Pet Adoption 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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Brown tabby cat

Adopters share how their pets are living the good life

Janet and LaToya, Willow, Peep, and Biff are loving life with their new people, wh...
The beauty of adoption
Best Friends Magazine
Person with Emma Dean the horse in a halter and on a lead

Horse rescued from Lake Powell goes home

Emma Dean’s rescue story made national news, but now she’s enjoying the simple thi...
She's now in a new herd
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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
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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Bradley Cooper the kitten playing with a toy

Tiny kitten beats the odds to shine bright

Dedicated vet care, a loving foster family, and a kitten bestie turned out to be a...
A star is born
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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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Wanda the cat on a wood floor

Senior cat facing illness gets best possible medicine

As the sun rises each day, Wanda and her adopter bask in the joy of being together...
Making every moment count
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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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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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Ali holding an orange tabby cat while outside

Adopters share happy tales about their new pets

A dog, two cats, and a dancing parrot are settling into their new homes and going ...
Best Friends adopters keep in touch
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
Nosh the kitten outside on a catio

Faces of No-Kill: A tiny kitten with many helpers

From 3 a.m. feedings to a foster home filled with love, a team of people helped No...
Healing at home
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