Best Friends Animal Society says it gathers shelter intake and outcome data to track lifesaving progress and guide its work. Its no-kill designation uses a 90% save-rate benchmark, but the organization also stresses that a single percentage cannot fully describe a shelter’s work: the animals it takes in and the period measured affect the result.
Where Best Friends’ shelter data comes from
Best Friends describes a nationwide process in which it identifies shelters, contacts them and records annual intake and the number of pets saved. The resulting figures are intended to help track progress and direct lifesaving work. The organization says its own direct-care locations use Shelterluv to collect information in real time; its national operations support and business intelligence teams verify those data.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Best Friends distinguishes those location-level figures from its wider work with shelters and rescue partners around the country. Direct-care data therefore should not be read as a complete count of every animal reached through its partner network. Its page says it has transported more than 3,900 animals through East Coast transport programs, but does not date that total in the text reviewed. Best Friends’ data-transparency page describes its methods and presents its organizational figures.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →What the 90% benchmark means
Best Friends defines no-kill philosophically as saving every dog and cat who can be saved. For measurement, it designates organizations with a save rate of at least 90% as no-kill. The 90% figure is the organization’s benchmark for tracking progress, not a claim that every shelter’s work can be summarized fully by that threshold.
#1 Best Overall
- Adjustable 24" Pet Playpen for Independent Space: This exercise dog pen features 8 connecting panels for ample space, allowing you to customize the pet enclosure into various shapes like rectangles, squares, or octagons based on your space. It is ideal for outdoor training and travel with pets.
- Sturdy Enclosure to Avoid Pet Escapes: This puppy pen includes 8 ground stakes of 3.9" / 100 mm each to firmly anchor it in place. With 2 gate latches, 16 tension straps, and 1 carabiner clip, it prevents pets from opening the gate and escaping. Crafted from robust metal, it withstands pets' play and bites, freeing you from constant supervision.
- Durable Top Cover: The top cover consists of half 600D thick Oxford fabric and half nylon mesh, providing waterproof and durable protection. It shields pets from harmful sun rays and provides shade in outdoor environments. The top cover also prevents pets from jumping out.
- Secure, Portable, and Foldable: The 8 connecting panels of the exercise pen can be easily folded flat without requiring tools. Setup and takedown take just 5 minutes, making it perfect for travel, camping, and outdoor activities.
- Suitable for Small and Medium Pets: The 24" high playpen is ideal for dogs or non-climbing small to medium-sized animals such as cats, rabbits, ducks, turtles, and guinea pigs. For dogs, it's recommended for breeds like Labrador Retrievers, French Bulldogs, Golden Retrievers, Poodles, Bulldogs, Beagles, German Shorthaired Pointers, and Spaniels, but not suitable for larger breeds like German Shepherds or Rottweilers.
Best Friends says some organizations’ true no-kill rate may be closer to 95% or higher. It also says an organization can qualify for an exemption below 90% if it demonstrates that it meets the philosophical definition. The page does not provide a standardized independent comparison of all shelters’ calculation methods, so the benchmark is best understood as Best Friends’ designation rule rather than a universal measure.
Why a save rate can fall below 90%
A percentage depends partly on which animals enter a program and which outcomes fall within the reporting period. Best Friends gives several examples of why a rate may not capture the full context:
Rank #2
- 【Customized Guinea Pig Playpen】The small pet playpen can be customized and rearranged in different ways to suit the owner's needs and the animal's requirements. Designed for small animals like guinea pigs, rabbits, chinchillas, hamsters and hedgehogs. Configure the cage into various shapes, such as square, rectangle, even 2layer to suit larger animals like kitten and puppy.
- 【Easy To Assemble and Reassembled】The installation of the guinea pig cage is entirely manual and does not need additional tools.Took less than 15 minutes to put together. Remove and reinstall is also convenient. According to the video to complete the installation to get a animal cage.
- 【Sturdy Structure Design】The rabbit cage offer 3 ways to keep stable and Prevent Loosening. The cage comes with ABS connectors and zip ties to make the pet enclosure more sturdy and not easy to fall apart. Besides,by strike the connectors with plastic hammer can strengthened the cages firmness. Through anti-slip mat can prevent the connectors apart.
- 【Easy To Clean and Maintain】The hedgehog cage is made of high-quality coated steel panel that have undergone strength testing. The smooth surface makes this pet playpen become more easier to clean. TIPS:We suggest you examine and clean the cage every 3 month.
- 【Multi-Purpose Animal Playpen】The playpen is versatile for both indoor and outdoor use. It can be used as rabbit cage, guinea pig enclosure, hamster playpen, kitten playpen, rat playpen, hedgehog playpen and all kinds of small pet playpen.It providing ample play and living space for small pets.
- Intake mix: A program that takes on harder-to-save animals may have a lower rate than one serving a different population.
- Kittens: Kitten admissions can lower cat save rates in some locations.
- Long-term care: Best Friends says its commitment to lifetime care means a death after months or years of care can affect the reported rate.
- Time period: Annual figures describe outcomes within a particular reporting period; they do not necessarily show the longer-term course of care for each animal.
These factors do not make a rate meaningless, but they matter when interpreting one. A percentage alone cannot show the difficulty of the cases accepted, the length of care, or whether figures cover only a facility or a broader partner network.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
How to compare shelter figures responsibly
Before comparing two organizations, check what their rates actually include. Best Friends’ page explains its own benchmark and data practices, but does not establish a common methodology for every shelter. For a useful comparison, look for:
Rank #3
- Durable & Secure Metal Fence: Constructed with 20 high-quality coated steel panels (including 8 transparent panels for the roof), this playpen features 0.5-inch spaced iron mesh to prevent escapes and ensure safety. The removable top cover adds extra security, while the built-in door allows easy access to your pets
- Versatile Indoor & Outdoor Use: Designed for flexibility, this portable playpen is perfect for creating a safe play area for guinea pigs, rabbits, kittens, puppies, and hamsters. Use it in living rooms, gardens, or while traveling. The added top cover prevents climbing pets from escaping and protects against external threats
- Quick & Customizable Setup: Effortlessly connect the panels using sturdy connectors and secure them with included nylon ties. The expanded 20-panel design offers more space and flexibility to create custom shapes for indoor or outdoor use
- Waterproof & Easy-to-Clean Mat: Includes a 24" x 48" PVC-coated waterproof mat that protects your floors from urine leaks and makes cleanup effortless—simply wipe with a damp cloth
- Ideal for Multiple Small Pets: The 20-panel configuration provides ample room for play and exercise. The open design & transparent roof panels ensure clear visibility, so you can monitor pets from any angle
- the benchmark or definition of “no-kill” being used;
- which animals, species and programs are counted in intake and outcomes;
- the time period covered, including how long-term-care outcomes are recorded;
- whether the figures refer to an organization’s own facilities or include partner shelters and rescues.
Best Friends says it believes openness about collection methods matters: “We believe that being open and transparent about how we obtain information is equally important.” Its page also describes the U.S. as having about 3,900 shelters and says 1,300 are not yet no-kill. Those are Best Friends’ undated organizational figures, not a dated or independently verified national snapshot.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 【Climate Pledge Friendly Choice】 Recognized with Amazon sustainability features, this dog playpen contains at least 50% recycled material certified by Global Recycled Standard, offering a more mindful choice for everyday pet care.
- 【600D Oxford Top Cover with Breathable Mesh】 The included top cover combines durable 600D Oxford fabric with breathable mesh panels for added coverage, airflow, and visibility. It helps discourage pets from jumping out while creating a more comfortable shaded space for indoor use, patios, camping, RV trips, and supervised outdoor play.
- 【8 Panel Foldable Design】 Each 24 inch panel connects easily for quick setup and folds flat for compact storage. No tools are needed, making this puppy playpen easy to move, store, and use in different spaces.
- 【Metal Pet Fence for Small Animals】 Built with sturdy metal wire panels, this pet playpen helps create a secure activity area for puppies, small dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and other small animals. A Practical Gift for Pet Lovers: The Peekaboo pet playpen creates a safe space for dogs, cats, and puppies, making it a thoughtful gift for pet parents on Christmas, birthdays, and special occasions.
- 【Flexible Indoor & Outdoor Use】 Arrange the panels into an octagon, square, rectangle, or barrier shape to fit your room, yard, patio, RV, or campsite. A practical pet fence for play, rest, feeding, and supervised activity.
Rank #4
- UPGRADE VERSION: Cable ties and non-slip mats added in. Cable tie enclosure ensures stability and security of the playpen. Thanks to the non-slip mats, the product holds up well on the floor and also protect your floor from scratches; our upgraded corners don't have sharp edges, so hamsters as avid chewers will find no place to munch their way through
- SUITABLE SMALL PETS: Ideal for guinea pigs, rabbits, ferret, rat, hamster, hedgehogs, puppies, not suitable for big dogs or animals that can exert a lot of force, easy to keep an eye on them from any angle
- CUSTOMIZABLE DIY ASSEMBLY: 16 panels allow to configure into multiple shapes simply combine the wire panels with the ABS connectors, and you can set up the playpen into different shapes, It's provides for small animals, ensuring that they have enough room for playing and exercising
- WHAT YOU MORE: 16 wire sheet panels, 28 ABS connectors, 50 cable ties, 16 non-slip mats, 1 mallet, 1 Instruction Manual and high quality customer service
- CUSTOMER SERVICE: Customer service 24/7 standing by, we are always available to provide a professional customer service pre-sale and after-sale service
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
