Image courtesy Canva
Governors across the country are committing to saving the lives of dogs and cats by signing no-kill proclamations. The recent additions of Connecticut, Kansas, Iowa, and Oregon bring the total to sixteen states embracing the growing no-kill movement in the U.S.
Best Friends Animal Society, a leading national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending the killing of shelter pets, welcomes this important progress in saving more animals nationwide.
Data from Best Friends shows that in the first half of 2025, Americans helped save 19% more shelter pets compared to the same period last year. Nearly two-thirds of U.S. shelters are already no-kill, with many others close to reaching this milestone, often fewer than 100 pets away.
To celebrate these achievements, local shelters and rescue groups are hosting adoption events to help more dogs and cats find loving homes.
Individuals can support these efforts by adopting pets instead of buying from breeders or pet stores, as well as fostering, volunteering, and advocating for animal welfare in their communities.
For more information, visit bestfriends.org.
The sixteen states that have issued statewide proclamations to support their local dogs and cats include:
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Montana
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- Virginia
- Utah
- Washington
- West Virginia
*No-kill means a 90% or higher save rate for shelter animals, allowing exceptions for pets with severe medical or behavioral issues. Achieving no-kill requires cooperation among shelters, rescues, government agencies, and communities, all committed to best practices that ensure both pet welfare and public safety.
