Every day on Nextdoor, we see neighbors come together for the pets in their communities—sharing posts about lost dogs, recommending local vets, and celebrating new adoptions. It's one of the most heartwarming ways people connect.
That's why we're proud to support Best Friends Animal Society in their mission to end the killing of dogs and cats in America's shelters.
In 2016, around a million cats and dogs were killed in shelters each year because those shelters lacked the resources and community support to save them. Today, two out of three U.S. shelters have achieved "no-kill" status—meaning they save at least 90% of the animals in their care.
But the work isn't done. According to the ASPCA, approximately 5.8 million dogs and cats entered shelters and rescues in 2024. And while adoption numbers have remained relatively stable, many shelters across the country are full, with animals—especially dogs—staying longer in their care before being adopted.
Roughly 1,400 shelters still need help reaching the no-kill benchmark. The good news? Nearly half of those are close, with 100 or fewer additional pets to save.
The case for saving shelter pets extends beyond animal welfare. A growing body of research shows that pets benefit human health in profound ways.
A 2023 poll from the American Psychiatric Association found that 86% of pet owners said their pets have a mostly positive impact on their mental health. Among the key benefits cited: reduced stress and anxiety (69%), companionship (69%), and providing a calming presence (66%).
Research supported by the National Institutes of Health has shown that interacting with animals can decrease levels of cortisol (a stress-related hormone), lower blood pressure, reduce loneliness, increase feelings of social support, and boost mood.
In a time when the U.S. Surgeon General has declared loneliness a public health epidemic, these benefits matter more than ever.
Here's something we see firsthand at Nextdoor: pets don't just help individuals—they strengthen entire communities.
Research from Tufts University found that pet owners consistently report higher levels of social capital in their communities than people without pets, both in the United States and internationally. Social capital refers to the networks of relationships and trust that hold communities together—and pets appear to be a powerful catalyst for building it.
A study published in SSM-Population Health surveyed over 2,500 pet and non-pet owners across San Diego, Portland, Nashville, and Perth, Australia, and found that pet owners consistently report stronger neighborhood social connections. They were more likely to report social benefits such as helpfulness, friendliness, and trust between neighbors.
Research from Harvard and the University of Western Australia found that being a pet owner was the third most common way survey respondents said they met people in their neighborhoods.
Neighbors may rely on one another to assist with animal care, which builds reciprocal trust. Think about it: every time someone on Nextdoor asks for a dog walker recommendation or posts about a found cat, they're participating in the kind of community-building that makes neighborhoods stronger.
Here's the thing about saving shelter animals: it's not something shelters can achieve alone. No-kill is a collaboration between shelters and their communities—people who adopt, foster, volunteer, and advocate.
That's exactly why Best Friends Animal Society chose to advertise on Nextdoor. They knew that reaching the right people—verified neighbors who are household decision-makers, actively engaged in their communities, and ready to take action—would be critical to their mission. On Nextdoor, 81% of neighbors take action on a recommendation within two days of seeing content, and our neighbors are 2x more likely to turn to Nextdoor over Facebook for trusted recommendations. Best Friends saw an opportunity to connect with an audience that wasn't just scrolling—but genuinely looking for ways to help the pets in their community.
Whether you have 20 minutes or 20 hours a week, you can make a difference. Here are some ways to help:
The first known U.S. city reached no-kill status in 1994. Three decades later, two-thirds of America's shelters have achieved that goal. The progress has been extraordinary—but the final third won't happen without neighbors like you.
Because our best friends don't belong in shelters. They belong at home—and they help make our communities feel more like home, too.