Dog Stories

Calvin holding Sylvia the puppy in front of Central Book Exchange

Survivor puppy gets job in bookstore

After overcoming a severe case of parvovirus, Sylvia spends her days doing what sh...
Puppy gets fairy tale happily-ever-after
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Collage of three photos of people taking dogs out for Adventure Buddies Day

Kennels empty for Adventure Buddies Day in Los Angeles

How nearly 400 shelter dogs in Los Angeles got their best day ever.
It’s much more than exercise and enrichment
Julie Castle Blog
Cooper the dog surrounded by flowers

From shelter dog to dapper wedding guest

A Facebook post changed Cooper’s life — and Zoe’s, too.
Bringing love home
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Mark and Kim Spragg at Salt Lake City with Cathy Overfield, a Best Friends employee

Answering the call to help pets impacted by disaster

Best Friends emergency response volunteers drop everything to help whenever and wh...
Helping in ways big and small
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Melon the dog outside on a leash with a person beside water

How one wary dog learned to trust through toys

At Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, a dog cautious about people got the specialized ...
Caregivers have learned Melon’s language
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Alice the dog standing outside in a yard

Faces of No-Kill: Senior dog gets her spark back

It seemed like tiny Alice had given up on life, but a little time and a lot of lov...
Now she's right where she belongs
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Tiger the brindle dog

Tiger’s 763 days: A shelter dog's long road home

A Texas shelter director explains how a dog pushed them to evolve, adapt, and beli...
Shelter changes its stripes
Best Friends Magazine
Christmas lights in Chickasha, Oklahoma during sunset

A real-life Hallmark movie for shelter pets

Chickasha Animal Shelter in Oklahoma, with help from Best Friends, is creating mor...
Making magic for the animals
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Elliott the dog with his family

Oklahoma shelter dog wins 5K race, gets adopted

A fun-filled adoption event and 5K race in Oklahoma helped a dog named Elliott, an...
From shelter to finish line to beloved family member
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Person petting Bentley the doodle

She adopted her dream doodle

After buying their first puppy from a breeder, a family in California decided to a...
Now Bentley is family
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Boston the dog in a kiddie pool beside a person spraying hose water in

Water-loving dog finds confidence after a rough start

At Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Boston got the patient care she needed to learn ...
Making a splash
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Donna in a wheelchair beside Shadow the dog and Best Friends staffer Timothy Perciful

Hero dog saves his person during Spokane wildfire

As flames rapidly approached their Washington home, Shadow helped his person, Donn...
Seeking shelter and safety
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Max as a puppy

Emaciated puppy gets fresh start

Little Max was found hungry and alone. It was the beginning of his long journey ho...
Now growing and thriving
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Nigel the dog snuggling with another dog on a couch

Faces of No-Kill: Dog goes from barking to bliss

Nigel landed in a shelter where he became overwhelmed and stressed, but time at Be...
Preparing Nigel for his biggest adventure yet
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Maggie the dog with her adopter in a vehicle

Chance encounter leads to love for deaf dog

It seemed like fate when Maggie’s “adopt me” vest caught the eye of someone specia...
Now she's right at home
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