Best Friends Animal Society, a leading national animal welfare organization working to end the killing of cats and dogs in America’s shelters in 2025, recently released data showing 207,400 dogs were killed in shelters last year, simply because they didn’t have a place to call home.
Best Friends Animal Society CEO Julie Castle with her adopted dog Sunny, date and location not specified | Photo courtesy of Best Friends Animal Society, St. George News
After consideration, a press release was issued for National Dog Day to discuss how people can help save the lives of homeless canines across the country. In the United States, 568 dogs are killed in shelters every single day of the year — that’s one dog every two and a half minutes.
“Despite saving 83% of dogs that entered U.S. shelters in 2023, the number of dogs unnecessarily dying increased by 30%” Best Friends Animal Society CEO Julie Castle said. “Roughly 7 million people in America are planning to acquire a pet this year, and if just 6 percent more people chose to adopt versus purchase their pets, we would end the killing of dogs and cats in our nation’s shelters.”
On National Dog Day, Monday, Aug. 26, consider the top 5 ways to make a difference for the dogs in Southern Utah and communities nationwide.
Adopt a new best friend
When adding a new four-legged companion to their home, choosing the adoption option is one of the simplest ways to help achieve no-kill. Adopting helps save lives and reduce the demand for puppy mills or other inhumane commercial breeding facilities.
Spay and Neuter: Not only does spaying and neutering pets prevent future litters, it can directly decrease the number of pets entering shelters. Additional benefits include reducing the risk of medical problems and expenses down the line,
A dog rests on a U.S. Forest Service trail, Duck Creek, Utah, date not specified Photo by Alysha Lundgren, Cedar City News
Foster first
Not ready to adopt? Fostering is a great option that provides a pet with the space and time to decompress, while acclimating to life in a home. Fostering comes at no cost to those opening their homes, as shelter and rescue organizations typically cover all expenses while the pet is in foster. Many organizations also offer foster-to-adopt programs where individuals can see if a pet is right for their home before adopting.
Give back
Shelter staff across the country are spread thin. Walking dogs, cleaning kennels, and doing laundry are all essential tasks to keep shelters running smoothly. If a lack of time prohibits volunteering, donating provides resources to help shelters save more lives. Plus, donations don’t have to be monetary — shelters always need supplies like food, blankets, towels, and even old newspapers. Reach out to your local shelter to find out what they need.
A dog scratches an itch, Cedar City, Utah, date not specified Photo by Alysha Lundgren, Cedar City News
Utilize social media
Shelters and rescue groups often post about dogs in need at their organization. By sharing these posts on social media channels, more awareness is created which can help dogs find foster or adoptive homes. It’s a quick, free and easy way to make a positive difference.
Get informed
Best Friends in Kanab runs lifesaving programs across the country, as well as the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary, working collaboratively with a network of more than 4,800 animal welfare and shelter partners, and community members nationwide, To learn more about how to get involved, or to view adoptable pets, click here to visit the Best Friends Animal Society website.
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