Arlington Animal Services was recently named the "There's No Place Like Home' award winner for a municipal shelter by Best Friends Animal Society, the only national animal welfare organization dedicated exclusively to ending the killing of dogs and cats in America's shelters.

Arlington shares this national honor with the City of San Antonio Animal Services.

Arlington Animal Services is an active partner in Best Friends Animal Society's No More Homeless Pets Network, which offers help and support to animal rescue groups and shelters that save lives in their communities.

"The Arlington Animal Services team includes our amazing volunteers, community partners along with other City departments, and most of all the dedicated staff, " said Chris Huff, Animal Services Manager.

Huff offered her continued appreciation for the Arlington Police Department's "Furrever" Home Friday social media campaign, the Office of Communications' "Pets of the Week" spotlight and also community partners' Facebook postings about adoptable pets.

Each year Best Friends works with its partners to produce successful adoption promotions that shine the spotlight on the hardest-to-place pets: like senior pets, cats, and big dogs.

"The numbers speak for themselves," said Holly Sizemore, Best Friends Animal Society's director of national programs, community programs and services. "Arlington Animal Services has an unwavering commitment to the animals and a passion for helping them find homes. For that, Arlington Animal Services was named the recipient for the "There's No Place Like Home' award for a municipal shelter.

"In 2015, Arlington Animal Services participated in all four of Best Friends' national adoption promotions, finding homes for an amazing 713 dogs and cats," Sizemore said. "Thanks to their outstanding work during the promotions, and because of everything they do for homeless pets every day, in fiscal year 2015, Arlington had a save rate for dogs and cats of 72 percent. And they're on track for a 77 percent save rate for 2016."

Sizemore added, "National advertising, word of mouth, and reduced adoption fees all help get the word out about these promotions and the pets who need homes. But what really drives these adoption promotions — what really helps thousands more dogs and cats find forever homes each year — is the participation of our No More Homeless Pets Network partners.

"It's so humbling to be able to honor the people who give so much of their personal time, energies, and dedication to helping save the lives of homeless pets," Sizemore said. "Truly, they inspire me every day and give me the confidence to know that we can save them all."