A San Diego Residence Inn hosts a Party for a Purpose with a raffle drawing and silent auction to benefit the animals.

It’s Best Friends 25th anniversary — where else would an animal-loving couple spend their silver anniversary?

A group of dog agility enthusiasts in Canada throws a wildly successful party to benefit Best Friends.

Cloris Leachman gives the gift of Best Friends membership to her former co-star from the Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Best Friends essay contest winner Denise LeBeau went from the art world of Manhattan to the animal world of Utah.

In memory of a dog they never met, roommates in Brooklyn host a cool party to benefit animals at Best Friends.

They laughed, they cried, they played “Celebrity” – all to benefit our work for the animals.

California boarding and daycare facility owners Gives the Gift of Best Friends membership to long-time clients.

Best Friends’ “National Host a House Party Day” results in generous donations for the animals

National Host a House Party Day results in generous donations for the animals.

A New England couple started with an idea for a big party, but it turned into much, much more.

Over the past 25 years, thousands of animals have come to the Best Friends sanctuary needing many things, including names. Find out how we decide who’s who.

Best Friends Week festivities have ended, but our 25th anniversary observance continues through 2009 and our work for the animals continues until there are No More Homeless Pets.

The state of Utah proclaims "Best Friends Animal Society Week" while the United States recognizes Best Friends for our work with the dogs rescued from Michael Vick.

For Best Friends Week, co-founder Faith Maloney met with volunteers at our Welcome Center and held a cliffside chat to reminisce about our 25 years of saving animals.

At the heart of Best Friends is our sanctuary; and yesterday in the heart of the sanctuary, families mingled with the animals and helped us celebrate our 25th anniversary.

Visitors travel to Best Friends to help commemorate anniversary and attend events throughout the week.

Bark it from the rooftops: Best Friends Week has officially begun, celebrating 25 years of saving the lives of animals around the world.

"Giving Animals a Voice Through Music," the multi-artist, cross-genre CD benefiting our work for the animals, will be sold at half price during Best Friends Week beginning July 19.

In honor of Best Friends’ 25th anniversary, Andersen Racing Team will sport our logo on its cars.

Best Friends holds community spay-neuter clinic as part of 25th anniversary celebration.

Join us in person or in deed to celebrate 25 years of life-saving work. If you can’t make it to Best Friends Week at our sanctuary in Utah, host a Party for a Purpose on July 25.

Do you really need a house to host a “house party” to celebrate Best Friends’ 25th anniversary? Barb Dunakey says no.

California couple gives a Best Friends’ dog sponsorship as a party favor to every guest at their wedding.

Best Friends breaks old record for most new members acquired in one year.

Colorado couple gives the gift of Best Friends membership to a Harley-Davidson dealership in each of the 50 states.

Our "Party for a Purpose" spawned DogTown-centric fetes, but as the show’s season ends, hosts will find new party themes.

High-end, pet-friendly hotelier will provide free copies of Best Friends magazine to guests in major cities.

Holly Williams, singer/songwriter, clothing store owner and committed dog rescuer, teams with Best Friends and gives the gift of membership.

When it comes to animals, just how much do you know about them?

As the season’s last new episode of Nat Geo’s "DogTown" draws near, it’s time for you to plan a farewell party that includes online chats with the show’s human stars.

Pat Thomas, of Georgia, raised awareness and money for the animals, and had a great time at her Best Friends house party.

The Best Friends Welcome Center provides a big push to the Give the Gift campaign.

FixNation/Catnippers celebrates its 25,000th spay-neuter during Best Friends 25th anniversary year.

Vivien Cardone, the teen star of the film All Roads Lead Home, wants her own rescue someday; meanwhile, she supports the work of Best Friends.

John Oates, who donated a song to Best Friends’ 25th anniversary CD, has learned life lessons from the many rescued animals he and his wife have brought to their farm.

Sales of the just-released compilation CD featuring songs by Emmylou Harris, Neko Case, John Oates, Cyndi Lauper and others will support our campaign against puppy mills.

Longtime supporter Xander Smith, front man of the indie rock band Run Run Run, contributes to the Best Friends 25th anniversary CD.

The art of leisure: Kick back in the morning wearing a Best Friends 25th anniversary T-shirt and drinking coffee from a matching mug.

Singer/songwriter Neko Case struck a chord when she told Best Friends she’d do whatever she could to help the animals.

Michael Noval, producer for “The Amazing Race,” leaves Best Friends magazine in some odd places for people to read at their, uh, leisure.

Check out our "Have a House Party" page for ideas, tips and cool stuff to plan a Party for a Purpose – such as a ‘DogTown’ viewing party – that supports our work for the animals. You'll find the link in the "Get Involved" section in the upper-righthand part of this page.

Visitors to the Best Friends sanctuary Welcome Center receive a token gift bag with accoutrements of our 25th anniversary celebration.

Inspired by the wildlife-abundant Serengeti, musician Jeff Oster contributes to Best Friends' 25th anniversary CD.

A variety of musicians, including Cyndi Lauper, Neko Case and Emmylou Harris, have recorded a CD to support the work Best Friends does for the animals.

Best Friends employees are being asked to "Give the Gift" to earn extra money for our animal care areas.

Like many senior dogs, Stella has a touch of arthritis. But thanks to Best Friends’ members, she’s living a life free of pain. Membership donations provide the comforting arthritis medications that allow Stella, and many other older dogs at Best Friends, to live quality lives.

Your present could help change the lives of animals and people - and we want to hear about it! It’s holiday gift giving crunch time now, with Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa right around the corner. And who wants to fight the crowds to search for presents in already picked-over stores?

Founder Virgil Barstad remembers Satchmo, a sometimes-troubled dog who always found joy in playing tennis.

Nicole Bruck volunteers at the sanctuary, then gives the gift of Best Friends membership to friends around the world.

Saying it’s "a comfort to know Best Friends is there," Emmylou Harris gives the gift of Best Friends membership to her veterinarian.

See why Sprocket the pig says Ali MacGraw is his favorite actress! Hint: Not only has she been Giving the Gift of Best Friends membership, but she recently came to the sanctuary and gave Sprocket a good scratch on the chin!

Charity Charms has added a 25th anniversary piece to its line of Best Friends jewelry, sales of which benefit the animals.

As we celebrate our anniversary throughout the year in 2009, we’ll reminisce a little, do some fun things around the country, maybe eat a slice or two of cake, but meanwhile we’ll be doubling our efforts to achieve a world of No More Homeless Pets.

Like many senior dogs, Stella has a touch of arthritis. But thanks to Best Friends’ members, she’s living a life free of pain. Membership donations provide the comforting arthritis medications that allow Stella, and many other older dogs at Best Friends, to live quality lives.

Actress Linda Hunt became acquainted with Best Friends Animal Society back in the mid-1990s when she met Francis and Silva Battista, two of the organization’s founders, in Los Angeles.

Before Shannon Bahrke went on to become a world champion mogul skier and a silver medalist at the Salt Lake Winter Olympics in 2002, she grew up surrounded by what she calls a “mishmash” of animals at her home in Tahoe City, California – dogs, cats, birds, fish, all of whom her family had either rescued or adopted.

Nearly 25 years ago, the founders of Best Friends set out to create a place like no other: the last, best hope for severely abused and forgotten animals. It wasn’t to be a place for just their physical healing, but a place to rebuild spirit and to recover a sense of belonging and trust.

Looking for that perfect gift? Something your family member or friend won’t have to return to the store because it’s the wrong color or doesn’t fit? Something you won’t have to wait in line at the post office to mail?