A message from Francis Battista

The idea of putting your organization on the line for a specific and very significant milestone in our mission to “bring about a time when there are no more homeless pets” is in itself notable because it is so out of the norm for cause-related organizations to hold themselves publicly accountable in such a way. It’s akin to Babe Ruth’s legendary “called shot” in the third game of the 1932 World Series — when, with the game tied in the fourth inning and the count two balls and two strikes, he pointed to the center field stands and belted the next pitch for a home run right to where he had pointed!

If we don’t hold ourselves accountable to specific goals, then we would be doing a disservice to our supporters and, most importantly, to the animals whom we have stepped forward to serve. Unfocused, generic good works for the animals are important and make a difference in the lives of many creatures. But Best Friends has chosen a specific path with a very narrow focus because the killing of our best friends in America’s shelters has gone on for too long and it must stop. Unlike “the Bambino,” we aren’t playing a game. Lives are on the line, and time is of the essence.

At our 2016 Best Friends National Conference, Julie Castle, not yet in her role as CEO (that would come about two years later), planted a stake in the ground to work with our partner organizations across the country to end the killing of healthy and treatable pets in shelters regardless of age or appearance.

The no-kill philosophy and the accompanying vision for the country expressed in our 2025 campaign was the organizing principle of the founders of Best Friends in 1984. The lives of all animals have intrinsic value, quite independent of any utility they might hold for us. Respecting that value and dedicating ourselves to protecting it became job No. 1, beginning with the homeless pets who came into our orbit and expanding to an organizational mission and, from there, a national movement.

Neither I nor my co-founders could have ever imagined how that simple idea would galvanize the intuitive understanding and feelings of millions of animal lovers the world over. But that is the way of common sense — everyone understands it when someone finally says it.

We are immeasurably grateful to you for joining us on this journey. I hope the information in this annual report will inspire you as it does me, and I know that our staff is here to expand on any topics and to answer any questions you may have.

Kind regards,

Francis Battista   
Co-founder, Board Chair
Best Friends Animal Society