Happy life for dog evacuated from L.A. fires

When an adoptable pet meets their match, it can feel like magic. But it takes more than pixie dust to make these special connections. Often, so much has happened behind the scenes to get to that moment.

Just ask Pixie.

Before she was Pixie, she was Twixie — a 1-year-old pup who found herself at a Los Angeles city shelter in early January 2025. When wildfires began burning out of control, Best Friends took in Pixie and hundreds of adoptable pets like her, so local shelters would have space to help animals impacted by the fires. Best Friends’ goal is for all shelters to reach no-kill, and that means working together with other animal welfare organizations to save pets’ lives on a day-to-day basis and also in emergency situations.

[Amid fires, CA pets start new lives in Salt Lake City]

The next chapter of Pixie’s story started when her kennel was carefully loaded onto a plane bound for Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. After arriving at the Sanctuary under a starry sky, she enjoyed a hearty meal and some rest. The next morning after the pit stop, she was on the road again — this time in a van headed north to her destination: the Best Friends Lifesaving Center in Salt Lake City.

After receiving a clean bill of health from the Best Friends vet team, Pixie spent the next few weeks in a foster home, where her true personality shone through. Sure, she loved her chew toys and neighborhood walks. But all she truly wanted was affection: cuddling on the couch, getting blissful belly rubs, and simply being close to people.

[Fostering a dog to heal a grieving heart]

And then, as if by magic (but really, thanks to weeks of care and coordination), it happened: Pixie met her family. She adored them right away. How do we know? Because the first morning after she went home, she woke everyone up with kisses.

Today, Pixie is living out her fantasy. From romping in the sparkling snow to soaking up snuggles, this sweet girl is starring in her own fairy tale — happy ending and all.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill. 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.