Julie Castle with Sunny the dog

Julie Castle's Blog

Julie Castle is Chief Executive Officer of Best Friends Animal Society. Read More

@BFAS_Julie

Dog in front of rainbow wall
Eight reasons to attend this year’s Best Friends National Conference
Best Friends' 2015 National Conference in Atlanta, expected to be the biggest and best ever, promises to be inspiring and…
Julie Castle Blog
Dog in front of rainbow wall
Want to help Save Them All? Talk to 10 friends today.
Share your passion for Best Friends and saving lives, and turn your friends into supporters just like you, by recruiting others…
Julie Castle Blog
Dog in front of rainbow wall
The absurdity (and tragedy) of breed-discriminatory laws
After her pit bull terrier saves her from an abusive boyfriend, woman is forced to rehome her dog because of a breed-…
Julie Castle Blog
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Badges? We don’t need no stinking badges.
When Best Friends came on the animal welfare scene in 1984, we were seen as kooky, but gradually our no-kill message spread and…
Julie Castle Blog
Dog in front of rainbow wall
A "leftover dog" becomes my guide dog
Francis and Silva's dog from a Los Angeles super adoption 15 years ago offers a unique perspective on life and connecting to…
Julie Castle Blog
Dog in front of rainbow wall
Movement leader, game-changer and 70th birthday guy
Julie Castle honors her mentor and beloved friend Francis Battista, encouraging others to offer birthday greetings to him on his…
Julie Castle Blog
Dog in front of rainbow wall
Confused about what no-kill means and doesn’t mean?
Confused about what no-kill is? There are many inaccuracies surrounding no-kill policies and practices. This post sets the record…
Julie Castle Blog
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“You mean they kill animals in this country?”
As the United States becomes more and more pet-friendly, shifts in public values lead to the social change needed to Save Them…
Julie Castle Blog
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The most effective program of all
Spreading the word about Best Friends and the no-kill movement to those outside of the animal welfare community helps save the…
Julie Castle Blog
Dog in front of rainbow wall
Farewell Bela
With heavy hearts we say goodbye to Bela the dog, who had to be humanely euthanized following unexpected diagnosis of a fast-…
Julie Castle Blog
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Will declawing be outlawed in New York?
Animal-friendly legislation is introduced that could make New York the first state in the U.S. to make declawing of domestic cats…
Julie Castle Blog
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Why we shouldn't sugarcoat the deaths of thousands of shelter pets every day
Most animals who die in America's shelters are killed, not euthanized. The difference matters.
Julie Castle Blog
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The best is yet to come
With the 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, National Conference, Strut Your Mutt, and many positive trends, 2015 looks to…
Julie Castle Blog
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160,000 animals saved during 2014: Best Friends' 30th anniversary year
As 2014 and Best Friends' 30 year anniversary draws to a close, Bela's arrival is just the latest among many year-end…
Julie Castle Blog
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Bela is coming to Best Friends
We are thrilled to announce that Bela has been released to Best Friends Animal Society and we are currently arranging his…
Julie Castle Blog