About
Best Friends Animal Society is a national animal welfare organization headquartered in Kanab, Utah, working to end the killing of dogs and cats in America's shelters. Founded in 1984, it operates the nation's largest sanctuary for homeless animals in Angel Canyon near Kanab and leads a nationwide no-kill movement in partnership with thousands of shelters and rescue groups.
Mission
Best Friends works toward a no-kill nation where every pet has the chance to know love and companionship, with the goal of ending the killing of dogs and cats in shelters across the country.
What they do
- Operates Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Angel Canyon, Kanab, Utah — the nation's largest sanctuary for homeless animals, set on more than 3,300 acres of red-rock canyon land
- Runs adoption services, spay/neuter programs, and foster home placements
- Operates lifesaving centers in five regions: Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Northwest Arkansas, and Salt Lake City
- Leads the Best Friends Network, working with more than 6,000 shelters and rescue groups throughout the U.S.
- Provides educational initiatives for the public and animal welfare professionals
History
Best Friends was established in 1984, when a group of friends settled in a remote canyon in Utah's high desert with roughly 200 rescued dogs and cats, plus rabbits, birds, and burros, aiming to create a place of healing where every animal, regardless of special needs, would feel welcomed. By 1990, the sanctuary housed 1,500 or more animals on any given day. In 2016, the organization announced its "2025 goal": a commitment to end the killing of dogs and cats in shelters across the country by the end of 2025.
Scale and impact
When Best Friends was founded in 1984, an estimated 17 million dogs and cats were killed annually in U.S. shelters. The organization cites major progress in the decades since: in Utah, annual shelter killing dropped from about 46,000 in 1994 to about 8,000 in 2014, and Los Angeles went from a 56% save rate in 2012 to achieving no-kill status by 2020. Best Friends has earned a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator.
Financials
According to ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, for the fiscal year ending September 2025 Best Friends Animal Society reported total revenue of $173.8 million, total expenses of $175.7 million, and total assets of $194.7 million. Contributions made up 95.5% of revenue (about $165.9 million).
Governance
Best Friends Animal Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 23-7147797), tax-exempt since 1971. Julie Castle serves as CEO.