Emaciated puppy gets fresh start

If you want Max to go in his crate, all you have to do is dangle a carrot. That’s not just an expression; pull out a cold, crunchy carrot, and Max will make a beeline for the crate. He simply cannot resist his favorite veggie. And with those tall, pointy ears, who’s to say he isn’t part bunny?

Today, Max’s biggest concern is where his next tasty treat will come from. But not long ago, he was an emaciated puppy fighting for survival.

Max came to a Georgia animal shelter after being found alone. The hungry 6-week-old puppy needed nourishment, flea treatment, and a safe place where he could gain strength. So the shelter reached out to Best Friends for support.

For Best Friends, it’s not only about a single puppy like Max. Best Friends’ goal is for all shelters to reach no-kill, and that means working together with rescue groups and other animal welfare organizations to save pets’ lives, giving each one what they need to move out of the shelter.

Puppies thrive thanks to foster volunteer’s courage

A few days later, Max boarded a van bound for the Best Friends Pet Adoption Center in New York City, where he’d get the care he needed and have more opportunities to meet potential adopters. As the tiniest passenger on the trip, the drivers became slightly obsessed with him and gave him the nickname “Little Mouse” — though “Little Bunny” may have been more appropriate given his love of carrots.

Upon arriving in NYC, the Best Friends vet team made sure Max was stable (not the easiest task because he wouldn’t stop giving everyone kisses). Then, they placed him in a foster home where there were two objectives for him: gain weight and get rest. He took that second part very seriously and snoozed like it was his job. No longer in survival mode, Max could finally experience the joy of being a puppy.

After growing healthy and strong, Max was adopted by a family who absolutely adores him. The family has two children, and Max’s adopters say he is their “third baby.” Nowadays, he enjoys a life filled with his favorite activities: supervising the neighborhood, playing with the kids, sleeping in a soft bed, chasing a ball, and, of course, getting a carrot.

Faces of No-Kill: Pup steals his way into hearts and home

Max’s journey shows what folks can do when they come together: the good Samaritan who found him, the shelter that took him in, the people who drove him 1,000 miles to New York, and the foster volunteer who welcomed him into her home.

Max is thankful for all that, too — and for carrots.

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.