Proven Strategies

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Roadblock-free is the way to be.

Now more than ever, being a part of the sheltering and rescue community means actively looking for ways to keep pets in the places they call home and inviting more animal-loving folks to the lifesaving party. 

Learn more about removing common roadblocks below. 

Take the pledge to be roadblock-free!


Featured Resources

  • Rescue Roadblock Pledge Participants Share Their Successes: Last fall, we challenged our Network partners to become roadblock-free. By getting rid of intrusive application processes and a plethora of requirements for every dog or cat going into a new home, our industry will be better positioned to reach our shared goals of reducing the number of pets in shelters, increasing the number of animal-friendly communities, and providing more resources to keep pets in their homes in the first place.  
  • What’s Next: Reducing Racism in Animal Welfare - In this editorial, eight African-Amercian, Hispanic, Native American and mixed-race Best Friends members discuss what steps they feel we should be taking to change the face of animal welfare to one that is more inclusive and welcoming to people of all backgrounds. And the first is to take stock of where we are today.
  • Leveling the Field: How to Remove Barriers for Underrepresented Communities and their Pets -  Town hall panel discussion on animal policies and laws which inadvertently create barriers for BIPOC and lower-income communities to adopt, reclaim, and remain in compliance to keep their pets. 

Fewer pets in shelters. More resources for people with pets. More animal-friendly communities. Healthier, happier animals with safe places to call home.  

These are our shared goals. But are we all doing as much as we can to achieve them? 

For example, what does your pet adoption process look like? Is it welcoming, conversation-based and solution-oriented? Or does it have roadblocks like these:

  • Home visits
  • Vet checks
  • Landlord approvals
  • Multi-page applications
  • Family restrictions
  • Fencing requirements
  • Income questions

Now more than ever, being a part of the sheltering and rescue community means actively looking for ways to keep pets in the places they call home and inviting more animal-loving folks to the lifesaving party. 

Learn more about removing common roadblocks below. 

Take the pledge to be roadblock-free!


Download iconDOWNLOADABLE PDFs, PLAYBOOKS, & SOPs

  • Best Friends Playbook: Culture Initiatives- what culture is, why you should care deeply about it, and how to implement a culture initiative that can maximize your employees’ contributions while making each one feel exactly what they are: a unique and valued part of the team.
  • Best Friends Playbook: Open Adoptions - Basic considerations and steps that every agency can take to create a well-rounded open-adoption program. 
  • Best Friends Lifesaving Training Module: Client Service & Open Adoptions - Exceeding client service expectations to increase lifesaving. 
  • Best Friends Adoption Barrier Study  - Qualitative study to understand the pet acquisition process, existing barriers (real or perceived) to adoption, and potential solutions to overcome those barriers. 
  • Best Friends Tool: How to Use Data to Prove the Community-Supported Sheltering Model - A guide to the importance of knowing your data (especially now), what you need to be measuring, and how to use it to increase lifesaving with your community. 
  • Best Friends Pet Adoption Survey Results - How do Americans feel about pet adoption, and what do they really know about shelter animals? Those were two key questions Best Friends hoped to answer through its inaugural “Pet Adoption” survey. 
  • Hearts Speak- This easy to edit Pet Resource Guide is meant to help you create a one-stop reference tool for your community pet owners. From how to access medical or behavior expertise in your area to guidance on rehoming or what to do with community cats and everything in between, this template can be completely customized to fit the needs of your organization and your local community. 
    • Click here to access template 
    • View a tutorial on how to use and customize the template here.

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