According to the interest group, MA is almost a state in which animals are not allowed to be killed in animal shelters

Best Friends Animal Society, a leading national animal welfare organization working to end the killing of dogs and cats in American shelters by 2025, released new data this week showing that Massachusetts is on the verge of becoming a no-kill state in terms of the number of animal shelters.

Best Friends Animal Society, founded in 1984, tracks the number of animals euthanized in shelters as well as the rescue rate. In 2023, Massachusetts' rescue rate is 89%, slightly below the 90% rescue rate in 2022. According to Best Friends Animal Society, 438 cats and 786 dogs were euthanized in Massachusetts shelters in 2023.

“Despite a slight decline in pet rescues, 2023 was a pivotal year on the road to kill rates for the state of Massachusetts,” said Aurora Velazquez, regional director of Best Friends Animal Society, in a written statement. “Many state leaders, such as the MSPCA (Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), have met or exceeded the 90 percent mark that the animal welfare industry defines as a kill rate.”

The MSPCA is currently leading a nationwide initiative with five other animal welfare organizations “to increase the adoption of shelter animals, especially large breed dogs,” according to Best Friends. “The initiative, supported by Best Friends, kicked off in July with a week-long adoption event that helped 157 cats and dogs find loving homes.”

What do the national data look like?

According to Best Friends' website, more than 30 states are now close to becoming “no-kill states” under the organization's criteria, and four states, including three in New England, have already achieved that goal.

However, the organization says there is still much work to be done.

“Data from Best Friends shows that pet adoptions have declined over the past five years because most pets are acquired through other means,” Best Friends said in a press release. “The net result is that 415,000 healthy or treatable pets were needlessly killed in shelters last year.”