Thank you for visiting the Best Friends Network at the 2024 Best Friends National Conference!
We want to keep the conversation going.
Learn more about how you can stay connected and engaged with us.
Become A Best Friends Network Partner
By becoming a Best Friends Network Partner, you gain free access to exclusive resources, one-on-one training, grant opportunities, and an extensive network of over 4,800 organizations to save animals in need.
Together, we can make an even bigger impact.
Have questions about the network? We'd love to hear from you!
Join Shelter Pet Data Alliance (SPDA)
Unlock the Power of Your Data: $10K Grant Opportunity
Sharing your data on Shelter Pet Data Alliance can help you understand how to make the biggest impact in animal lifesaving at your organization, by comparing your own data to similar organizations.
To further support your lifesaving efforts, we are offering a $10,000 grant opportunity exclusive to organizations attending the 2024 Best Friends National Conference for uploading their data in SPDA for all of 2023 and 2024 (through June) by Monday, July 29 at 11:59pm ET to be eligible. Not on SPDA yet? Sign up now and upload your data.
Have questions or need support? Contact us!
Subscribe To The Best Friends Network Mailing List
Sign up to receive email updates on everything happening with the Best Friends Network, from our network partner wins to more exclusive grant opportunities.
Sign up to receive emails from the network
Don't forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, and if you're a Best Friends Network Partner, join our partner-exclusive Facebook group.
Additional Opportunities
Learning Advancement - Scholarships to strengthen your credentials
Whether you’re an experienced animal services professional looking to grow your career or new to the field, the partnership between Best Friends and Southern Utah University offers unique learning opportunities in contemporary animal services tailored to fit your needs — from degree programs to professional certifications and credentials.
The Best Friends Learning Advancement team will be offering scholarships for the following:
- 5 awards for Introduction to Animal Services course
- 5 awards for Finding Success in Animal Services
- 1 Speedway Bachelor of General Studies Degree with a focus in Animal Services
Scholarship winners will be announced at the Best Friends Learning Advancement booth in the conference hub on Saturday, July 13th, at 1 PM. You must be present to win. Learn more about all courses and programs at bfas.org/learn.
Regional Connections - Find your local Best Friends strategist
The regional team members are dedicated to helping the Network partners in their region be successful. These experts are your contact should you need assistance locally.
Connect with Best Friends regional strategists in your area.
Resources
Do:
- Quality of life assessment – U.S. animal shelter staff wellbeing
- Shelter self-assessment tool for increasing positive outcomes for (big) dogs
Read:
- 2023 National Data Report
- Digital Paws: Revolutionizing Animal Welfare Through Social Media Marketing
- Community Cat Programs Handbook
- Literature review: Housing
- Literature review: Adoptions
- Setting the record straight on managed intake
- Conversation-based adoption services
- Training new animal care staff
- Volunteer program overview training playbook
Watch:
- Caring for the People that Care for Animals: Prioritizing Staff Well-being in Animal Welfare
- Successfully marketing and adopting hard-to-place pets
- Using transparency to empower and support your community
- Expanding your walls: maximize lifesaving with a community-based foster program
- Lifesaving with the latest data technology webinar series
- Peer to peer fundraising webinar
Listen:
- Managed intake programs: finding the best possible outcomes for pets
- If "nobody's perfect," then why do we expect all pet adopters to be?
- Managing our mental health