LANCASTER, Pa. — A Lancaster County shelter is celebrating a big milestone.
Pet Pantry, a local animal welfare organization focused on helping animals in Lancaster County, maintained no-kill status in 2023, according to Best Friends Animal Society's annual data report.
Shelters receiving the no-kill recognition award saved more than 90% of the cats and dogs in their care in 2023.
A 90% save rate is the nationally recognized benchmark to be considered "no-kill," factoring that approximately 10% of pets who enter shelters have medical or behavioral circumstances that warrant humane euthanasia rather than killing for lack of space.
“Pet Pantry is proud to have been recognized by Best Friends Animal Society,” says Melody Sanders, CEO of Pet Pantry, “Our efforts are focused on animals in need in Lancaster County and receiving national recognition is important to our organization. As we work with Best Friends to end the euthanasia of dogs and cats in shelters, we want our supporters and community to know we couldn’t do this important work without them.”
Best Friends Animal Society, a leading national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending the killing of cats in dogs in America's shelters, recognizes the incredible achievement of Pet Pantry as one that can be replicated by others in Lancaster.
“This award represents extraordinary leadership, both within your organization and the broader animal welfare movement,” said Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society, “I want to acknowledge and thank the organizations around the country who work tirelessly to save lives, helping move us closer to ending the killing of cats and dogs in shelters in 2025.”
