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Entry 95Filed under Breeding

Best Friends Network 101: What It Is, Who Can Join, and What Partners Get

A plain guide to the free Best Friends Network: who qualifies, what partners get, reporting duties, and why membership isn't an endorsement.
3-minute read By Animalso Team
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The Best Friends Network is a free community, led by Best Friends Animal Society, that connects eligible animal-welfare organizations so they can collaborate, share information and get support. Best Friends’ join page currently says it includes “over 6,000” organizations, and its pages describe partners in all 50 states. Those figures are Best Friends’ own, and the pages are undated. Being a partner does not mean Best Friends has vetted or endorsed the organization.

What is the Best Friends Network?

It is a broad partner community for groups that work with dogs and/or cats. That includes shelters, rescue groups, spay/neuter organizations, transport groups and other support organizations. Best Friends says the aim is to help partners save more animals through collaboration, shared information and lifesaving practices (Best Friends Network 101).

The Network is not the same as Best Friends’ more intensive programs, grants or collaborations. Those can have their own participation requirements, so check each one’s current terms separately.

Who can join the Best Friends Network?

Best Friends publishes these requirements on its Network Partners: Join Us page:

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  • You must be a U.S.-based group or shelter serving dogs and/or cats and their owners. U.S. territories are excluded.
  • You must operate or support an active adoption, transport, spay/neuter or intake-prevention program.
  • You must comply with applicable laws and provide appropriate animal care.
  • You must be an approved 501(c)(3) public charity, or a municipal shelter, in good standing with GuideStar Charity Check.

You do not have to be no-kill already. Organizations at different stages can join if they are committed to increasing lifesaving.

Is joining free, and how long does approval take?

Yes, Best Friends says participation is free. Applications are “typically reviewed within five business days.” That is a typical window, not a guarantee. Once approved, you get an email with website links and other information.

What benefits do Network partners get?

Best Friends lists the following on its join page, How We Can Help and Network 101 pages:

  • Regional support and coalition-building
  • Digital tools, research and resources
  • Possible grant opportunities
  • Partner-only opportunities and events, plus exclusive challenges
  • Discounted National Conference registration
  • A listing on the Best Friends website
  • Job-board access
  • Training and data analysis support
  • Connections with Best Friends experts

The partner hub also mentions Friends of the Network programs and vendor services. The pages reviewed don’t name the providers or give their terms.

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Benefits and funding are not identical for every partner. Grants are described as “possible,” and eligibility for some opportunities depends on reporting (see below).

What do partners have to report?

Partners must report annual statistics to Best Friends. Monthly data is treated a little differently in two places on the join page:

  • Partners are encouraged to keep monthly intake and outcome data through Shelter Pet Data Alliance, if eligible.
  • The FAQ says monthly data is required to be eligible for events and to be considered for financial aid or grants.

In practice, an organization that only submits annual numbers may miss out on events and funding.

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Does Best Friends endorse Network partners?

No. The join page FAQ says: “Network partner applicants’ operations are not vetted and approval as a Best Friends Network Partner is not an endorsement from Best Friends Animal Society.” Partners must follow local ordinances, including animal-care requirements. Membership is not a certification, accreditation or guarantee of quality. If you plan to adopt from, donate to or volunteer with a partner, do your own research as you would with any group.

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How do I find a Best Friends Network partner near me?

Use the public Network Partners Map to search by state or region. Best Friends invites visitors to support local partners by adopting, fostering, donating or volunteering.

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