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Mission and Programs

Mission

Best Friends Animal Society believes kindness towards animals creates a better world for all of us. To this end, Best Friends works with shelters, rescue groups and our members nationwide on a variety of grassroots programs designed to bring about a time when there are no more homeless pets. 

Programs

The founders of Best Friends Animal Society had a vision that with proper medical care, rehabilitation services, emotional healing and behavioral training, animals deemed “unadoptable” by others could find permanent, loving families.

Today, that vision is a reality. As a result of our whole-health approach to veterinary medicine, animals who would have previously perished in shelters, or on the streets, are now finding their way into loving homes.

Who are these “unadoptable” animals? The conventional perception is that they are animals who are hopelessly sick or injured, have extreme emotional and behavioral conditions such as aggression or fear biting, pose a threat to public safety, or have been traumatized and abused with little hope for recovery. Labeled more broadly by some, they may also be animals who are too old, have special medical needs, or are categorically identified as unadoptable - for example, feral cats and some of the large-breed dogs thought to be dangerously aggressive. Four to five million animals deemed unadoptable are destroyed every year in U.S. shelters.

Best Friends rejects the traditional perceptions or categorical designations of “unadoptable” animals. Our whole-health medical approach recognizes that each animal is: 1) unique; 2) needs individualized attention; and 3) is potentially adopt­able. Our doctors treat the whole animal - not just the physical body, but also his or her emotional and psychological well-being. There are six nationally certified dog trainers at the sanctuary who work with, and rehabilitate, dogs that come from some of the most traumatic situations; like natural disasters, dog fighting operations and other forms of abuse. Every animal is potentially adoptable - and Best Friends veterinary and sanctuary staff work hard to make that happen.

OUTCOMES:

1) Every animal that comes to the sanctuary receives comprehensive medical care and attention.

2) Every year, more than 75 percent of these “unadoptable” animals who come to the sanctuary find permanent, loving homes.

3) Animals that need more care and rehabilitation have a home with Best Friends, forever if necessary, until they find their families.

Program / Activities (NTEE Code)

Animal Protection and Welfare (includes Humane Societies and SPCAs)
Animal Training, Behavior
Alliance/Advocacy Organizations

Accomplishments for Fiscal Year Ending 12/31/2004

1. Completed fourth year of "No More Homeless Pets in Utah" program, to make Utah a no-kill state by 2005, in cooperation with organizations across the state. And launching our No More Homeless Pets Atlanta campaign in Atlanta, Georgia.
2. Completion of several major building projects at the sanctuary; additions to Dogtown and expansion of the wildlife rehabilitation and bird facilities. acilities.

1. Continued growth of the national "No More Homeless Pets" campaign, specifically developing the No More Homeless Pets Atlanta campaign (including a low cost spay-neuter clinic), and increasing the programs and services offered in Los Angeles and other target cities. Increasing the services and participation of the Best Friends Network. In 2004 the Network responded to over 5,000 requests for assistance from all over the country each month, with a staff of 11 coordinators and 14,000 volunteers.
2. Two No More Homeless Pets Conferences are planned for this year: Portland Oregon April and Boston, Massachusetts in October.
3. Developing our nationwide network of volunteers (Best Friends Network) and our online news and outreach to provide opportunities and inspire more people to get involved in animal advocacy and rescue work in their own communities.
   
   
   

Additional Comments

During the last 15 years, the number of homeless animals being destroyed in shelters each year, simply because no home could be found for them, has dropped from 17 million in 1987 to less than 5 million. While there is still a long way to go, we are confident that with the help of members and supporters, and as an increasing number of animal welfare groups work together on shelter, spay/neuter, and adoption programs, that the destruction of healthy homeless animals can be brought to an end in the next ten years.

Financial Data
From the organization's FORM 990

Revenue and Expenses: Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2007

Revenue			Expenses
Contributions $34,248,460 Government Grants $0 Program Services $0 Investments $818,867 Special Events $118,586 Sales $42,255 Other $642,592			Program Services $26,696,366 Administration $2,314,680 Other $5,334,864 Total Expenditures $34,345,910
Total Revenue	$35,870,760		NET GAIN/LOSS	$1,524,850

Balance Sheet: Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2007

Notes
The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot long survive, but the types of assets and liabilities also must be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.

Assets	Jan 1, 2007	Dec 31, 2007	Change
Cash & Equivalent	$1,293,800	$3,920,449	$2,626,649
Accounts Receivable	$30,675	$201	$(30,474)
Pledges & Grants Receivable	$0	$0	$0
Receivables/Other	$0	$0	$0
Inventories for Sale or Use	$280,067	$147,381	$(132,686)
Investments/Securities	$5,574,419	$6,310,481	$736,062
Investments/Other	$6,874,387	$6,040,102	$(834,285)
Fixed Assets	$13,882,722	$13,353,906	$(528,816)
Other	$229,875	$223,430	$(6,445)
Total Assets	$28,165,945	$29,995,950	$1,830,005
Liabilities	Jan 1, 2007	Dec 31, 2007	Change
Accounts Payable	$729,923	$1,335,557	$605,634
Grants Payable	$0	$0	$0
Deferred Revenue	$26,400	$0	$(26,400)
Loans and Notes	$0	$0	$0
Tax-Exempt Bond Liabilities	$0	$0	$0
Other	$886,445	$1,025,427	$138,982
Total Liabilities	$1,642,768	$2,360,984	$718,216
FUND BALANCE	$26,523,177	$27,634,966	$1,111,789

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