Dog goes from face in the crowd to one in a million

Dogs, dogs, and more dogs. That was the scene at a house in eastern Arkansas: 70 small dogs who were sick, under-socialized, and scared. One of those pups was Berry. Although this little lady had her guard up, you could just tell that she was desperate for love — and she was about to get it in spades.

When 5-year-old Berry arrived at the West Memphis Animal Shelter, a Best Friends Network Partner, she was in rough shape. Her fur was patchy, her ear was torn, and she was very pregnant. In fact, she gave birth to her four puppies the same day she arrived. Shelter staff now had even more canines to care for, and they were stretched to the max. On top of everything, most of the dogs from the house — including Berry — had heartworms, which take time and resources to treat.

Organizations from around the region, including Best Friends, rallied to support the dogs and the shelter. Best Friends’ goal is for shelters across the country to reach no-kill in 2025, and collaborating with our shelter partners to take in and place their pets in new homes is just one of the ways we work together toward that shared goal. The Best Friends team ended up taking 19 dogs back to the pet resource center in Bentonville, Arkansas. Berry and her babies were on that van, headed toward a new life.

Once in Bentonville, Berry and her pups went to stay in a cozy foster home where this mama dog was doted on. Yes, she was slow to trust, but she started getting used to the idea that all this love and attention was just for her.

“She never got to be in a home where she had her own toys and everything,” says Natalie Shelton, Best Friends shelter partnerships coordinator. “She just seemed so grateful for all of it.”

[A perfect storybook ending for a mama dog in need]

When Berry’s puppies were old enough, they were quickly adopted into homes of their own. Now that she was done nursing, Berry was able to begin heartworm treatment, a regimen of antibiotics and injections to kill the worms. She was on the road to recovery — next stop: a home for her, too.

After a movie date, Katie and Adam Crouch stopped by the Best Friends Pet Resource Center (just to look). Adam was instantly smitten with Berry, but Katie was more hesitant about the pint-sized pup in the playpen. She didn’t have any experience with small dogs. Plus, the couple was still mourning the loss of their senior dog, Ellie Mae, who had recently passed away from cancer.

Adam convinced Katie to take Berry on a doggy day out. What was supposed to be a few hours of fun turned into so much more.

[Shelter helps dogs put their best paws forward]

“Once we brought her home, it was just game over once we saw her personality, how sweet she was,” says Katie. “She was very shy and timid and reserved at that point, so she really hadn't even come out of her shell. But she was just so easy-going.”

The couple let Best Friends staff know that they wanted to adopt Berry. Before they knew it, they were at the store buying all things tiny — a bed, bowls, toys — for their new family member. Berry had everything she needed to settle into her new home.

At home, Berry fits in seamlessly with her people; their German shepherd mix, Benny; and their tabby cat, Meow Meow. (Berry may be the smallest of the pack, but she has a large presence.) She is a textbook lapdog who loves to be petted, especially behind the ears. However, she doesn’t like being picked up, and her family respects her boundaries.

Katie has earned her trust by going at Berry’s pace — and by bribing her with a lot of treats. “She is very, very food motivated. When I say she loves food, she loves food,” says Katie. “She's the very first one to remind me when dinner time is every single night.”

So what’s a normal day like for Berry? Katie works from home, so Berry spends the day following her from room to room. Then they might run an errand or two in the car. (Berry has a special booster seat that allows her to look out the window and watch the world go by.) These trips often end with a stop at Third Space Coffee, the cafe at the Best Friends Pet Resource Center, for a pup cup treat. It’s the cherry on top — or should we say, the berry on top — of a perfect day.

Whether hanging out in the backyard, taking a stroll around the block, or visiting the Bentonville Farmers Market, Katie says her life is “a million times better” with Berry by her side. “I just feel so honored to be able to be there for her and take care of her.”

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.