California Stories

A couple adventure buddy program participants with a pug wearing a bandanna

Adventures abound for adoptable dogs

Dogs from the Best Friends Pet Adoption Center in L.A. share fun-filled outings to help them get adopted.
Adventuring with purpose
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Students at Crestview Preparatory School beside a slide noting Best Friends as receiving donations

California fourth graders champion a cause for pets

Students at Crestview Preparatory School used their school’s annual fundraiser to support the animals at Best Friends Animal Society.
The market was a resounding success
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Baby and Celine the French bulldogs sleeping next to each other

Faces of No-Kill: From puppy surgery to sister snuggles

A French bulldog named Baby came to Best Friends in crisis. Now, she has a clean bill of health, a cozy home, and one sassy sister.
A family that’s meant to be
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Pug in a home environment

Kindness in action for the animals

When animals needed help, these everyday heroes stepped in with compassion and creativity and forever changed a few lucky lives.
Compassion can show up anywhere, anytime, and in any form
Best Friends Magazine
Sugar the cat lying on a towel on a wooden bench

Adopter sees the sweetness in shy senior cat

Like sugar and spice, Sugar the cat and Ginger the person were just the right match for each other.
Now receiving her second chance
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Rainbow the dog, smiling with mouth open

Faces of No-Kill: Solutions for dog with special needs

From a neurological condition and seizures to a penchant for pebbles, Rainbow has a lot going on — but her main concern is having fun with friends.
Her personality now shines
Best Friends Magazine
Person holding a calico cat

How animal groups teamed up to save L.A. pets

Best Friends Network Partners answered the call for help to move pets out of harm’s way during the Los Angeles wildfires.
Stories of awe-inspiring teamwork
Best Friends Magazine
Smiling dog in a home setting

Acts of kindness transform animals’ lives

From a heroic dog to a stowaway kitten, these stories highlight heartwarming rescues, adoptions, and life-changing connections.
People living a better world through kindness to animals
Best Friends Magazine
Dog in create for a flight transport following the Los Angeles fires

An unexpected reprieve in shelters after the L.A. wildfires

Thank you for supporting our second home.
A look back at the Los Angeles wildfires
Julie Castle Blog
Tara Pope on a rock cliff with arms outstretched

L.A. fire evacuee finds hope at Best Friends

When Tara Pope fled her home to escape the L.A. fires, she found an unexpected haven at Best Friends Roadhouse and with the animals.
Best Friends offers hope
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Smiling person wearing a protective gown holding Wally the Girl the dog

Tiny dog with broken leg helps heal broken hearts

For Wally the Girl, a 5-pound pup with an unstoppable spirit, a chance meeting led to a new home and healing for her new family.
It was meant to be
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Actor Gilles Marini with Z the African grey parrot

Unexpected help for a parrot amid L.A. wildfires

When fire threatened Michelle Bertonneau’s home, she feared for her pets, including her parrot, Z — until help arrived.
Actor opens his home
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Alex Mestres volunteering by bringing meals to pets at Best Friends in Los Angeles

Volunteers power efforts to help pets amid L.A. fires

Best Friends volunteers from coast to coast are using their time and talents in so many ways to support people and animals impacted by the L.A. wildfires.
People help in California and from afar
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Bob Odenkirk with a dog helping at a flight transport event during the Los Angeles wildfires

Celebrities support pets affected by L.A. wildfires

Celebrities are using their star power to support Best Friends’ work helping animals amid the wildfire crisis in Los Angeles.
Entertainers step up for the animals
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Pluto the cat being petted on the neck by a person's hand

Cats from L.A. shelters get special care at Best Friends

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary offers specialized veterinary care and lots of TLC for adoptable pets from shelters affected by the L.A. fires.
Cats are now on the road to recovery
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