Network Partners Stories

Justin Serna holding a kitten

Justin Serna wants to see you be extraordinary, so hurry up and fail

A moral obligation to animals inspired Justin Serna to turn his community’s lifesa...
A spiritual relationship to animal welfare
Julie Castle Blog
Person sitting on a couch with Bark Twain the dog

Spay/neuter helps 2 Virginia shelters reach no-kill

A Best Friends grant funds spay/neuter surgeries for adoptable pets to help them g...
Helping pets and people
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
People from Human-Animal Support Coalition

For Amy Dixon, helping pets starts with helping people

When we put our energy toward the problems facing people first, we can prevent pet...
Keeping pets safely with their families
Julie Castle Blog
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
Feature
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
Jeremiah the puppy outside in the grass

Oklahoma shelters unite to save pets in 2 emergencies

When Oklahoma shelters faced two large-scale emergencies, relationships built thro...
It takes a village
Feature
Heather Hall outside with a dog who is in a wheelchair

If you’re looking to save a life in West Texas, look for the vultures circling

In West Texas, Heather Hall is saving animals and proving to all of us that we bel...
Working in animal welfare makes us better people
Julie Castle Blog
Dog next to people holding a Best Friends no-kill plaque

‘It would never work here’ until it does

From remote West Texas to suburban Chicago to the coastal South, this year's no-ki...
How lifesaving actually happens
Julie Castle Blog
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
Timmy the community cat outside with an ear-tip

Redefining ‘home’ for cats who prefer the outdoors

A Washington shelter’s barn cat program gives cats other options besides a traditi...
Creating solutions to save lives
Best Friends Magazine
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
Ruby Fooks beside a dog in a vehicle

Saving animals is a lifestyle; and Ruby is ready to recruit you

Ruby stops at nothing to save the animals who were once her only safety –– creatin...
She sees a problem and jumps in to fix it
Julie Castle Blog
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
Feature