Return to Home Challenge

In September 2024, the Best Friends Network hosted the Return to Home Challenge to help lost dogs find their way back home faster. Shelters, rescues, and other key animal welfare organizations across the country stepped up with innovative strategies to make a difference—and the results speak for themselves:

Thanks to the dedication of these organizations, the challenge didn’t just create immediate lifesaving impacts—it laid the groundwork for lasting change. With $345,000 in grants distributed, participating organizations were empowered to try new approaches for getting dogs back home.

Want to see how they did it?

Explore the resources, materials, and new operations that challenge participants implemented to achieve these remarkable results. Whether you’re looking for inspiration or ready to implement some proven strategies, we’ve got the tools to help you make an impact in your community.

Resources & materials:

• Downloadable Guide: Return-to-Home Challenge Marketing and Communications
• Creative Templates: Return to Home Challenge
• Return-to-Home (Owner) Training Playbook
• Field-Return-to-Home (Owner) Training Playbook
• “Beyond the Scanner: Advanced Return-to-Home (Owner) in-Field Techniques” (video)
• Place More Pets Now With These Easy Changes (webinar)

New operations they piloted:

• Use Petco Love Lost for lost and found pet reports, so all lost and found pets go into one
  central database
• Provide at least 50% of its animal control officers that engage with public microchip scanners 
• Waive or reduce reclaim fees by at least 50% 
• Rehoming/Pre-Adoption: Allow the public to view and place an adoption hold on an animal
  before the animal’s stray hold period expires
• Host low-cost or free microchipping event during September 2024 or offer free
  microchipping for the duration of September 2024 
• Publish a quality photo for all lost dogs on your website within 24 hours of intake
• Conduct in-field investigation for home
• Hang flyers for impounded animals 
• Utilize Nextdoor or Neighbors by Ring to share about lost pets

Congratulations to our grant recipients!

Highest year-over-year increase in animals Returned-to-Home (Owner) or Returned-to-Home (Owner) in-Field in September:

• Montgomery County Animal Shelter
• Northeast Missouri Humane Society
• Forest County Humane Society

Most creative solutions for Return-to-Home (Owner) practices:

• Cumberland County Animal Services
• Victoria County Animal Services

Outstanding contributions:

Participating grant recipients:

What's coming in 2025?

Thank you once again to all the incredible organizations who participated in the Return to Home Challenge. Your passion and hard work inspire us every day! We’re already planning new challenges and opportunities for 2025, and we’d love for you to be part of it—learn more and fill out our interest form!

We welcome questions! Please reach out to our team if you have any questions.