Friends For Life Animal Shelter
We save animals and help our neighbors care for the pets they love.
At Friends For Life, every animal matters. Founded in 2002, Friends For Life introduced the no-kill shelter model to Houston – saving animals regardless of their breed, age or condition.
Houston-grown, we’re here to help our neighbors care for the pets they love.
We’re not finished until every animal has a safe home. Until then, we’ll be innovating, improving and tracking results to find the most effective ways to save lives.
Sunday, Carmelita woke up before it was light. The chemo made her feel exhausted and nauseous. She wanted to stay in bed. She looked at the little dog sleeping next to her who had been with her through so much. He needed vet care and food. But the cancer had drained all her resources. It felt hopeless.
She heard on the news that Friends For Life was holding a free vet clinic and pet food bank at their shelter. “It starts at 10AM,” the newscaster said. She was in her car lined up before 8AM, the chemo port covered by a large bandage on her arm and her small dog in the passenger seat beside her.
When the Friends For Life staff came by her car to fill out the form, she wept with gratitude. And so did we. In a city that is so huge, there was literally one option for her to get help. We are here because of Carmelita.
Financials
Programs
Behavior
We help animals and the people who love them. A strong behavior program isn’t optional for a shelter; it’s essential. Core to who we are is the belief that we have a responsibility to do everything we can to help the animals that cross our paths.
Targeted TNR
When healthy free-roaming cats are strategically trapped, neutered and returned to their communities, the intake and euthanasia rates for neighboring shelters go down, the cat populations stabilize in the targeted areas, and the health of the free-roaming colonies is enhanced.
'Thinking Outside the Shelter'
We introduced the Thinking Outside the Shelter program to Houston in 2008. To date, it has kept thousands of animals with their families and out of any shelte
Adoptions × More
At Friends For Life, every animal matters. Founded in 2002, Friends For Life introduced the no-kill shelter model to Houston – saving animals regardless of their breed, age or condition.