Community-Supported Sheltering Stories

People putting pet food and supplies on shelves

Sometimes, saving a life starts with a bag of pet food

New York City’s pet food pantries help people and pets stay together.
Keeping more pets with their families
Julie Castle Blog
Kellee Robertson wearing a police uniform beside a shepherd dog

Kellee Robertson has a wish

Helping pets means supporting the people who love them. Kellee wants her community...
Wanting the public to consider shelters as safe places
Julie Castle Blog
Two people interacting with a small black kitten with a kennel in the background

How each ‘next right thing’ adds up to save pets

Stories shared from shelters show that when we work together, we save animals’ liv...
Small efforts add up
Best Friends Magazine
Anastasia the dog and her adopter, who is giving her a hug

Illinois shelter pets find safety after tornado

Animal Protective League in Springfield, Illinois, lost its buildings in the storm...
Supporting a partner in crisis
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Dez the dog lying down with tongue out

Texas animal shelter goes from hidden to hopeful

How Alpine Animal Services in Texas transformed from an isolated shelter into a li...
Saving lives together
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Orange tabby kitten in a crate

Super El Niño is coming ... let’s not forget the animals

As El Niño looms, shelters and communities across the country show us what it look...
Reminder to imagine the very best case scenerios
Julie Castle Blog
Linus the English bulldog pup in a wheelchair with a person's hand touching him

Mississippi animal shelter celebrates 10 years of no-kill

Small but mighty Southern Pines Animal Shelter has become a national blueprint for...
From crisis to compassion
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Rosie the dog in a vehicle

Doggy delivery program drives adoptions

All it took for Rosie to get adopted was someone to give her a ride.
Meeting adopters where they are
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Black dog with upright ears

Small shelter makes big difference for Kentucky’s pets

With help from Best Friends, rescue groups near and far, and local volunteers, Har...
A new outlook for pets and people
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Melissa “Missy” Kidwell and child sitting on the floor with a dog

West Virginia animal shelter a lifesaving powerhouse

Mineral County Animal Control and its committed leader are proving that you don’t ...
A new outlook on lifesaving
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Rock formations at Big Bend National Park in Texas

Lost in Big Bend, found by kindness: How 2 dogs got home to Mexico

While a story of unlikely heroes saving lives feels like it should be a blockbuste...
Multiple acts of kindness save two dogs
Julie Castle Blog
Bean the dog looking up with her mouth slightly open

Compassion and science save pets’ lives in Illinois

Tazewell County Animal Control is blazing new trails and breaking ground for pets ...
What better looks like
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Person snuggling with a black and white cat

From dread to joy: One animal shelter’s no-kill journey

How Joplin Humane Society embraced new philosophies to change life for people, sta...
Shelter's executive director explains what they did
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K’Terra sitting on the ground with a dog

How a Tennessee animal rescue group is changing lives

Crossroads Campus brings together animal rescue, job training, and affordable hous...
A model rooted in hope
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Bryan Reisberg smiling while carrying a dog in a backpack

Why we love a viral animal story

Sharing small moments can create lasting positive outcomes.
Chain reactions change outcomes
Julie Castle Blog