These policies help protect both people and pets by giving Texans the information they need to make informed decisions and by encouraging higher standards of care for dogs across our state.  All Texans Act Now: Join your neighbors in calling on Texas lawmakers to end puppy mills by signing this petition.  Next Steps: After signing this petition, join the Central Texas Action Team, a community of Best Friends supporters working together to advance lifesaving policies, educate decision-makers, and advocate for dogs and cats across Texas. Members get updates on key legislation, invites to advocacy events and chances to contact lawmakers when it matters most > https://tinyurl.com/ctxactionteam. *You don't have to live in Central Texas to join, anyone statewide can keep up with what's taking place in and near the state capitol! 

 The Salt Lake City Pet Adoption Center depends on volunteers, foster families, adopters, and community members every day to help homeless pets find loving homes. Their time and dedication are essential to lifesaving efforts. Recent changes to on-street parking near the adoption center have created new challenges for many of the people who make this work possible.  By signing this petition, I support efforts to make the Salt Lake City Pet Adoption Center more accessible for the people who dedicate their time to helping homeless pets. 

To become a no-kill shelter, at least 90% of the animals need to leave the shelter alive. BARC is currently at 72% — and falling — even as the national no-kill movement has reached an all-time high: 68% of U.S. shelters are no-kill, and the national save rate hit 82.5% in 2025.  That gap represents thousands of healthy, treatable pets losing their lives every year in a city full of people who want to help. Houston is falling behind, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Communities across Texas and the country have shown that no-kill is achievable when leadership commits and the community shows up. 

Families who surrender animals in times of hardship do so with the expectation that those animals will be given every possible chance. In Eve’s case, that trust was catastrophically broken. Her story is not an isolated incident - it is a reflection of systemic failures that demand immediate attention. A public town hall is a critical first step toward restoring transparency, ensuring accountability, and rebuilding a shelter system this community can trust. We urge you to act - urgently, transparently, and with the seriousness this situation demands. Please add your name below to stand with Eve and help drive the changes needed to protect vulnerable animals in your community.  For the latest updates, follow the Danville Deserves Better Facebook Page and Lynchburg Humane Society Facebook Page #NOTANOTHEREVE

Every day in Osceola County, dogs and cats—especially vulnerable puppies and litters—are at risk due to overcrowded shelters and limited placement options. According to recent data, 4,451 animals entered the shelter, but only 3,465 were saved, resulting in a 78% save rate. That leaves a gap of over 500 animals who are not making it out alive. For dogs specifically, the save rate is 71%, meaning hundreds of dogs remain at risk. At the same time, community members and rescuers are facing increasing difficulty accessing shelter support. There are ongoing challenges with intake availability, including limited acceptance of cats, strays, and owner surrenders. This leaves many animals with nowhere to go—often remaining on the streets, where they face illness, injury, or death. Animal rescues and foster families are critical to filling this gap. They step in when shelters are full—taking in litters, bottle babies, and at-risk animals who would otherwise have no chance. However, the current ordinance in Osceola County limiting households to four dogs—and counting puppies over eight weeks individually—directly prevents fosters from helping when they are needed most. This means: • Litters cannot stay together in foster care • Rescues are forced to turn animals away • More animals remain in unsafe conditions • And ultimately, more lives are lost By updating this ordinance, Osceola County can: • Save hundreds of additional lives each year • Help move closer to true no-kill status • Reduce the burden on Osceola County Animal Services • Support responsible rescues who are stepping in where gaps currently exist This is not about increasing pet ownership limits for the general public—it is about supporting regulated, compassionate rescue efforts that directly reduce suffering and prevent unnecessary deaths. If we want to close the gap and give every animal a chance, we must remove the barriers that prevent lifesaving help.

Without a plan in place, lost and stray animals will have nowhere to go; injured pets may be left without care, and residents and first responders will have no clear process to follow. Minot deserves a humane, safe, and transparent plan for animal services, and together our voices can urge city leaders to act before it is too late.  The more signatures we can show them, the more likely they are to consider this change. 

For every  dog euthanized in a shelter there are 2 cats that will meet the same fate. Dogs that exhibit behavioral issues are euthanized sooner after their arrival at the shelter than a well mannered dog. These dogs need time to decompress. They don't deserve to die! Euthanasia is not an acceptable outcome for these loving creàtions of God. Animals can't  speak for themselves, we must be their voice! Won't you join me? 

Dear Mayor, City Council Members, County Commissioners, and Community Leaders, I am writing to explain why ending the euthanasia of stray dogs and expanding animal welfare infrastructure in Tyler and Smith County is not only important—but essential to the health, values, and future of our community. First and foremost, this is a moral issue. Our stray dogs are being euthanized because there is not enough space, funding, or coordination to care for them. This places the burden of systemic shortcomings on the animals themselves. A compassionate community does not solve capacity problems by ending lives—it solves them by investing in solutions. Second, euthanasia as population control is ineffective and costly. Killing our stray dogs does not reduce intake long-term. Without adequate spay/neuter programs, foster networks, and shelter capacity, the cycle simply repeats. Communities that invest in no-kill infrastructure consistently see lower intake numbers, reduced operating costs over time, and stronger public support. Third, expanding Smith County Animal Control and supporting no-kill shelters directly improves public safety. Properly resourced facilities allow for better disease control, behavioral assessment, reunification with owners, and adoption services. Overcrowded, underfunded systems increase risk—to animals, staff, and the public. Fourth, Tyler’s reputation and economic vitality are affected by how we treat animals. Cities known for humane animal policies attract residents, businesses, volunteers, and tourists. Conversely, widespread euthanasia damages public trust and discourages civic engagement. Animal welfare is increasingly seen as a reflection of a community’s overall quality of life. Fifth, local no-kill shelters and rescues cannot shoulder this responsibility alone. These organizations already operate with limited funding, volunteers, and space. Without meaningful financial and logistical support from city and county leadership, they are being asked to compensate for gaps that only government investment can realistically fill. Finally, this issue matters because solutions exist. Communities across Texas have successfully transitioned to no-kill models through expanded shelter capacity, foster-based programs, rescue partnerships, and prevention-focused services. Tyler and Smith County are capable of the same progress with commitment and leadership. Ending the euthanasia of our stray dogs is not an emotional or unrealistic demand—it is a practical, humane, and responsible goal. Expanding infrastructure is an investment that saves lives, protects public health, and aligns our policies with the values of compassion and accountability. I urge you to recognize the importance of this issue and take meaningful action to ensure that Tyler becomes a community where solutions replace suffering, and leadership replaces resignation. Respectfully, Kim Aguilar

Beaconsfield est une ville compatissante certifiée PETA. Les chiens perdus sont généralement amenés directement au domicile du tuteur. Cependant, si le tuteur ne peut pas être trouvé tout de suite, le chien est placé dans une petite cage dans un petit bâtiment de stockage qui est interdit au public. Les animaux ne sont pas des objets perdus et doivent être traités comme des êtres sensibles, pas comme des biens. Ce bâtiment se trouve juste à côté de la bibliothèque, mais se trouve derrière une clôture couverte et n'a pas de signalisation. Bien que les animaux ne soient jamais euthanasiés (ils sont envoyés dans un refuge sans tuer à l'extérieur de la ville s'ils ne sont pas réclamés), ils méritent toujours mieux lorsqu'ils sont perdus à Beaconsfield. Et Beaconsfield a besoin d'un abri qui peut amener tous les animaux de compagnie perdus, et fournir un triage et un transport vers un refuge pour la faune. Plusieurs résidents se sont plaints de ne pas pouvoir trouver un centre d'admission ouvert pour un lapin sauvage qui a été abattu par la flèche d'un braconnier. (Lincoln Rabbit a heureusement été sauvé par Sauvetage Lapins Errant et Refuge Lobadinaki). Nous aimerions que la ville de Beaconsfield cesse d'utiliser le bâtiment de stockage et travaille plutôt avec un refuge sans tuers but non lucratif pour fournir des services aux animaux. https://m.facebook.com/groups/2477666815954860/?ref=share Beaconsfield is a PETA certified Compassionate City.  Lost dogs are usually brought right to the guardian’s home.  However, if the guardian can not be found right away, the dog is placed in a tiny cage in a small storage building that is off limits to the public.  Animals are not lost items and should be treated as sentient beings, not property.  This building is right next to the library, but is behind a covered fence, and has no signage.  While the animals are never euthanized (they are sent to a no kill shelter outside the city if unclaimed), they still deserve better while lost in Beaconsfield.  And Beaconsfield needs to have a shelter that can bring in all lost pets, and provide a triage and transport to a refuge for wildlife.  Several residents complained that they could not find an open admission facility for a wild rabbit who was shot by a poacher’s arrow.  (Lincoln Rabbit was thankfully saved by Sauvetage Lapins Errant and Refuge Lobadinaki).  We would like the City of Beaconsfield to stop using the storage building, and instead work with a no kill not for profit shelter to provide animal services.

Los gatos de la comunidad (también conocidos como gatos callejeros) corren el riesgo de perder la vida simplemente porque han establecido un hogar en su comunidad. Muchos de estos gatos están prosperando viviendo dentro su cominidad porque alguien en su comunidad los cuida. Alrededor de 4,300 gatos ingresan a los albergues de Utah en el 2024, y solo el 60% salieron con vida.   Los estudios han demostrado que la forma más efectiva y humana de ayudar a estos gatos es a través de los programas Atrapar, Vacunar, Esterilizar y Regresar, (AVER). Los gatos comunitarios son esterilizados, vacunados, y regresados a su lugar original. Se les cortan un poco de la puntita de una oreja para identificarlos como esterilizados y devueltos a sus comunidades, sin poder tener gatitos. El enfoque tradicional de los gatos comunitarios no ha logrado ofrecer resultados duraderos. La comunidad está lista para el cambio. Ahora necesitamos defensores como tu para ayudar a la ciudad a adoptar estas soluciones que salvan vidas. Para información sobre cómo los recursos y programa AVER visita SalvaUnaMascota.org/CondadoUtah 

The overpopulation of cats in Columbia County strains local shelters and poses public health concerns due to a lack of vaccinations and spay/neuter services. A rabies outbreak in the county could have devastating consequences. Florida's feral cat population is estimated to be between 6.3 million to 9.6 million. An independent review suggests a more conservative estimate of 2.7 million to 2.8 million feral cats in Florida, making up about 44% of all cats in the state. Each female feral cat can have up to three litters a year, leading to rapid population growth if not managed. The increasing feral cat population affects local businesses and the overall health and safety of the community. These programs are also proven to be the most cost-effective, veterinarian-approved, and animal-friendly solution for controlling and reducing free-roaming cat populations.

Best Friends Animal Society has offered to support them in closing the cat gap of cats being killed at the City of Jamestown to achieve a save rate of 90% or higher at no cost to taxpayers.  Local leaders need to hear that the issue is important to Jamestown residents and that helping cats will help the community at large. The more signatures we can show them, the more likely they are to consider this change.