Pet adoption stories that will make your day

No matter how big or small, young or old, it’s a magical moment when homeless pets have new families to love them. The wagging tails, rumbling purrs, and smiling faces are all the proof we need of that. From coast to coast, Best Friends Animal Society places thousands of pets in new homes each year as we work toward the goal of bringing all shelters across the country to no-kill in 2025.

Every adoption is a cause for celebration (and maybe a few happy tears). And because that joy is worth sharing, here are just a few of the dogs and cats who have recently settled into their new lives with their new favorite people.

It’s safe to say that Randy has a type when it comes to dogs. Having had multiple pit bull-type dogs in the past, he wanted to open his heart (and his home) to another. Sadie has a personality as big as her body, and she and Randy hit it off immediately. We’re happy to report that she’s fitting in well at his home.

Easygoing Hamburglar is one laid-back cat. He sees a potential friend in everyone, whether they’re human, canine, or feline. This loving attitude made taking him home a no-brainer for his adopters. They say he’s found all the soft places to sleep but prefers the ones that include people. One of his adopters says, “He sleeps in my arms at night with his head under my chin. We are all in love with him.”

It’s superstitious to think that black cats are bad luck, but thankfully the Rouhizad family didn’t believe that for a second. They adopted their new black kitten from Best Friends, named him Lucky, and then got him a clover-shaped ID tag (undoubtedly for extra good luck). His adopters say, “We all love him and are so happy he is part of our family!” He’s the very definition of lucky.

No hearing, no problem. This deaf dog, Ghost, arrived at Best Friends exuberantly happy and playful. You’d never know by looking at him that he can’t hear. While having a dog who’s deaf requires using different ways to communicate with him, that doesn’t faze Ghost’s adopter, Larissa, who has had deaf dogs in the past.

La Bamba arrived at the Best Friends Lifesaving Center as a stray from animal services. Even though he’s around 10 years old and has limited vision, he refused to act his age and was ready for his next adventure. That adventure arrived when a family came to the center and adopted him. Experienced in nurturing senior dogs, La Bamba’s adopters are a perfect match. With three other dogs and a backyard tailored for seniors and pups with special needs, these folks were excited to welcome La Bamba into their family.

In our last round of updates, we featured an anniversary adoption and hoped that trend would continue. Who needs anniversary gifts when there are so many animals to adopt? We’re absolutely thrilled to feature another anniversary adoption here. Happy “gotcha day,” Wyoming, and happy anniversary to the humans, Melanie and Supreme.

Ellie was new to pet fostering, so when she met her foster pup, Spots, she wasn’t sure what to expect. Little did she know that within a week, she would fall for this very handsome older gentleman. His mellow attitude, coupled with bursts of puppy-like energy, proved irresistible. Spots’ two favorite things are cuddling and exploring. What more could you ask for?

Emilio and Perry’s adopters were looking for a kitty who could be a best friend for their little girl. The family fell in love with these handsome brothers, and even though they originally planned on adopting just one kitten, they could not bear to separate them. Now they’re one big happy family.

This article was originally published in the March/April 2024 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 by 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.