Your impact: Lifesaving collaboration across every community
Indeed, building no-kill momentum is more than just a strategy — it’s creating real, measurable change for homeless pets across the country. Thanks to your support, lives are being saved in new ways, shelters are growing stronger and more resilient, and communities are rallying together:
22 statewide no-kill proclamations
Following Utah’s proclamation in early 2024, leaders in 21 more states have issued official proclamations supporting the no-kill goal to save every dog and cat in shelters who can be saved. Together, these 22 proclamations are building public awareness and motivating local communities to embrace change.
Coast-to-coast disaster relief
Together with our partners, we responded rapidly to hurricanes across the Southeast, wildfires in Los Angeles, and floods in Texas — moving thousands of animals to safety, delivering essential supplies, and helping to reunite pets with families. Beyond immediate disaster relief, these efforts supported community response and recovery and formed lasting partnerships for continued lifesaving.
Over 82,000 new community advocates
Best Friends’ grassroots advocacy team has grown to over 200,000 members, up from more than 117,000 last year. Five in-person summits, plus one held virtually, trained and mobilized advocates to take concrete lifesaving actions. Around 30% of summit attendees were new to Best Friends.
13 rural shelters ‘adopted’
The Prince and Paws Shelter Collaborative Program — named for the adopted pets of the program’s lead investor — launched an “adopt-a-shelter” model to support small, rural shelters where traditional strategies often fall short. Piloted in Virginia with Richmond Animal League “adopting” 13 shelters, the program has since grown to include nearly 300 shelters across 31 states since 2021.
Network challenge boosts lost pet reunions by 170%
Bossier City Animal Services in Louisiana achieved no-kill for the first time, thanks in part to their participation in the Best Friends Network’s Return-to-Home Challenge. Across participating shelters, the challenge drove a 170% increase in “in-field” reunions — meaning lost pets were returned home without having to enter the shelter.
Your kindness has already provided hope and healing to so many animals simply hoping for a small miracle. And as we head into the holiday season, your generosity will ensure pets around the country find loving families of their very own. We can’t thank you enough for your unwavering dedication and steadfast support.
