Who we are

Mission:

To improve the lives of domestic cats, reduce their breeding in our community through spay and neuter; Educate the public about overpopulation of strays and raising awareness of animal cruelty and neglect.

Vision:

Is to create a community where every cat is spayed and neutered, finds lifelong, loving home and experiences the joy of a deep bond with human companions.

Our History:

In 2011, Luisa Ortiz and Sandra Solis, animal advocates, joined forces to counteract the growing problem of stray cats in Laredo. Together, homeless pets were rescued and provided with veterinary care and spay/neuter services in the hopes of finding these animals a loving home. As we became more involved in helping animals, we realized that there was a lack of resources in the animal care community, which in of itself is experiencing unprecedented challenges. We continue to see increasingly high numbers of stray and abandoned animals requiring costly veterinary intervention and continuing care. In 2014, Krisa Leon joined us and Best Friends for Life (BFFL) was effectively established as a 501c (3) on January 20, 2015 and is the first non-profit organization specifically formed to target reducing the impact that the rising stray cat overpopulation is having on the City of Laredo. Laredo is growing rapidly with an ever-increasing number of stray cats that require intervention. The mission of BFFL is aimed at educating and creating community awareness of the ever-growing stray cat population, while providing veterinary care, which includes spay/neuter, vaccination and microchipping services. BFFL works with local pet stores as part of its outreach initiative to educate the community during adoption drives where we promote adoption and/or at least fostering until loving homes can be found for tamable strays. In 2018 BFFL approached the Laredo City Council and was successful in amending City Ordinance, Article 3 Chapter 6 (“Animal and Fowl) to allow BFFL to trap feral cats, also known as “community cats”, as part of a new program Trap, Neuter & Return “TNR” to stop the breeding in stray cats. In this effort, we have been successful. We couldn’t have done it without the support and guidance Alley Cats Allies.

BFFL is designed to have a plan of action- where all our programs integrate by creating an opportunity cats can be placed in one of our different programs and contributing to a Laredo’s No Kill status.  We are the first rescue group to start the Trap, Neuter & Return program helping stop the overpopulation cats by spaying and neutering and returning cats to their location (colony). Since we began, we have rescued TNR, and placed over 7,702 cats (and counting!) into loving homes. In 2018 we built Laredo’s First Free Roaming Cat Village and had the first-ever public/private partnership of its kind with Laredo Animal Protective Society. Laredo Animal Protective Society “LAPS” has taken us under their wing and have been a mentor and instrumental to our growth of our organization and helping cats! Ultimately, our goal would be for the City of Laredo to be a completely NO-KILL City and be a role model to other cities.