The Best Friends story
It’s the story of Best Friends, but it’s much more than the history of a spot on the map. This group of ordinary but passionate people believed that every pet has a story, too — each one worth saving, each life individual and important. Today, four decades after they broke ground for a sanctuary in a remote region of the Southwest, achieving no-kill across the entire country is within reach.
We started with little fanfare
And even fewer resources. We were creating a sanctuary for homeless animals literally from the ground up. We were forging roadways and erecting buildings with our bare hands. We were creating a better world through kindness to animals.
The Sanctuary remains our anchor
But, even today, it still comes down to small, simple acts of kindness — and the belief that every animal deserves a chance.
We absolutely love animals — and we think humans are pretty swell, too
That’s why we’ve got people around the country working to make the world a kinder and more compassionate place.
Transparency, accountability, and trust
Best Friends Animal Society is committed to you, the people who make our work possible.
At Best Friends, we aim for transparency and authenticity — two of our guiding principles — in every aspect of the work we do. And because we not only depend on but trust our family of supporters, we are committed to open, two-way communication and financial transparency across the organization.
Our partners
Individually, we can save a few. But working together with you, and our foundation, corporate, and network partners, we can Save Them All.
Working together to save lives
Best Friends has always believed that collaboration is the key to saving more lives. No one rescue group or shelter can create a no-kill city, and that’s why we work with more than 4,900 shelters and rescue groups throughout the U.S.
Best Friends Network Partners are made up of thousands of public and private animal shelters, rescue groups, spay/neuter organizations, and other animal welfare groups, all working to save the lives of dogs and cats in your community and across the country.
Each and every one of our network partners needs caring people like you to adopt, foster, donate, volunteer, and advocate to help save the lives of pets where you live.