Community-Supported Sheltering Stories

PAWS staffperson holding a tortoiseshell cat in front of stainless steel kennels

Flooded Okla. animal shelter sees outpouring of support

When trouble bubbled up, teamwork and community support kept tails wagging and spi...
When crisis strikes, community saves the day
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Renee Skipper holding a cat in front of a kennel

How a journey home to Alabama saved dogs and cats

When Lisa Barrett returned to her hometown on assignment for Best Friends, she pro...
Great things happening at Dothan Animal Shelter
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A gray kitten waves from its bowl

No-kill shelters are now the norm

There’s a tipping point in all great things. It’s the moment the scales shift thei...
The no-kill movement is real - and working.
Julie Castle Blog
Person petting a happy dog wearing a vest

How rescue groups and shelters save more pets together

Across the country, animal shelters rely on rescue groups to help them save more l...
Partnerships saves lives
Best Friends Magazine
Shepherd dog with a smiling animal control officer

Animal shelters embrace no-kill philosophy

A mindset to save lives means large animal shelters are maintaining no-kill even w...
They’ve maintained no-kill despite challenges
Best Friends Magazine
Smiling person holding a yawning puppy in a shelter

No-kill 101: The 3 pillars of saving pets in shelters

Three key pillars in modern animal services have been instrumental in saving more ...
Learn these lifesaving practices
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Shepherd-type dog in a home setting

3.4% fewer animals were killed in shelters so far in 2024

Best Friends’ latest data shows a turning point for shelters across the country....
Let’s celebrate the positive momentum in lifesaving
Julie Castle Blog
Winston and Watson the doodle-type dogs

Save rate skyrockets at a West Virginia animal shelter

With an increase in the number of dogs and cats saved from 38% to 83%, Harrison Co...
Working with the community
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Smiling caregiver holding one of the neonatal dragon kittens in gloved hands

Foster caregivers team up to save orphaned kittens

Sometimes it takes a village to save lives, and a team of foster caregivers did ju...
Meet the cutest dragons ever
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Happy dog on a leash next to a child in a shelter environment

No-kill 101: Keeping pets at home and out of shelters

Understand why your local animal shelter might ask you to make an appointment — an...
Vital programs that prioritize lifesaving
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Person at eye level with an orange tabby cat

New programs help save more dogs and cats in Nebraska

Best Friends and Nebraska Humane Society are working together on programs and stra...
They now hope to be a guiding light to other organizations
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Best Friends marketing intern Jazmin Aguilar holding a dog wearing a pink Adopt Me bandanna

Intern makes lasting impact for Brownsville pets

Through her shelter marketing internship with Best Friends, Jazmin is helping home...
Residents encouraged to get involved
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Person bending down to kiss Pluto the puppy

Tennessee animal shelter’s rapid turnaround

Rhea County Animal Shelter’s save rate hit the no-kill threshold four months in a ...
Embed program offers a solid foundation
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Person walking a heeler-type dog outside

Public support is the answer to Los Angeles Animal Services' crisis

Angelenos are a largely untapped reservoir of support for shelter pets....
Urge Los Angeles Animal Services to engage the public
Julie Castle Blog
Person holding a large black dog with upright ears

A community unites for the good of its pets and people

With support from Best Friends, the city of Roswell, New Mexico, is reviewing how ...
Embed program making a difference
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