Thank you for visiting the Best Friends Network at the 2025 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 5,000 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!
Mystery Grant Opportunity For Conference Attendees
Unlock the Power of Your Data with SPDA
To further support your lifesaving efforts, we are offering a mystery amount grant opportunity exclusive to organizations attending the Best Friends National Conference for uploading their monthly data in Shelter Pet Data Alliance (SPDA) for all of 2024 and January 2025.
Become eligible for this mystery grant for your organization simply by ensuring you have an SPDA account, are a Best Friends Network Partner, and getting your data up to date by 11:59pm ET on Saturday, February 22.
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
Looking Ahead - Join upcoming events in 2025
We’re already planning for an exciting year ahead! Explore our 2025 events page to stay up-to-date on upcoming in-person events, virtual training, and exclusive opportunities that will help you connect, learn, and grow with the Best Friends Network.
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:
- Shelter Pet Lifesaving Data Preliminary 2024 Report
- January–September 2024 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