For one dog, love was there all along

Sometimes true love is right under our noses. It just takes time to realize it. That’s what happened with Best Friends volunteer Jason Henning and an extra special pup named Polly. Polly’s path to Jason was long and winding, with plenty of surprises along the way.

Polly, a 78-pound bundle of spunk and smarts, came to the Best Friends Pet Adoption Center in Los Angeles ready for a fresh start. However, she faced some challenges. She was wary around strangers and selective about which dogs and humans she trusted. She also had a tendency to jump and explore the world with her mouth. But staff could see the sweet dog inside; she just needed positive ways to express her energy and training to learn new skills.

No-kill is doing what's right for each individual animal. That means giving pets like Polly the extra time, care, and support they need to go to a new home.

How one wary dog learned to trust through toys

Polly flourished in her training. She picked up lots of cues and learned to walk on the leash like a pro. Perhaps most importantly, she gained confidence, which allowed her to open up and show her true personality. Polly was a happy, silly girl who would plop down for petting and who enjoyed a spirited game of tug-of-war. Several stays in foster homes and volunteer outings to places like Griffith Park and the Santa Monica Pier also helped her find her footing.

Despite her progress, Polly still hadn’t landed a home. So Best Friends staff decided to make some noise — or, should we say, music — to get Polly adopted. They hosted a mock music festival called Pollypalooza, complete with a DJ, temporary tattoos, and buttons with Polly’s face on them. The goal? To bring new people into the pet adoption center to meet the eligible bachelorette.

Dog goes from jumpy and mouthy to sweet and cuddly

Pollypalooza was a hit that brought attention to all the adoptable pets at the center, but it didn’t lead to an adoption for Polly. As it turns out, the right person had been by her side the whole time.

After spending countless hours with Polly and slowly falling in love, volunteer Jason decided to make it official and adopt her. The news delighted the staff and other volunteers who had come to love her, too.

Today, she is thriving in her new home, where she has not one, not two, but three beds. It was a long journey, but everyone’s patience paid off. Polly is finally home.

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.