California 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
Video
Person hugging a smiling pit-bull-type dog

Celebrating a year of policy wins for pets

Thousands of people contacted their lawmakers this year, helping to remove legal b...
Local voices speak up for pets
Feature
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
Feature
Steve the dog with a cast on one of his front legs

Grants expand access to veterinary care for Los Angeles pets

Funding supports nonprofit partners in providing critical care to pets and the peo...
Giving pets a second chance
Feature
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
Video
Dog from Aggieland Humane Society with two people on a wooden swing

5 stories of animal shelters going the extra mile

From East Coast to West Coast, Best Friends Network Partners are finding creative ...
Creative ways to offer second chances
Best Friends Magazine
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
Feature
Three gray tabby neonatal kittens on a blanket in a cardboard box

‘Kitten kits’ help a California shelter save more pets

With support from Best Friends, Lodi Animal Services is helping people who find ki...
Empowering the community
Feature
Happy dog whose tongue is out beside some plush toys

Best Friends Network Partners step up big for pets

Whether pets need help getting back home, extensive medical care, or anything else...
Network partners working to save lives
Best Friends Magazine
An incarcerated woman lovingly fosters a dog

How innovative pet fostering is saving more lives

Some shelters and rescue groups are embracing an unconventional approach, with peo...
Learn about these forward-thinking programs
Best Friends Magazine
Roger the cat lying on paperwork in the clinic

Helping community cats thrive in California

Stanislaus Animal Services Agency helps twice as many cats live their best lives t...
Helping more cats this year than ever before
Feature
Nicky the dog outside in a garden

Dog with lopsided smile bounds through life

A jaw injury couldn’t hold Nicky back from living the joyful life every pet deserv...
Now he's exactly where he belongs
Video
Lucy the dog with a person beside a Bark Box kit of supplies

Busting barriers between adoptable pets and home

Creative adoption practices help thousands of animals move out of shelters and int...
Small shifts make big ripples
Best Friends Magazine
Scout the dog outside on green grass

Animal shelters nationwide celebrate lifesaving wins

2025 data shows the sharpest drop in pets killed in U.S. shelters since 2020.
A hopeful moment for pets in shelters
Feature
Large gray dog outside wearing a harness beside a fence at a beach

Best Friends and ASPCA make historic joint commitment to Los Angeles animals

Together, we are making the largest coordinated investment either organization has...
Developing a lifesaving blueprint
Julie Castle Blog