New York Stories

Person reaching out to touch a smiling red heeler type dog

11 happy pet tales from national adoption weekend

Best Friends’ first national adoption weekend of 2023 finds loving homes for thous...
Meet some happy new families
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Volunteer David Sprague lying in a bed with a brown and white dog sleeping and snuggled next to him

New Yorker finds stress relief in volunteering with pets

Nursing student David Sprague fosters dogs, is a volunteer driver, and considers t...
Read what inspires him
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The torbi cat looking at the camera

Cat conquers ringworm, finds confidence in foster home

Savannah was shy and had a bad skin condition — two issues that only strengthened ...
Read about her overcoming challenges
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Smiling volunteer Vicki Williams holding Sunny her dog in front of a brick wall background

NYC volunteer is a feline matchmaker

Vicki Williams loves mentoring new volunteers and being a matchmaker for adopters ...
Read what inspires her to volunteer
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Fluff Fluff the black and white cat looking forward

Cat teaches adopter that every day is a gift

Fluff Fluff has a serious heart condition, but that doesn’t stop her from playing,...
How her story helped find her a home
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Volunteer Lisa Zarek holding a black and white puppy

From finance exec to service for animals

Lisa Zarek supports new volunteers, coaches foster caregivers, and connects with s...
Read what motivates her to volunteer
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Lorcan the cat peeking out of a hole in a leopard-print cat tunnel

Cat’s no-touch preference is no problem for adopter

Lorcan isn’t always comfortable being petted. In his new home, his need for space ...
See how he fits right in
Best Friends Magazine
Lilibet the cat lying on the corner of a desk

Cat gains a home, loses pounds

Lilibet came to Best Friends overweight, and that was impacting her health. But no...
Read about her weight loss journey
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The face of Suzie the cat

Cat proves it’s never too late to begin again

Senior cat Suzie came to Best Friends looking and feeling worse for the wear, but ...
Read about her second chance
Best Friends Magazine
Geoffrey's wife in a vehicle with Pepper the dog looking over from the back seat

The Other One

Meet Pepper, an athletic, larger-than-life dog, and Fernie, who is none of the abo...
How a stray dog becomes family
Best Friends Magazine
Cinderella the cat in an enclosed cat bed

A New York feline fairy tale

Cinderella was down on her luck when she came to Best Friends, but today she’s liv...
Read about her happily ever after
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Midnight the kitten lying on the floor under a wooden piece of furniture

Blind, deaf kitten shows the meaning of resilience

Midnight had a rough start, but after vets saved his life twice, he’s proven it’s ...
See how he's doing now
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Tres the dog wearing a purple harness and lying on a blue blanket

Front row seat for a scared dog’s transformation

First-time foster volunteer shares her story about helping a scared Chihuahua find...
Read Tres' story
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Person holding a small, happy dog in his/her arms

5 random acts of kindness toward animals

From a rugby team helping a dog in need to a horse whose paintings are helping for...
Enjoy these 'feel good' stories
Best Friends Magazine
Willow the cat lying on a cat tree

Seeing past a kitty’s shyness

Willow was scared when he arrived at Best Friends, but one New Yorker saw the brav...
Read about his transformation
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