Pet adoption stories to make you feel the love

Need a reason to smile? How about several? Best Friends helps thousands of pets find new homes each year, from coast to coast. Here are a few of the dogs and cats who have recently settled into their new lives with their new favorite people.

Kookie and her eight puppies came to Best Friends from a local shelter. Once all the puppies were weaned and then adopted, it was Kookie’s turn to be in the spotlight and go to a home. It didn’t take long because the good Samaritans who found her when she was pregnant (and took her to the shelter when they were unable to locate her people) reached out about her. They had been thinking about sweet Kookie nonstop and were excited to adopt her and bring her home for good.

Looking for love? Ditch those dating apps and try a Doggy Date Night instead. It’s an event that matches dogs with foster families, giving pups a much-needed break from the shelter environment. Bonny, who had been in and out of various homes for nearly three years, met her match at one of these events. The connection was instantaneous and undeniable, and what started as a temporary foster stay quickly morphed into Bonny landing her permanent home.

Don’t tell Milo he’s small. He thinks he’s as big as his best friend, Anubis, a 170-pound Saint Bernard dog. His adopter says, “They are always cuddling. Milo loves to sleep either on my face or on the dog’s bed. He is definitely one of the best things to happen to me!”

When Alfred arrived at Best Friends, he was at death’s door. He had a broken leg, parasites, a swollen mouth, and open wounds, just to name a few of his medical challenges. After plenty of veterinary care and time to heal, he went to a new home, thanks to one of our Spanish-speaking volunteers, who translated the entire adoption process into Spanish for Alfred’s new family. ¡Felicidades, Alfred!

Zoie and Brighton were new to fostering with Best Friends when they were matched with Heath. He’d been in our program for a year, never quite landing in the right home for him. So when Heath’s foster family decided to make it permanent, it was a moment worthy of a group photo.

Animals often need an adjustment period when settling into a new home, but sometimes it takes a little longer than expected. Ducky spent the first few months in her new home being scared of, well, everything. But her adopters, Madelyn and Alex, were up for the challenge. Madelyn says Ducky was afraid of “people, flagpoles, TVs, us, etc. She refused to go outside for the first few months, so we literally carried her outside every morning and evening.” With the help of her patient adopters, some canine friends and training, Ducky is finally feeling more confident. Madelyn and Alex say, “We’re so happy with Ducky and our little family, but it wasn’t the easiest or smoothest transition. It took a lot more work and patience than either of us thought, but we love looking at old pictures and seeing how far Ducky has come.”

This article was originally published in the July/August 2024 issue of Best Friends magazine. Want more good news? Become a member and get stories like this six times a year.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.