Dog Stories

Spots the dog lying on the floor with eyes closed and mouth open smiling with Ellie behind him petting his chest

Senior dog finds love on the beaches of California

Spots came to Best Friends with an aggressive form of cancer and captured the hear...
Read about their deep connection
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Silver Sword the dog outside

Dog from overcrowded home shines as an individual

After a puppyhood spent in a home with over 50 other dogs, Silver Sword is finally...
Finding friends everywhere he goes
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Officer Ben the brown dog outside wearing a blue leash

Dog’s overnight antics caught on camera

Discover how Officer Ben went from homeless pup to canine security guard to belove...
His great escape
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Ira Shankman wearing a Best Friends hat and holding Sonny the puppy, who is wearing hos orange bandanna

A puppy’s journey part 2: Puppy Bowl XX

Sonny joins the starting lineup on Team Ruff in Puppy Bowl XX.
He represents well
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Sonny being held by Lilana and Lilyblue with a sign that says, "I heart my adopted dog"

A puppy’s journey part 3: Home

How signing up to foster a puppy changed his new family’s lives — and Sonny’s too
Foster win!
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Sonny the puppy wearing an orange Puppy Bowl bandanna

A puppy’s journey part 1: A star is born

How a puppy named Sonny went from alone on a roadside in Alabama to a shelter and ...
The start of Sonny's journey
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Gilda the dog on a couch

Faces of No-Kill: Pup trades farm life for city lights

Gilda, a dog with a heart of gold, finds her spot on the couch with her new family...
She's transitioned well
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Two smiling people holding LaBamba the senior dog

10-year-old tiny terrier home at last

La Bamba went from all alone on the streets of New York City to part of a loving f...
He fit right in
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Sarita and Colette the dogs next to each other with their front paws up on a desk

Best friends at Best Friends: Dogs find their footing

Colette was recovering from surgery, and Sarita was on the shy side — and their fr...
Read about the pals
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Jalapeño the dog, smiling, while sitting on sand in front of some trees

Helping a shy dog spice up his social life

Found as a stray pup, Jalapeño was shy and shut down around people, but his foster...
How he's warming up
Best Friends Magazine
Dealla the dog outside on a path in the woods with five other dogs

Dog goes from shy to social butterfly in foster win

Dealla was shy and unsure of people when she arrived at the Sanctuary, but after g...
Meet the foster win
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Baby Girl the white dog, smiling with tongue out, lying in green grass

Faces of No-Kill: Baby Girl in Brownsville, Texas

Best Friends’ embed program supports a Texas shelter in treating dogs for heartwor...
Embed program saves lives
Best Friends Magazine
Bonita Vanderkooi holding a small brown and white dog in her arms

Bonita Vanderkooi finds the perfect fit in Best Friends

When Bonita Vanderkooi and her husband, Doug, considered who was to inherit most o...
Giving it all to their favorite place
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Rhonda the dog licking the face of Amra the dog

The other founders of Best Friends Animal Society

Enough about the people — let’s celebrate the animals.
Meet some of the original residents
Best Friends Magazine
Reba Schnyder and Elliot Tolkin holding Cricket the puppy, outside on a lawn

Hip hip hooray! Puppy gets life-changing surgery

A total hip replacement would allow Cricket to run, jump, and play like any other ...
Watch her recover
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