Senior Animals Stories

Forest the cat on the ground with other cats

Once-scared cat overcomes much to enjoy golden years

It took a lot of TLC to get Forest to come out of his shell — and then veterinary care to save his life.
He's doing better than ever
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Petey the cat with Emily kneeling next to him

Faces of No-Kill: Befriending a fractious feline

Petey was frustrated with people and not afraid to show it — until he got specialized medication and a caregiver earned his trust. Now he’s in a new home.
A family for a finicky feline
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Hanjae the dog with Caroline Moss and Jeanhee Yu

A senior dog’s journey home

Hanjae was at a shelter with a life-threatening medical condition. Today she’s thriving in her new home.
Cat volunteer brings home a dog
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Person's hand holding the paw of a black dog who is lying down on a blanket

The shape of our grief

Coping with the range of emotions, including self-blame, that accompany the loss of a pet
Finding comfort after loss
Best Friends Magazine
Rosita the dog with her new family, sitting outside on green grass

Faces of No-Kill: Loving a dog who has limited time

A senior dog with inoperable cancer, Rosita has her ups and downs — but her family makes sure her tail never stops wagging.
Meet this 'foster win'
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Shane the cat in an area with an orange blanket

Faces of No-Kill: Shy senior cat gets a chance to shine

Space, patience, unconditional love, and a feline friend help 10-year-old Shane come out of his shell.
See how he's found his place
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Pumpkin the cat wearing an autumnal colored bow surrounded by fall-colored leaves

Pumpkin the cat celebrates his season

It’s autumn now, and you know what that means: the perfect time for Pumpkin.
Who needs pumpkin spice when you have Pumpkin the cat?
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Ashley hugging a happy Cayenne the dog

Laced with grace: Saying goodbye to a beloved dog

Excerpt from 'A Tail of Grace: A Year in Search of Home After the Death of My Soul-Dog.'
Learn about her emotional journey
Best Friends Magazine
Selfie of Elton the orange tabby cat and Aubrey Tsosie

Making every moment count for a cat in hospice care

Aubrey Tsosie gave Elton the time of his life, and he changed hers in the process.
See how he lived his best life
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Mr. Truffles the cat lying on a cushion

Senior cat is love at first sight

A longtime dog lover finds joy and comfort from adopting a senior feline who needed the same from him.
Read how Mr. Truffles brings serenity to his new home
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Zoey the senior dog with her new adopted family, outside in front of some bushes

Senior dog with medical issues charms new family

Older dogs can be overlooked in shelters, but 10-year-old Zoey was exactly what her new family had been looking for.
Zoey brings comfort in an unexpected way
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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
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Nova the dog with her family

Older dog gets new lease on life

These days Nova hikes mountains and provides comfort at a hospital with her person.
Now she's a star
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Selfie with Rachel and Katt

Sweet senior cat wins the heart of loving adopter

Katt won the hearts of everyone he met, including an adopter who had no plans to adopt a cat the day she met him.
He still has lots of love to give
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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 he was the dog for them.
It was love at first sight
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