Adopted and adored: Cats and dogs living the dream

They say home is where the heart is, and there are lots of happy hearts in each of these pet adoption stories. Across the country, Best Friends Animal Society matches loving and loyal homeless pets with new families, and their stories are full of joy, fun, and companionship. Here are just some stories of dogs and cats who have recently gone home to new beginnings.

Age ain’t nothin’ but a number. Mascarpone, a sweet senior with a touch of arthritis and a whole lotta love to give, landed a new home — with her foster caregiver’s mom. Mascarpone blossomed in foster care with hikes and walks in the park, and her foster person considered adopting her, but her travel schedule wouldn’t allow for it. Luckily, her mom could make it work, so Mascarpone officially joined the family after all. She’s a country girl now, living her best life in San Antonio with a new sister, Maya.

Scott Pilgrim has a ton of energy (sometimes more than he knows what to do with), so it took a while to match him with the right home. His exuberant play style and tendency to jump up on people was too much for most adopters, and he bounced from home to home for a while before hitting the jackpot. Now he’s home at last and doing great.

We can’t say for sure that Mary-Kate and Ashley really are sisters. But they came to the Best Friends Lifesaving Center in New York City together from a shelter, they are total look-alikes, and they love each other as only sisters can. That’s why it was extra special when they went home with two (human) sisters who saw them and adopted them together.

When a potential adopter reached out to Best Friends’ New York team and said she was seeking a “sassy, independent, and spunky cat,” the team knew exactly who embodied those traits perfectly. It was Pumba, and it was indeed an excellent match. Pumba is now the only pet, as she prefers it, in a quiet apartment with a huge window overlooking a park. She spends her days with her new person, who not only has tons of experience with sassy cats but enjoys them, too.

If anyone has just the right name, it’s Sweet Heart. The 2-year-old cuddle bug was adopted by a family who has adopted several other dogs from Best Friends. While they were initially seeking another older dog, they were swayed by Sweet Heart’s charm and her love for a calm and cool lifestyle like theirs. She’s already settled in, zooming around the backyard with her senior pup brother and calmly coexisting with her cat sisters.

Talk about a volunteer shift with a happily-ever-after! While volunteering at an adoption event, Athena found herself falling head over heels for a nervous Chihuahua mix named Grizzy. After taking care of him during the event, she simply couldn’t say goodbye. Now, Grizzy has a home with Athena, proving that sometimes the best things happen when you least expect them.

Life is sweet for Mr. Watermelon. This 10-year-old beagle got adopted and went to his new home on a farm, where one of his favorite things to do is the important job of watching over the family’s chickens — that and enjoying the company of his new family and fellow senior dogs. It’s a retirement fit for a king.

This article was originally published in the January/February 2025 issue of Best Friends magazine. Want more good news? Become a member and get stories like this six times a year.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.