Big Dog Stories

Mo outside with Cadbury the dog

Faces of No-Kill: Big dog in the big city

A 50-pound pup named Cadbury left a lasting impact on his foster family.
Foster home helps him meet his match
Video
Vera the dog next to a smiling person who has both hands affectionately holding her

Faces of No-Kill: Saving a dog with a sensitive soul

Vera went from a busy shelter to a charmed life in her new home.
Now she's a cherished member of the family
Feature
Caesar the dog with his new family outside in front of a Best Friends sign

Faces of No-Kill: Dog goes from depressed to loved

Caesar was sick, in pain, and scared when he first came to Best Friends. A foster family changed his life, and he did the same for them.
See him now
Feature
Two people sitting on a blue couch petting a large white dog

Grant helps save more dogs in Chicago shelters

One Tail at a Time puts Rachael Ray Save Them All Grant to good use to support dogs from Chicago animal shelter.
They're thinking outside of the box
Feature
Rico the dog, sitting outside and smiling

Skinny dog blossoms in foster home

Rico was stressed and kept dropping weight, but a loving foster home was just what the doctor ordered to help him bulk up and feel safe.
Read how things turned around for him
Feature
Simon the dog lying on the floor, smiling with tongue out

Foster caregivers help dog heal

Simon beat a serious skin infection with the help of modern medicine and two wonderful foster families.
Watch as he improves
Video
Jinx the smiling with tongue out pit-bull-type dog, outside on a leash by a river and wearing a yellow bandanna

Shelter helps dogs put their best paws forward

McKamey Animal Center in Tennessee sets an example for lifesaving with its canine-centric programs.
Learn more
Feature
Bear the dog and his "mini me" canine brother in his new home on a couch together

Big dog lands a home, meets his mini me

When Michaela met a snuggle enthusiast named Bear, she looked beyond his size, saw his sweetness, and adopted him.
Now he's making friends with everyone
Feature
Aragon the dog in the foreground with a smiling person behind him, both outside in a yard

Video convinces mom to adopt a dog

Allison Botwinick wanted to adopt the family’s foster dog Aragon, but first she’d have to get her mom on board. So she got creative.
Meet the "foster win"
Video
Selfie of Milo the dog lying down next to Amber

Finding an 80-pound senior dog’s happy place

Eight-year-old Milo appeared to want to scare away every other dog he met, but it turns out that his story proves the age-old saying: “You can’t judge a book by its cover.”
How he blossomed
Feature
Nancy sitting with Yogi and Tank the dogs and Pong the cat on a multi-colored blanket

Dreams come true for doggy duo with tricky behaviors

It took some extra time to find Yogi and Tank a home that stuck, but now they have a family who understands and loves them as they are.
See how they make it work
Feature
Jovie the dog out on a walk on a path by red rock cliffs

Cancer survivor dog finds her calling

Jovie nearly lost her leg to cancer, but now she’s healthy and happy in her new home — and preparing for a new career as a therapy dog.
Bringing comfort to others
Best Friends Magazine
Hollywood the dog sitting on an orange chair next to a stuffed toy

Channeling a dog’s boundless energy into a new home

Hollywood was stressed out and struggling when he lost his home, but a team of people at Best Friends helped him find joy again, as well as an adopter.
Memories old and new
Feature
Hulk the dog lying on a wooden bench, smiling

Dog named Hulk lands a home with a bodybuilder

Hulk is big and exuberant enough to easily knock people over, but now his days are filled with exercise, playtime and naps in his new home.
Big dog, big love
Feature
Jake the dog lying on a multi-colored parachute

From at-risk dog to therapy pet in training

Jake was on a shelter’s euthanasia list before coming to Best Friends, but in his new home, he’ll make a difference for people — with play therapy.
Read about his new career
Feature