Dog Stories

Susan Fishbein sitting outside in the sand with a large brown dog

Volunteers expand homeless dogs’ worlds

From walks and car etiquette to first-time sleepovers and long-term fostering, Sus...
They've become invaluable team members
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Alani the cat wearing a bandage on her paw playing with Simon the dog who is doing a play bow

Rescued dog and kitten are BFFs

Kitten with an injured paw finds a new best friend in Simon the dog
Watch their friendship blossom
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Ron Swanson and Pancake the dogs, on an agility platform, both smiling

Best friends at Best Friends: Pancake and Ron Swanson

Meet one of our favorite odd couples: two dogs known affectionately as “Roncake.”
Meet the best buds
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Elsa and Emma

Elsa Nilsson-Canin embraces the beauty in the beast

Credit a pit bull terrier named Herman for setting Elsa Nilsson-Canin on her lifes...
Her will is her way of giving back.
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Kya the dog in the back seat of a vehicle

Dog gains the courage to trust

A once fearful pup finds safety with a patient, loving family who accepts her for ...
See her progress
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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 ho...
Bringing comfort to others
Best Friends Magazine
Potato the blocky-headed pooch with his new family

Dog’s new family is just his type

Potato is a dog with nine lives. He was at risk in a shelter, then beat heartworm ...
His long road to home
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Watson the dog lying on a couch

Senior dog is thriving with 2 octogenarians

Linda and Bill Farrell took one look at Watson’s silver-threaded muzzle and knew h...
It was love at first sight
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Hazel the dog lying comfortably on a dog bed in a home

Dog with traumatic past has a bright future at home

For Hazel, just being able to enjoy the little things in life was a big step. And ...
See her living the good life
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Person petting Butterfly the dog while Dorian the dog watches

Scared mama dog transforms into social Butterfly

Butterfly used to run for cover if a person got too close, but with help from her ...
See her transformation
Best Friends Magazine
Julie Castle hugging Shadow the dog

For the love of Shadow: A tribute to a big dog with a big personality

Reflecting on a lifetime of boundless love after a sudden goodbye
In memory of a beloved friend
Julie Castle Blog
Lars the dog with his new person, lying together on a couch

Dog found barely alive gets help and a home

Lars almost died alone, starving, dehydrated, and full of porcupine quills, but ve...
Read about his new life
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Person holding a smiling Java the Chihuahua dog in a lap

Little dog is living large

Java has spina bifida and had difficulty walking when she came to Best Friends, bu...
Read how she's settled in
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Ollie the dog on a leash in the snow, with a bit of snow on his nose

Anxious dog gives peace of mind to his new person

Ollie’s separation anxiety made it take longer to find him a home, but now he’s br...
Finding a safe place together
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Dandelion the dog on some concrete in front of a waterfall in an urban environment

A dog at home wherever she roams

Dandelion is traveling across the country with her adopters, proving that home is ...
Read about her adventures
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