No-kill shelters are now the norm
There’s a tipping point in all great things. It’s the moment the scales shift their balance — when the heavy and seemingly impossible lift to achieve social change suddenly takes on momentum of its own, becoming an unstoppable force. We are at the tipping point of the no-kill movement.
Last year, nearly 4 million dogs and cats were saved in U.S. shelters — a direct result of increased support, collaboration, and an unwavering belief that we can, and must, do better. In a nutshell, it’s the result of the no-kill movement.
The no-kill movement is no longer a hopeful idea or a distant dream. It’s real. It’s working. And it’s spreading. Nearly 2 out of 3 shelters in America are now no-kill. Ten states have publicly declared their commitment to this lifesaving benchmark through no-kill proclamations in the past year, setting a powerful precedent and inspiring other states to follow suit. Four states are already no-kill, with eight more needing to save fewer than 500 additional animals to get there. The majority of shelters across the country — 80% — are saving 80% or more of the pets who enter their care.
In a world where data can often feel cold and distant, here’s what matters most: All this progress means millions of individual lives, each with their own stories and potential, are being saved.
Nearly a decade ago in 2016, Best Friends Animal Society declared a bold, history-making goal: to make every shelter in America no-kill. We put a stake in the ground, not just as a signal of where we were headed but as a promise to the animals, to the people who love them, and to the movement that’s grown in strength ever since. When we set that goal, more than 1 million animals were killed in U.S. shelters. Eight years later in 2024, that number dropped to 425,000 — a nearly 60% decrease, thanks to growing public support and momentum for no-kill shelter programs. Our commitment to no-kill nationwide, forged in partnership with shelters, rescue groups, community leaders, and people like you, has helped to reshape the landscape of animal welfare in this country. No-kill is the new norm. It’s what communities expect. It’s what Americans want. And it’s what’s saving lives every single day.
Last year, the number of cats killed in shelters reached its lowest point in history, falling to 188,000 — a remarkable 10.5% decrease from 2023. America is proving that we care about cats, and shelters are implementing programs that show it: community cat programs, trap-neuter-vaccinate-return initiatives, kitten fostering, and more.
At the same time, dog lifesaving is facing a harder climb. The number of dogs killed in shelters rose 6.2% in 2024. It’s a sobering reminder that while we’ve come so far, the work is not done. But this insight is exactly why we analyze data. Based on this knowledge, we can now adjust programming to further increase support for dogs in shelters through proven strategies. Intake prevention, lost pet reunification, pathway planning, and removing barriers to adoption are just examples of lifesaving programs that are tried and true and, when scaled and supported, save lives.
Another positive data point? Adoption is trending in the right direction. In 2024, adoptions of cats and dogs in shelters increased by 4.1%. And here’s where you come in: Millions of households will welcome a new pet this year. If just 1 in 17 of those households chose to adopt from a shelter, rather than purchase their next pet, we could reach no-kill nationwide. One in 17. That’s not just possible — that’s within reach. Be the one. Be the adopter. Be the volunteer. Be the donor. Be the person who calls your local shelter and says, “I support no-kill, and I want to help.”
If you’re working in animal welfare, this data tells an equally powerful story. It’s a roadmap of what’s working and what we must keep doing to push forward. Maintain and expand community cat programs. Help more lost dogs get home. Break down the obstacles that keep pets from entering homes. Strengthen transfer partnerships and transport programs. Keep or begin offering critical services like low-cost spay/neuter and vaccines. When shelters and communities embrace these proven programs, animals live. It’s that simple.
The no-kill tipping point is here. We’re standing on the edge of a future where every dog and cat who can be saved is saved. Together, we’ve built this momentum. Together, we’ve rewritten the story of what’s possible for homeless pets in this country. And together, we’ll take it the rest of the way.
-Julie
