Top 10 Pet Adoption Success Stories of 2024
As the year comes to a close, leading national animal welfare organization Best Friends Animal Society is preparing to embark on an incredibly important year. In 2016, Best Friends put a stake in the ground to end the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters and take the country no-kill in 2025.
Best Friends’ newest data* from the 2024 calendar year shows that the country is moving in the right direction: shelters are seeing a 3.4% decrease in the number of pets killed compared to the previous year, as well as a 4% increase in adoptions for both dogs and cats. While these numbers indicate a positive trend, the data is clear - shelters still need help, and it’s more important now than ever to adopt.
To inspire those considering a new pet to choose the adoption option, Best Friends is sharing some of the year’s most heartwarming adoption stories from their Lifesaving Centers across the country and Best Friends Animal Society’s Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah – the largest no-kill companion animal sanctuary in the United States. Each of these stories demonstrates that a loving home is waiting for each and every homeless pet, no matter their age, size, breed, or abilities.
1. Puppy Helps Spark New Life in Little Girl with Medical Diagnoses (Northwest Arkansas)
In February of 2024, Job and Sarah discovered that their youngest daughter, Lindley, had a congenital foot disorder that would turn their lives upside down. Following 7 months of surgeries and rehabilitation, Lindley was no longer feeling like the active, soccer-loving girl she once was, and that’s when puppy Riley from Best Friends in Northwest Arkansas entered the picture. Within just a few days of bringing Riley home, Lindley’s family noticed a positive change: she was once again excited to go to school and to get back on the soccer field, and most of all, eager to spend time with and care for Riley. Lindley’s family will be forever grateful for the day Riley came into their lives and brought a spark back in their little girl.
2. Sister Cats Mary Kate & Ashley Find Their Perfect Pairing (New York City)
No, you’re not seeing double! This pair of identical sister cats - also known as Mary-Kate and Ashley - came to Best Friends in New York City by way of a shelter partner in Maryland. At six years old, they were perfectly healthy but consistently overlooked due to being a package deal. However, as it turned out, these two were the perfect fit for a pair of sibling roommates in NYC. Once home, this duo quickly warmed up to their new owners and now get to spend their days as one big, happy family.
3. Long-Stay Sanctuary Dog Rides Off into the Sunset (Best Friends Animal Sanctuary)
Some things are worth the wait. Just ask Vito. After a few years in a shelter and a decade at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Vito finally found an adopter who was committed to a senior dog who was set in his ways. Casey, who used to work with wolves and understood a sensitive animal’s needs, was just the person Vito needed. Casey came back to the Sanctuary several times to build his relationship with Vito and voila: the two bonded. Now Vito spends his time cruising around the United States and Canada with his new dad, a fun and fitting way to enjoy his golden years.
4. Harold the Hoarding Rabbit Found a Safe Place to Call Home (Best Friends Animal Sanctuary)
Though he came to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in 2023 with more than 200 other rabbits, Harold only had eyes for one: his bunny buddy Dottie. Sadly, Dottie passed away unexpectedly, leaving Harold all alone. Thankfully for Harold, a pair of bunny-experienced volunteers with a 6-year-old rabbit named Norbert thought he could be a great fit for their family. After a few weeks of hard work and patience, Norbert and Harold became the best of friends.
5. Doug the Bespectacled Dog Wins Over Family of Former K-9 Handler (Northwest Arkansas)
When Doug first arrived at Best Friends in Northwest Arkansas, the staff called him the “prince of play” due to his sunny disposition and boundless energy. However, one of his foster families quickly noticed that Doug didn’t see very well, and a visit to a vet revealed a condition that caused his pupils to remain dilated. While there’s no cure, Doug was given a snazzy pair of dog sunglasses to help him see better in bright light. In the meantime, Doug started exploring the world with his mouth to make up for his vision loss, and this behavior made it difficult to find him the right adopter. During his time at Best Friends, Doug went to 12 different foster homes and was adopted and returned twice. Luckily, Doug’s big break was right around the corner. Ralph Bartley, a former K-9 handler with the sheriff’s department, and his family had recently lost their family dog and were ready to open their home and hearts again. Ralph had enough experience with dogs to know he could continue working with Doug to help him become his best self. Today, Doug is finally in a loving home with the Bartleys.
6. Loveable Pittie Diamond Ring Finds Adoring Family Through Social Media (New York City)
Diamond Ring came to Best Friends in NYC from Animal Care Centers of NYC and became an instant shelter staff favorite thanks to her sweet and loving nature. Staff took her to numerous media and public events, and she even flashed that big pittie smile for the popular @dogwithsign Instagram account. At less than two years old, Diamond Ring stuck around Best Friends longer than anticipated, possibly due to her strength on leash. However, an adoring foster family took her in and helped promote her on social media, and the rest is herstory. Her adopters – who had recently lost their senior pittie – saw Diamond Ring and instantly knew she was their next gem.
7. Scarred Horse Finds People Who Think She’s Just Perfect (Best Friends Animal Sanctuary)
Bug was a yearling orphan who came to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary from the Navajo Nation after an altercation with some local free-range dogs. Bug recovered from her wounds with a sweet, loving spirit, despite her mental and physical scars. A couple in Canada fell in love with Bug while volunteering at the Sanctuary, so the now 7-year-old horse hitched a ride with a Best Friends employee who was relocating to New York. Bug hit the jackpot with a home that thinks she’s beautiful just the way she is.
8. Goober the Cat Finds Loving Home with Vets Who Treated Her (Salt Lake City)
When the Best Friends team in Salt Lake City first came across Goober, she was living at a nearby shelter and struggling with respiratory issues. Best Friends took her in and began treatment, but after weeks with no improvement, decided to take a closer look. That’s when a staff veterinarian discovered a huge polyp in her upper respiratory tract. The polyp needed to be removed, but first, Best Friends took Goober to an external vet partner for additional testing. Turns out, that visit would be the first day of the rest of Goober’s life – the vet team fell in love with Goober and adopted her as their office cat.
9. Fearful Dog Tanner Opens Up with the Help of Foster Sibling (Houston)
Tanner came to Best Friends in Houston as a shy, fearful dog, extremely cautious of new people and surroundings. Best Friends found her a committed foster, who – along with the foster’s own dog, Coco – helped Tanner gain confidence. Her foster quickly realized that dogs were Tanner’s “comfort blanket,” and spending time with Coco was the best way to help her come out of her shell. After two years, a patient, kind and loving family opened their home to Tanner. They gave her space to open up on her own terms, and today she’s thriving in her new home.
10. BFFs (Best Feline Friends) Franklin & Nigel Call a Vintage Shop Their New Home (Los Angeles)
Franklin and Nigel (fka Marky Mark and Coddle) came to Best Friends in LA from Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah where they became the best of friends. Once they were moved to Best Friends in LA, the duo instantly stole the hearts of everyone they met, including Cass, owner of vintage shop Catnip Coalition. She quickly adopted the duo, and today Franklin and Nigel spend their days comfortably free-roaming Catnip Coalition, where many patrons come by just to visit the pair of feline friends.
** Analysis based on a sample of 777 shelters that reported Jan-Sept 2023 and Jan-Sept 2024 monthly data (with 48% being municipal, 28% contract, and 24% private non-profits w/o contract).