Life’s a pool party for one buoyant pup

Cooling off in the pool is even better when a friend comes over to play. Bolt certainly seems to think so. The black-and-tan dog approaches life like one long invitation to have fun — splash in the water, grab the biggest stick in the yard, and entice a pal to join the game.

That big-hearted enthusiasm has been part of Bolt’s story since he arrived at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, from a shelter. While some dogs take their time deciding what they think about a new place, Bolt seemed ready to join every activity he could find.

Soon, he was off to a foster home, where he could enjoy even more fun activities as he experienced all that home life has to offer. Best Friends’ goal is for all shelters nationwide to reach no-kill, and people who step up to foster pets, either with Best Friends or any animal shelter or rescue organization, play a vital part in reaching that goal.

Bolt quickly discovered his favorite feature of his foster home: a shallow doggy pool built just big enough for splashing, lounging, and cooling off in the sun.

“Bolt loves to splish and splash in the water,” his foster caregiver Anabel says, especially when his buddy Gruyere, another Best Friends foster pup, came over for playdates.

8 dogs beat the heat in the pool

Gruyere also came to Best Friends from a shelter. And while he and Bolt may look similar, they had some personality differences. While Bolt treated nearly everything like an exciting new game, Gruyere was nervous about new people and situations. But his playdates with Bolt helped him relax and feel better.

For Bolt, those playdates meant belly flops into the pool and a favorite game Anabel calls “playing sticks.” Bolt would search out the largest stick he could carry, trot it over to Gruyere, and wiggle against him until Gruyere finally grabbed the other end. Then the pair would race through the yard together, tails wagging wildly as they carried the stick side by side.

Dogs cool off at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

In time, Gruyere’s goofy side came out as he grew more comfortable in his foster home. And thanks in part to his buddy Bolt helping him build his confidence, he was adopted into a home of his own.

Meanwhile, Bolt is still bringing his trademark enthusiasm to every day in his foster home.

Bolt has never met a stranger. In his mind, every person is a potential friend, every dog is a future playmate, and every stick is an invitation for a game. He even loves Anabel’s foster kittens. “He’s a bit oblivious to the fact that he is much larger than them, but he is nice,” Anabel says.

He brings his whole heart to everything he does — an affectionate, energetic guy who’s always ready for the next adventure. And if another best friend — or a potential adopter — shows up, Bolt will almost certainly be the first one racing over to say hello.

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.