Virginia shelters take on the community cat challenge

This July, something big is happening for cats in Virginia. Three local shelters are participating in the community cat challenge, a month-long effort to increase cat lifesaving through community cat programs. Your support can help them succeed.

Regional Animal Shelter of King William County, Pulaski Animal Shelter, and Alleghany Humane Society are expanding their trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) and return-to-field or shelter-neuter-return (RTF/SNR) programs. These are proven strategies that reduce shelter admissions and help keep cats who live outdoors safe and healthy in the community.

RTF/SNR programs often involve animal services officers working to keep community cats from being unnecessarily admitted to a shelter. When these cats are brought in, they are evaluated, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, ear-tipped (the universal sign that a cat has been spayed or neutered), and returned to where they were found. This helps cats live safely in their outdoor homes while freeing up shelter resources.

These Virginia shelters are close to reaching no-kill for cats. Their goals are within sight:

• Regional Animal Shelter of King William County: 45 more cats to save
• Pulaski Animal Shelter: 44 more cats to save
• Alleghany Humane Society: 34 more cats to save

Since 2016, the number of cats killed in shelters nationwide has dropped by over 72%, thanks largely to TNVR and RTF/SNR programs. With the support of Best Friends, these shelters are putting lifesaving strategies into practice.

Organizations that meet the community cat challenge requirements will receive a $2,500 grant. Top-performing shelters are also eligible for:

• A $10,000 grant for the greatest year-over-year decrease in cats killed
• A $500 Tomahawk Live Trap gift certificate for each of the top five performers

As Best Friends Network Partners, these shelters receive expert guidance, grants, training, and access to a national community committed to reaching no-kill across the country and right here in Virginia.

Not near Regional Animal Shelter of King William County, Pulaski Animal Shelter, or Alleghany Humane Society? You can still make a difference by supporting your own local shelter. Every shelter benefits from passionate community members like you. Whether you donate, volunteer, or speak up for animals, you are helping to create a stronger no-kill Virginia.

Share your support online

Post a photo of a community cat you care about and tag it with #SaveThemAll to spread awareness.

See the impact you're making

Virginia has reduced the number of dogs and cats killed in shelters by 65% since 2016. Your support continues to push that number closer to zero.

Join our upcoming advocacy training

Join us on June 26 at 6 p.m. for our Action Team training, Words Matter, featuring special guests from the Animal Farm Foundation. This session will focus on how the language we use in animal sheltering can shape public perception, strengthen advocacy efforts, and build greater support for local shelters.

Register Here to Join the Training

Together, we can help these shelters save more cats and bring Virginia closer to becoming no-kill for all pets.

Learn how you can support lifesaving in Virginia. You will also find a list of local TNVR services that are helping community cats in neighborhoods across the state.

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.