Kindness in action for the animals

Pug in a home environment
When animals needed help, these everyday heroes stepped in with compassion and creativity and forever changed a few lucky lives.
By Mary Daly

Kindness doesn’t always come with fanfare. Sometimes it looks like a paintbrush, a prosthetic duck beak, or a wedding fund rerouted to save a dog. Compassion can show up anywhere, anytime, and in any form. These real-life stories are proof that even small acts can spark something big.

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Work of heart

Laurel Thompson knows a thing or two about the beauty of dogs. Under the moniker Darn Good Dog Doodles, the Georgia artist uses her talents to paint watercolor portraits of dogs (and sometimes cats) in shelters, capturing what makes each animal special. She focuses on pets like large dogs, whose lives can be at risk because they’re often overlooked in shelters. Her paintings help them get more attention from potential adopters. At home, Laurel is surrounded by artistic muses: her adopted dogs and a rotation of foster pets. And she uses social media to advocate for fostering and adoption — because everyone should have a furry muse of their own.

One lucky duck

Polly the pet duck has gained many fans since her arrival at All Things Wild Rehabilitation in Texas. She was found alone and injured, with part of her beak missing. Her caregivers reached out to Southwestern University to see whether its 3D printing lab could make a prosthetic beak, and the students enthusiastically jumped into researching and modeling what would work best for Polly. They’ve made good progress and are close to creating a beak that fits the bill. Meanwhile, the owners of a nearby pet supply retailer started a fundraiser selling plush duck toys to raise money for Polly’s new beak. As for Polly? She’s basking in all the love from her adoring flock of new friends.

Saying ‘I do’ to rescue

Emily Roberts and Dylan McCay likely hadn’t included canine reconstructive surgery in their wedding budget. But their savings for their special day went toward that after they saw a Facebook post about a seriously injured dog all alone by the side of a road near where they live in Arkansas. They drove to find the dog, whom they named Maple, and she was in bad shape. Both of her back legs were injured, and she was cold and coughing in the rainy weather. They rushed Maple to an emergency vet, and after learning she wasn’t microchipped, they agreed to take financial responsibility for her care. Maple had complex surgery to save both of her legs and still has months of physical therapy ahead. But she’ll have Emily and Dylan by her side every step of the way (and even documenting her journey on TikTok) as a new member of their family.

On thin ice

Tiki the cat is 20 years old and blind, but that didn’t stop him from sneaking out of his house in Massachusetts. He somehow ended up trapped on a partially frozen lake with the ice cracking under his feet. Two people working nearby noticed the cat’s predicament and sprang into action, jumping into a rowboat and using a shovel to break the ice to reach Tiki. Just in time, they lifted the cat into the boat. They brought Tiki indoors to dry off and then to a vet’s office for further examination. Tiki’s family was located, and soon he was back home and settled in for a cozy nap.

The good doctor

Dr. Annie Harvilicz, a veterinarian in the Los Angeles area, has dedicated her life to helping pets and the people who love them. When the L.A. wildfires broke out, Dr. Annie immediately posted a message on social media offering her empty veterinary hospital as temporary housing for displaced pets. She also began offering free pet food and supplies to those in need. One day after putting out her message, she had already taken in dozens of displaced pets. Besides caring for animals in her hospital, Dr. Annie and her team placed as many pets as possible in foster homes, where they could relax in comfort and safety until their families were back on their feet.

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

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