Empowering Animal Advocates in New York

Let’s be honest, no animal deserves to die just because there's no room at a shelter for them.

If you're an animal lover living in New York, this will tug at your heart: every day across the U.S., healthy, adoptable dogs and cats are still being put down simply because shelters are too full. But here’s the good news: things are changing, and you can be part of it.

A Virtual Event With a Real-Life Impact

Best Friends Animal Society, one of the most respected animal welfare organizations in the country, is hosting a free, two-day online event that’s open to anyone who wants to be a voice for animals.

It’s happening Thursday, June 12, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday, June 13, from 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Whether you’re in Binghamton, Buffalo, Brooklyn, or anywhere in between, you can log in, learn, and take action, all from the comfort of your own home.

Why This Matters More Than Ever

In 2023, Americans saved 4 million dogs and cats from dying in shelters. Let that sink in. This kind of progress is possible because people like you are standing up, speaking out, and choosing to adopt instead of shop. Over the past eight years, there’s been a 60% drop in pets being euthanized for space. That’s not just a number, it’s millions of lives.

Together, We Could Make the U.S. a No-Kill Country

You might be wondering, what does “no-kill” actually mean? It means shelters save at least 90% of the animals they take in. Some pets have untreatable conditions and can’t be saved, but the majority just need time, love, and a home.

Right now, Best Friends believes we’re this close to getting there. If just 1 in 17 more people chose to adopt instead of buying a pet, we could reach no-kill status nationwide.

Real Tools for Real People (Like You)

This isn’t just another webinar. The summit is packed with sessions that tackle real-life issues, especially ones we see right here in New York. Topics include:

Why big dogs are the hardest to rehome, and what we can do about it
How you and your community can help keep pets out of shelters in the first place
The truth about TNVR (Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return) programs for cats
Understanding pet laws without getting overwhelmed by legal jargon

From Local Action to National Change

Laura Donahue from Best Friends said it best: “Driving national change through local action has been at the heart of the Bring No-Kill Home Summits.” And it’s true. It doesn’t matter if you’ve volunteered at a rescue for years or just adopted your first kitten your voice matters.

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You Can Do This and You Don’t Have to Do It Alone

Best Friends wants every single attendee to walk away with practical, doable things they can do to help. You don’t need to run a shelter. You don’t need a fancy title, you just have to register here and sign the no-kill pledge. The event is free, online, and open to everyone.

RANKED: Here Are the 63 Smartest Dog Breeds

Does your loyal pup's breed make the list? Read on to see if you'll be bragging to the neighbors about your dog's intellectual prowess the next time you take your fur baby out for a walk. Don't worry: Even if your dog's breed doesn't land on the list, that doesn't mean he's not a good boy--some traits simply can't be measured.

Gallery Credit: Sabienna Bowman