Dogs are man's best friend. And the Best Friends Animal Society wants to keep it that way. The Kanab, Utah-based organization was founded in 1984 with the purpose of providing safe and loving homes for dogs and cats; its mission today is still "no more homeless pets." But the other crucial part of Best Friends' work has been its no-kill mission. At the time of the organization's founding, 17 million animals were being killed in shelters every year, despite the fact that 90 percent of them were adoptable or would’ve been adopted with the right health and behavioral treatment. Thanks to the work of Best Friends, that number today is 4 million. Other campaigns include stopping puppy mills, saving cats, and ending breed discrimination. All of Best Friends' operations are conducted with the following guiding principles in mind: the Golden Rule, kindness, positive influence, leadership, authenticity, and transparency.
