California Stories

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 matc...
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 ...
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’...
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 rescu...
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 hav...
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...
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, includin...
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...
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 anima...
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 f...
Cats are now on the road to recovery
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Erin Yarbrough with Sonny the dog snuggled in her arms next to a stuffed toy

Fostering a dog to heal a grieving heart

In the midst of the L.A. fires, Erin’s beloved canine companion passed away, but h...
Foster dog is helping fill the hole in her heart
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Stella the dog outside on a leash

Amid fires, CA pets start new lives in Salt Lake City

Although the wildfires are local to Los Angeles, the disaster is inspiring action ...
People step up to answer the call
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Line of carriers containing animals from Los Angles during the wildfires in front of the transport airplane

Fires inspire support for pets in L.A. shelters

Best Friends is moving hundreds of adoptable dogs and cats out of area animal shel...
Best Friends and our partners take in adoptable pets from L.A.
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NKLA black and white billboard featuring Jewell the dog

A Love Letter to Los Angeles

We are doing all we can to help you through these wildfires.
Julie's heartfelt tribute to L.A.
Julie Castle Blog