Coast-to-Coast Commitment to No-Kill: Governors Prioritize Increasing Pet Lifesaving

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Nearly One-Third of Governors Have Issued No-Kill Proclamations as Connecticut, Kansas, and Iowa Round-Out the Sweet Sixteen

Above: Utah Governor, Spencer Cox, signs the first no-kill proclamation

From coast-to coast, Governors are committing to saving the lives of their states’ dogs and cats by signing no-kill proclamations. The latest signings in Connecticut, Kansas, Iowa and Oregon, round out the sweet sixteen states as a wave of no-kill momentum continues to spread across the U.S. 


Best Friends Animal Society, a leading national animal welfare organization working to end the killing of dogs and cats in America's shelters and make the entire country no-kill*, welcomes this pivotal step for pet lifesaving efforts across the country.  


New sample data from Best Friends looking at the first half of 2025 shows Americans helped save 19% more pets in shelters when compared to the same period last year. The organization's data also shows that nearly 2 out of 3 U.S. shelters are already no-kill, with close to half of the shelters that are not-yet-no-kill being less than 100 pets away from reaching this lifesaving milestone. 


“Governors supporting the no-kill movement by issuing proclamations in 16 states across the country shows that taking the nation no-kill is both supported and achievable—if we all do our part,” said Julie Castle, CEO, Best Friends Animal Society. “Our hope is that people feel empowered to step-up and make a difference for dogs and cats in their communities. Every individual is a key piece of the puzzle when it comes to helping their respective state become no-kill.” 


Further amplifying the impact of these proclamations, local animal shelter and rescue group partners are celebrating their state’s milestones with adoption events to increase the impact and help even more dogs and cats find loving homes.   

The sweet sixteen states that have acted for their local dogs and cats through statewide proclamations include: 

  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • Connecticut
  • Georgia
  • Idaho
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi
  • Montana
  • North Dakota
  • Oregon
  • Virginia
  • Utah
  • Washington
  • West Virginia 

“The first Governor proclamation happened in our home state of Utah, kickstarting a national movement. Best Friends has always known no-kill is possible. Now, having the formalized support at the state level, with just under one-third of Governors working to save their states’ shelter pets proves that we are paving the way for a day where no pet is killed simply for not having a safe place to call home,” said Castle.  
 
Individuals can make an immediate difference choosing to adopt their next pet instead of purchasing from a breeder or pet store. Additional ways to help include fostering, volunteering, and advocating for the lives of dogs and cats in their community. 
 
To learn more visit bestfriends.org.   
 
*No-kill is defined by a 90% save rate for animals entering a shelter and is a meaningful and common-sense benchmark for measuring lifesaving progress. Typically, the number of pets who are suffering from irreparable medical or behavioral issues that compromise their quality of life and prevent them from being rehomed is not more than 10% of all dogs and cats entering shelters. For any community to be no-kill, all stakeholders in that community must work together to achieve and sustain that common goal while prioritizing community safety and good quality of life for pets as guiding no-kill principles. This means cooperation among animal shelters, animal rescue groups, government agencies, community members and other stakeholders, all committed to best practices and protocols.   

About Best Friends Animal Society

Best Friends Animal Society is a leading animal welfare organization dedicated to saving the lives of dogs and cats in America's shelters and making the entire country no-kill. Founded in 1984, Best Friends runs lifesaving facilities and programs nationwide in partnership with more than 5,500 shelters and rescue organizations. From our headquarters in Kanab, Utah, we also operate the nation's largest no-kill animal sanctuary — a destination that brings our mission to life for thousands of visitors each year. We maintain the most comprehensive animal sheltering data in the country and make it accessible to the public — empowering communities with critical insights into the needs of their local shelters and how they can help. We believe every dog and cat deserves a home. And we believe that, by working together, we can Save Them All®.