MINI USA’s support puts Best Friends–New York in motion
When the team at Best Friends–New York drives the Best Friends MINI Countryman around the streets of Manhattan, they often get waves, honks and questions from people who see the sporty orange car with the big Best Friends logo. People want to know more about how Best Friends is working to Save Them All — in part, thanks to the sweet ride.
But the car, provided by MINI USA, is doing more than making people smile. It’s also helping save the lives of New York’s homeless pets.
“MINI‘s ongoing support plays a vital role in helping Best Friends get closer to our goal of making sure no animal is killed, simply because they don't have a place to call home” says Elizabeth Jensen, executive director of Best Friends–New York. ”We have had an enormously successful summer helping pets find homes, and this is due in large part to help from our partners like MINI USA.”
MINI USA gets pets to adoption events fast
The MINI Countryman is on the streets daily, making it possible to transport homeless pets from Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) to vet appointments, as well as foster and adopter homes. And it’s proven to be invaluable when it comes to adoption events.
Because the Best Friends Pet Adoption Center in New York is not scheduled to open until later this year, Best Friends–New York finds homes for cats and dogs by hosting adoption events all across the city — often at unique locations like Urban Outfitters and Aveda. The MINI Countryman is essential to getting pets from ACC (where all adoptable pets with Best Friends–New York come from) to the where they need to go quickly.
“It’s amazing how much the MINI Countryman helps us,” says Kristi Adams, foster and adoption coordinator for Best Friends–New York. “In a place like Manhattan, it’s great to have a car that can get us places fast in traffic and can fit all the animals and supplies we need. We can park easily in the MINI, too, which helps us transport pets easier. It’s amazing how much we can fit in the MINI.”
Get involved with Best Friends– New York
MINI USA and Best Friends work to defy labels
MINI USA has been supporting Best Friends since 2013 — first as a sponsor of Strut Your Mutt, then as a charitable partner through the company’s MINI Takes the States and Next Sales events. Most recently, MINI USA has provided two cars used in New York and Los Angeles. And MINI’s current Defy Labels campaign fits perfectly with the Best Friends mission to Save Them All by shattering the myth that shelter pets aren't desirable and may have trouble transitioning into a loving home.
"At MINI, we're all about defying labels and we know that Best Friends is working hard to change the way people see shelter pets,” says Tom Noble, head of Marketing at MINI USA. “We're thrilled to support their lifesaving work by providing the utility of the MINI Countryman to transport these pets as they take their first steps on the road to a new home."
Cats and kittens get a little help from MINI USA
This summer Best Friends–New York focused on helping more cats and kittens from ACC get adopted. Summer is the busiest time of year, and shelters can quickly become overwhelmed with cats and kittens arriving daily. When Best Friends is able to place more pets in foster homes or get them adopted, it opens more space for ACC to welcome other pets who need homes.
Within the past three months, Best Friends–New York found homes for more than 160 cats and kittens, and most of them got a ride in the MINI Countryman (at least once, if not a few times) on their journey from the shelter to homes.
“It’s because of support from companies like MINI USA that we were able to help save so many lives,” says Amy Davila, marketing manager for Best Friends–New York. “They believe in our mission and share our commitment to helping homeless pets.”