A GENTLE GIANT
OF THE NO-KILL MOVEMENT

It’s hard to put into words just how much Gregory meant to the world of animal welfare. He was calm but fierce in his convictions. He was a visionary, yet never above rolling up his sleeves and doing the work. I remember first hearing Gregory speak at a Best Friends event in New York. His voice was quiet, measured—but every word landed with purpose. He didn’t have to shout. His sincerity spoke volumes.

Gregory Castle believed deeply in a world where every animal mattered, no matter their breed, background, or behavior. He saw possibility where others saw hopelessness. When Best Friends Animal Society was founded in the 1980s, the idea of a no-kill nation was considered radical—even naïve. At that time, roughly 17 million animals were being euthanized in shelters across the United States each year. The task seemed insurmountable.

But Gregory and his fellow founders didn’t waver. They built Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah—on dusty desert land that would become sacred ground for thousands of animals. Under Gregory’s stewardship, Best Friends became more than a sanctuary—it became the center of a growing movement that would eventually reach every corner of the country, including right here in New York City.

Gregory’s leadership style was as unique as it was effective. He was unflappable in crisis and deeply strategic, but always grounded in compassion. He led with grace and humor, never letting ego overshadow the mission. When he became CEO in 2009, he brought Best Friends into a new era of national influence. He championed partnerships with city shelters, grassroots rescues, and corporate allies. He didn’t care about getting the credit—he cared about getting results. 

And he got them. Under his leadership, Best Friends helped spearhead no-kill programs in Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, and many more regions. Perhaps most notably, Gregory had a hand in saving the lives of the “Vicktory Dogs”—pit bulls rescued from the Michael Vick dogfighting ring. While others were calling for their destruction, Gregory and his team welcomed them with open arms and open hearts. They proved the world wrong. That’s the kind of legacy Gregory leaves behind—one of redemption, empathy, and endless second chances.

In a city like New York, where the pace is relentless and compassion can sometimes feel like a luxury, Gregory’s example reminds us that kindness is not only powerful—it’s transformative. His vision helped shape a new standard in animal sheltering, one where collaboration trumps competition and where love, not labels, defines an animal’s fate.

While I never worked with Gregory, I have worked with Julie Castle, the current CEO of Best Friends, and Gregory’s widow. I often think of the work that they have done together, especially when I visit Best Friends’ SoHo adoption center or when I see one of their transport vans rolling through Manhattan. Their fingerprints are everywhere. And while he stepped down as CEO in 2015, he never really left. He remained a guiding light for Best Friends, inspiring everyone to champion their mission to bring about a no-kill nation by 2025.

That goal, once seen as a fantasy, is now within reach—and it’s because of Gregory and Julie Castle. We owe them an enormous debt of gratitude, not just as animal lovers, but as people. They reminded us that changing the world doesn’t require perfection—just persistence and heart.

On behalf of the New York Lifestyles Magazine and Pet Lifestyles Magazine “Pack,” paws-up to Gregory: a humble leader, a fierce advocate, and a friend to the voiceless. May we honor his legacy not just in words, but in action. By choosing adoption. By volunteering. By speaking up. By never giving up.

To learn more about Best Friends Animal Society and the legacy that Gregory has left behind, please visit bestfriends.org