Bentonville's Best Friends Center Helps Save More Arkansas Pets

The Bentonville pet resource center supports shelters across the state, driving a drop in euthanasia rates.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 7:48am

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An extremely blurred, impressionistic photograph of people petting and playing with adoptable dogs and cats at a local animal shelter, with the scene rendered in soft, warm tones of amber, peach, and sage green.The Bentonville Best Friends Pet Resource Center's efforts to support local shelters are helping drive a meaningful reduction in pet euthanasia across Arkansas.Bentonville Today

Bentonville's Best Friends Pet Resource Center is playing a key role in helping Arkansas shelters save more pets. The center supports shelters across the state with resources, training, and pet transport, pushing more facilities toward 'no-kill' status and encouraging residents to help lost pets find their owners before turning to shelters. This has led to about 900 fewer Arkansas pets being euthanized in 2025 compared to 2024.

Why it matters

The Bentonville center's efforts are part of a statewide push to reduce euthanasia rates in animal shelters and promote more sustainable, community-based approaches to pet welfare. As one of the fastest-growing regions in Arkansas, Bentonville's leadership on this issue can have a ripple effect across the state.

The details

The Best Friends Pet Resource Center in Bentonville provides training, resources, and pet transport assistance to shelters across Arkansas. This support has helped drive a statewide drop in euthanasia, with about 900 fewer pets killed in 2025 compared to the previous year. The center encourages residents to help lost pets reunite with their owners before turning them over to shelters, and works to transition more facilities toward 'no-kill' status.

  • In 2025, Arkansas shelters euthanized about 900 fewer pets than in 2024.

The players

Best Friends Pet Resource Center

A pet resource center located in Bentonville, Arkansas that supports animal shelters across the state with training, resources, and pet transport assistance.

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The takeaway

The Bentonville Best Friends Pet Resource Center's efforts to support shelters and promote community-based pet welfare solutions are helping drive a meaningful reduction in euthanasia rates across Arkansas, setting an example for other fast-growing regions to follow.