NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 7, 2025) — Yesterday, Mayor Freddie O’Connell signed a declaration stating that May is Nashville No-Kill Shelter Month. The declaration kicks off the city’s commitment to making Nashville the largest no-kill city in Tennessee this year.
Best Friends Animal Society, a leading national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters and making the entire country no-kill*, commends Nashville leadership for their dedication to the city’s homeless dogs and cats.
“Pets love unconditionally, and the right bond between pet and human makes them forever a part of our families,” said Mayor Freddie O’Connell. “All our shelter animals need is a chance to show that love. When we come together for a cause we support, anything is possible. We can all make a difference by stepping up and adopting or fostering pets in our local community.”
Best Friends Chief Mission Officer, Holly Sizemore, was present with Mayor O’Connell for the signing to mark this momentous occasion.
“Yesterday was a significant milestone for the no-kill movement, motivating Nashvillians and the greater Tennessee community alike to save the city’s shelter dogs and cats,” said Holly Sizemore, Chief Mission Officer, Best Friends Animal Society. “Pets don’t belong in shelters, they belong in loving homes, and our hope is that this proclamation inspires the community to get out and adopt, foster, volunteer and advocate to save Nashville’s pets.”
New data from Best Friends shows more than half of Tennessee shelters are currently no-kill. Nationally, in 2024, just under five million dogs and cats entered America’s shelters, down 12% compared to 2016 when Best Friends first began reporting out data.
To put that in perspective, in 2016, over one million dogs and cats were killed in shelters. Last year that number dropped to 425,000— a 59% decrease, with nearly two out three shelters achieving no-kill.
Governors and lawmakers nationwide are aligning with no-kill resolutions and proclamations. So far, twelve states have issued no-kill proclamations or resolutions since 2024 – including Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Montana, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia.
Individuals can make a positive difference by adopting from shelters or rescue groups, spaying or neutering their pets, fostering pets in need, volunteering, donating, and supporting effective lifesaving programs.
To learn more about Best Friends and donate, visit bestfriends.org.
*No-kill is defined by a 90% save rate for animals entering a shelter and is a meaningful and common-sense benchmark for measuring lifesaving progress. Typically, the number of pets who are suffering from irreparable medical or behavioral issues that compromise their quality of life and prevent them from being rehomed is not more than 10% of all dogs and cats entering shelters. For any community to be no-kill, all stakeholders in that community must work together to achieve and sustain that common goal while prioritizing community safety and good quality of life for pets as guiding no-kill principles. This means cooperation among animal shelters, animal rescue groups, government agencies, community members and other stakeholders, all committed to best practices and protocols.
About Best Friends Animal Society
Best Friends Animal Society is a leading animal welfare organization dedicated to saving the lives of dogs and cats in America’s shelters and making the entire country no-kill. Founded in1984, Best Friends runs lifesaving facilities and programs nationwide in partnership with more than 5,000 shelters and rescue organizations. From our headquarters in Kanab, Utah, we also operate the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary — a destination that brings our mission to life for thousands of visitors each year. We maintain the most comprehensive animal sheltering data in the country and make it accessible to the public — empowering communities with critical insights into the needs of their local shelters and how they can help. We believe every dog and cat deserves a home. And we believe that, by working together, we can Save Them All®.
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