New York Stories

Max as a puppy

Emaciated puppy gets fresh start

Little Max was found hungry and alone. It was the beginning of his long journey ho...
Now growing and thriving
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Maggie the dog with her adopter in a vehicle

Chance encounter leads to love for deaf dog

It seemed like fate when Maggie’s “adopt me” vest caught the eye of someone specia...
Now she's right at home
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Orange and white cat snuggled in an enclosed bed

Spreading kindness to animals every day

When these folks saw opportunities to help animals, they took them — and made thei...
Even small acts of kindness make a difference
Best Friends Magazine
An incarcerated woman lovingly fosters a dog

How innovative pet fostering is saving more lives

Some shelters and rescue groups are embracing an unconventional approach, with peo...
Learn about these forward-thinking programs
Best Friends Magazine
Millie the dog lying on a couch

Mama dog’s classic rom-com story

After being rescued with her seven puppies, Millie became the main character in a ...
She's now loving city life
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Dog in a backpack kissing the side of Bryan Reisberg's face

Meet the urban backpacker making adoptable dogs famous

One man’s big idea gets big exposure for dogs in the Big Apple.
Best Day Ever outing videos reach millions
Best Friends Magazine
Gray cat in front of a blue and gray heart background

Families find furry feline love

Best Friends teamed up with Fresh Step to send more cats and kittens home by ditch...
Matches made to last
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Salt Water Taffy the cat licking a treat from a lickable cat treat

Faces of No-Kill: Treats help cat unwrap her sweet side

Salt Water Taffy was painfully shy, but her caregivers had a secret weapon to help...
Yummy incentive
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Tan and white dog with mouth open in a smile outside on a leash

The law is (finally) catching up to our pets

It didn’t happen overnight, but the law is beginning to reflect what people have a...
This is what progress looks like
Julie Castle Blog
Dog sitting on a gray chair

Stories that celebrate kindness toward animals

A kitty quinceañera, a senior dog’s new family, and a neighborhood kitten rescue h...
Small acts of compassion can make big differences
Best Friends Magazine
Bruce the cat with Ollie and the baby

Adoption update: Baby and kitten grow up together

Best friends Ollie and Bruce have always been by each other’s side — even when lif...
One bigger happy family
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Macchiato the dog with Mo

Filling a dog’s final days with love

Macchiato’s foster family committed to giving the terminally ill pup the best life...
Fostering with unconditional love
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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
Hawkeye the dog smiling and wearing a hoodie

Scrappy pup goes from matted to marvelous

After living in heartbreaking conditions, Hawkeye made a total transformation than...
Love saves the day
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Rich Avanzino and Julie Castle in front of a Best Friends Benefit to Save Them All backdrop

The power of proof: Turning ‘impossible’ into millions of lives saved

From a radical question to a nationwide movement, compassion and conviction have r...
Challenging the status quo
Julie Castle Blog