Lifesaving tales: Pets who make life better

“Who rescued whom?” If you’ve ever adopted a pet, you know the love, comfort, and safety of your relationship with them is a two-way street. Our best friends impact our lives in so many ways — from making us chuckle with their everyday antics to staying right by our side during some of life’s toughest moments.

There are pets in shelters across the country who have so much love to give — if only they could be given a second chance at a loving home. This is why Best Friends Animal Society works with animal welfare organizations nationwide, helping to give each pet what they need to move out of the shelter so that together we can reach our goal to bring the country to no-kill in 2025 and beyond.

To show just how magical these second chances can be, Best Friends supporters have shared their stories of how their rescued pets have changed their lives.

Note: Stories have been edited for length and clarity.

Every parrot, cat, dog, chicken, and horse or pony I brought home has been a rescued pet. My current dog, a pit bull terrier, had been left by his family at a kennel. They never returned for him. He was sweet and loving — 4 years old, didn't know us, but walked to us as if he knew us. He sniffed us and led us to our truck. He sat up so proud in the back seat. We drove home to the horse rescue farm we run, where we rescue and rehabilitate horses.

He had a name: Mr. Tiggs, aka Tigger. I decided to train him to be my service dog as mine had passed months prior. I have a seizure disorder. He was so smart and a quick learner. He places his head on my knee when he smells a seizure coming; the chemicals change in my body. He attends concerts, movies, dinners, and goes kayaking with me. He has brought me so much confidence, love, and joy. He is 11 years old now. Everyone, everywhere, loves and adores him.

— Sharon Rosati

When I was 70, I lost the love of my life. My wife and I had been together for 35 years. I have no kids and no family. I asked a friend who was very involved with animal rescue to put me in touch with shelters that might be able to provide me with a dog. The Big Dog Ranch in Loxahatchee, Florida, was one of several that responded. They said they have the perfect dog for me. She was an 8-year-old Chihuahua-corgi mix, 12 pounds. Her owner had died, and they sent her from Alabama to the shelter in Florida.

I have to be honest: It really wasn’t love at first sight. When they gave her to me, I said she was alright — just alright. But after spending almost two years with her, I wouldn’t trade her for a million dollars. We are crazy about each other. Whoever trained and socialized her did an incredible job. She’s never had an accident in my house and is so well-behaved, it’s unbelievable. She’s simply the best!

— Gary Slusher

I have always rescued pets, never getting them from pet stores. My most recent fur baby is half mini doxie and half Chihuahua. She was rescued from an abusive situation. It took a couple of months before she realized she was safe and her personality started blossoming.

I am now 74, and she is my purpose for hanging in there and fighting my seventh, eighth, and ninth cancers. She knows when I need some love, and she comes up to lean on me, put her head on my shoulder, and nuzzle my neck. If I am a little slow to get her breakfast or dinner together, she hops around on her hind legs and barks at me, as if saying "hurry up." When I come in from a medical appointment, she jumps up on the sofa. When I sit next to her, she is a happy wiggle worm dancing on my lap. When I sit down to do some mending, she cuddles up to my leg and naps. Only 6 pounds but so much love. Life would be so empty without her.

— d'Anne MacNeil

We picked up our girl, Casey, from a rescue group in Houston where the dogs were transported by the group along many stops nearest to the homes of the lucky new pet parents. When my husband and I picked her up, she was very scared and confused when we brought her home.

She stood in a corner of our kitchen and wouldn't budge, so I got down on my knees to her level and told her this was home now and that her new mommy and daddy would always love her. I waited for another hour for her to move. Then, after that time passed, she approached me in the living room and jumped up to the sofa where I was sitting. And we never looked back.

Casey is an absolute joy to be around, and we are as close as ever. Sadly, when her daddy died four months later, she was there to comfort me and sustain me like I did for her when she first came to us. She arrived on Mother's Day 2024 and was the best present ever.

— Donna Larney

Over the course of my adult life, I have been blessed to have 11 four-legged furry kids in my home and heart. Ten of them were adopted. Fifty years of unconditional love, and I would not trade one moment with any of them — one memory — for all of the treasures in the world.

I've had up to four at one time — not intentional but things happen! I see so many in shelters, and my heart just breaks. I'd take them all if I could — the old ones especially or the ones in the shelters for months and years. Yes, they are cared for, but all they want is to love someone. Living at a shelter does not give them that which they deserve most.

I could write a novel on each one of mine. That they touched my life is putting it mildly. They are my life, and I would not have it any other way.

— Kim Torres

When I called Best Friends to express my interest in fostering a dog, I said, “I’ll take anything but a Chihuahua. I don’t like Chihuahuas.” The Best Friends staff person asked, "Would you take a sick Chihuahua?" (“Did she know me from some previous life?” I wondered.) I answered emphatically: “Of course, I will.”

I fostered 6-pound Melinka for three weeks before adopting her. For 10 years, she has served as a companion and my lifeline. Disabled from a brain bleed in 2012, I tend to trip and fall. OK, I'm also easily distracted and, well, these falls are predictable. But if it weren't for Melinka, I'm sure I'd spend a lot more time on the street or sidewalk than I have these past years. Dropping her leash during landing, my "best friend" is often rescued by passing strangers. I'm tended to next. Indeed, Melinka has made my life richer and safer. Cracked ribs, broken fingers, and bruised ego aside, I am so grateful for her company.

— Bara Swain

My husband and I adopted our cat, Zorro, from our NSPCA 10 years ago. He was then 3 years old. He saw my husband and I walk into this free-range cat room and jumped off a high shelf and grabbed onto his leg. It was love at first sight on both our parts.

Now he is 13 and the joy of my life. My husband passed over two years ago, and Zorro watches over me. He is so comforting, and our home is full of love and not so empty.  
He is truly pure love. I know he really misses my husband as I do. He gives me the impression that he constantly looks for him. He is a big lap cat and loves to sleep with me too. I cherish him so much!

— Suzanne Mehr

There have been very few years in my adult life that didn't include a fur baby. When I moved to Pennsylvania from Florida in 2017, my yellow Lab mix named Bogart moved with me. Sadly, Bogart died in March 2018 at the age of 13. I was completely heartbroken. Bogart had been with me through many changes in my life — not the least of which included divorce, job changes, and a major move. Bogart was always by my side.

At the time of Bogart's passing, I was employed and just wasn't ready for a new fur baby. But in August 2020, I decided I was ready to retire for real. Retirement was great, but I hadn't counted on being so lonely. It was at that time I realized I was ready to open my heart.

So I went to Huntingdon County Humane Society and told the nice ladies I was looking for a small dog. I was shown a picture of Lila. She was a beautiful 5-year-old Chihuahua weighing in at 12 pounds. I asked to see her. When she was brought to me, I sat on the floor and Lila immediately jumped into my lap and licked my face.

Lila and I now share a very strong bond, and it's been a fun experience watching her adjust to her new life. She was rather shy and timid in the beginning, but she has since become quite a diva! We've done lots of fun things together. We've gone to the dog park, been through the car wash, and participated in Paws on Parade. She's been the star of birthday parties each year and met her BFF Sophie, who often joins us for walks. I found a coffee mug that reads, "I saved my best friend, my best friend saved me."

— Linda Chester

Ready to find your next BFF? Give a homeless pet their happily-ever-after when you adopt from a Best Friends location or a shelter or rescue group near you. Go to bestfriends.org/adopt to learn more.

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.