Dog Stories

Polly the dog outside with mouth open smiling

For one dog, love was there all along

From training sessions to a music festival in her honor, Polly had quite the journ...
A familiar face, a new beginning
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Ariel the dog sitting

How one fearful dog helped a rural shelter save more

A staff person at a small Virginia shelter shares how outings, social media, and r...
Changing the system
Best Friends Magazine
Mr. Bowser the dog smiling

Colorful comeback for a dog with ringworm

After receiving medicated baths for ringworm at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary that...
He's left his green era behind
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Nuggie the dog wearing a blue collar outside on a sidewalk

Dog’s life is sweet at 16

After struggling to trust people, senior pup Nuggie is making up for lost time wit...
Little dog, big personality
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Eyesha the dog dressed as a pirate

One-eyed dog has the perfect Halloween costume

Eyesha came to Best Friends nervous and in need of care, but now she has embraced ...
Giving her a chance to shine
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Oakley the dog with mouth wide in a smile

Faces of No-Kill: Dog’s accident leads to a home

An ER vet tech couldn’t forget the dog she helped save.
A patient worth falling for
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Apollo the dog lying on the floor

Faces of No-Kill: New hope for dog with mighty name

Once skinny and shut down, Apollo regained his strength and spirit in a foster hom...
His time to shine
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Chico the dog in Steven Szydio's vehicle looking out the window for Adventure Buddy Day

400+ shelter dogs embark on day of adventure in L.A.

One special day brought hundreds of dogs out of the shelter to relax, have fun, an...
More than a day of fun
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Gabriel the dog beside a child

Access to vet care helps Texas shelters reach no-kill

Collaboration between Texas shelters and Best Friends has helped more pets like Ga...
New initiative helps save lives
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Masha kissing Cinnamon the dog on a boardwalk

Faces of No-Kill: Dog snuggles his way into new home

Cinnamon was found alone and injured, but then one sleepy moment changed his life.
It was love at first lap
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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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