Arkansas Stories

Eugene the dog smiling in front of a Christmas tree

Foster dog’s story has the wiggliest ending

Eugene’s wide smile sealed the deal as his new family welcomed him into their hear...
The smile that sealed the deal
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Rory the puppy lying on a blanket

Faces of No-Kill: Bottle-baby puppy hops into happiness

Devoted foster caregivers helped Rory go from a fragile newborn to a confident com...
Foster commitment can lead to a lifetime of love and happiness
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Cashew the dog getting a hug from a smiling person

How a Missouri shelter is helping more dogs shine

The Best Friends shelter embed program supported Independence Animal Services in f...
Partnership helps pups shine
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Zoey and Max the dogs snuggling together on a couch

Faces of No-Kill: Healing dog finds joy with pup pal

After a devastating accident, Zoey’s sweet and hopeful nature left a lasting impre...
Broken leg, but unbreakable spirit
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Orange tabby cat on a small table reaching his paw forward

Leaders across America stand with shelters to save pets’ lives

22 states have proclaimed their support for no-kill. This past year marked a si...
Proof that people from every corner of the country can agree on something this important
Julie Castle Blog
Mr. Darcy the dog outside beside a sign reading, 'Annabelle's Trail'

Faces of No-Kill: Shy dog blossoms into dashing suitor

With the help of kind and patient supporting characters, Mr. Darcy became the cani...
The real Mr. Darcy emerged
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Brown dog outside on a leash with mouth open smiling

Everyday heroes for animals

Across the country when animals need help, people are stepping up and changing liv...
Turning ordinary moments into something extraordinary
Best Friends Magazine
Volunteer Toni Dorsey and another person unloading pet food from a truck

Rising up for pets every day and when disaster strikes

Meet a Best Friends volunteer in Arkansas who goes the extra mile — literally — fo...
Invaluable member of the team
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Smiling person holding the black puppy she adopted in front of a Best Friends booth

More than 200 pets adopted at picture-perfect venue

For the second year, shelters and rescue groups came together in Northwest Arkansa...
A festival of fun and lifesaving
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Thelma the dog on a pink blanket

Anxious dog adopted by real-life angels

With love, patience, and a little divine timing, senior dog Thelma now has a heave...
Her life is now all about simple pleasures
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Rio the dog beside a chain-link fence

A better way to reunite lost pets with their people

Communities are stepping up to get pets back home quickly, easing stress for pets,...
Golden rule for found pets
Best Friends Magazine
Sarge the dog outside on a leash in a dog bed

Senior dog goes marching toward new life

Sarge wasn’t feeling so great in his furry uniform, but with vet care and TLC, he ...
Now he's ready to take on the world
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A dog on a leash walking in the foam

Fi, foam, and fun for dogs

Best Friends and Fi are teaming up to keep pets safe with GPS collars and microchi...
Celebrating connection and community
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Child rubbing Ford the dog's belly

Seemingly serious dog lands in his happy place

Ford’s reserved facade wasn’t catching people’s eyes — until he met a big-hearted ...
He's now a full-time family dog
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Boo the dog wearing a red bow tie collar with a winter background

How training one dog inspired shelter-wide change

Boo’s successful training plan sparked a shift in a rural Arkansas shelter that wi...
All interactions with animals are learning opportunities
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