pantry, a growing hub of support for local families with pets. From free pet food distributions to free wellness hours, the pantry is helping people and pets stay together, even during tough times. Thanks to a generous donation from Blue Buffalo, the pantry recently received 24,000 pounds of pet food to help ensure that no cat or dog in Danville goes hungry.

By listening to local needs and working together with residents and elected officials, Danville Deserves Better is building a positive path forward, rooted in kindness, collaboration, and the shared goal of increasing the save rate for shelter pets in Danville.

Since launching, the initiative has distributed over 12,000 pounds of pet food to families in need, supported hundreds of pets with medical care, and built new partnerships with local organizations committed to animal welfare and community health.

The pet pantry has made a real difference for local families — like the mother who received much-needed pet food during a challenging time, as she juggled care for her newborn and beloved pets. We were also able to step in for a woman whose home was lost to a fire, providing food for her pets so she could focus on getting back on her feet. These are just some of the many stories that remind us why this resource is so vital to our community.  Every interaction is grounded in respect, support, and the belief that Danville can do better — and will.

Learn more or get involved at: danvilledeservesbetter.org

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.