More than 35 Years of Saving Lives We are determined to bring the country to no-kill by the year 2025. Working together with you, we will Save Them All.

Best Friends Animal Society is a leading national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters. When Best Friends began in 1984, some 17 million animals were killed every year in our nation’s shelters, simply because they didn’t have safe places to call home. Today, that number is down to around 733,000. That’s incredible progress, but it also means that about 2,000 wonderful dogs and cats still lose their lives every day. Together, we can change that. For more than 35 years, Best Friends has been working with you to save homeless pets by promoting adoption, running innovative grassroots programs that support spay/neuter and trap-neuter-return (TNR), fighting puppy mills and breeddiscriminatory laws, educating the public about animal issues, holding major adoption events, and conducting both large- and small-scale animal rescues.

Best Friends has regional centers in Salt Lake City, Atlanta, New York City and Los Angeles, where we’re heading the NKLA Coalition to create a no-kill L.A. Best Friends also leads a nationwide network of nearly 3,000 animal welfare groups to help them save more lives in their own communities.

The work of Best Friends began at our scenic sanctuary located in the majestic red-rock canyons of southern Utah. The Sanctuary serves as a model of care for special-needs animals, who often need just a little extra help before they’re ready to be adopted. On any given day, about 1,600 dogs, cats and other animals from around the country take refuge here.

All of this work is made possible by the generous donations of our members.