A road trip detour that changed a dog’s life

When Rio arrived at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary from a nearby shelter, she had a bit of a reputation: as a heart thief. The kind of dog who would sidle up beside you, gently request a cuddle, and then stay spooned against your side like you were the only soft place in the whole wide world. She was sunshine in a dog suit — friendly, affectionate, and sweet. But she came with a storm cloud: separation anxiety that led to destructive behavior whenever she was left alone.

Best Friends’ goal is for all shelters to reach no-kill, and that means working together with other animal welfare organizations to save pets’ lives, giving each one what they need to move out of the shelter. And sometimes that means giving pets like Rio the time it takes for the right person to come along and bring them home.

Rio had already bounced between three different homes before she arrived at the Sanctuary. While her people loved her, their lifestyle just wasn’t the right fit to help her work through her separation anxiety. Still, she had a full life in the Sanctuary’s Dogtown while the team kept working toward what came next.

That “next” began unfolding in a most unexpected way: during a road trip meant to reunite another dog with her long-distance love.

[Anxious dog gives peace of mind to his new person]

Judy and her husband, Po, were traveling from San Francisco to Colorado on a not-so-ordinary vacation — a reunion between their dog Mika and her long-distance canine boyfriend. “Mika had a boyfriend when we lived in Toronto, and after we moved, they were both really sad,” says Judy. “So we met his people halfway in Idaho Springs, rented an Airbnb in the mountains, and let the dogs have their own little vacation. They had the best time.”

On their way home, they stopped to hike in the sand caves near Kanab, Utah. There, they met a mother-daughter duo who casually mentioned that the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary (Best Friends) was just around the corner. That night, back at their hotel, they each browsed the Sanctuary’s website on their own — and both landed on the same profile. Rio. They stopped by the next morning for a tour and to “just look” at Rio. They promptly fell in love and decided to set up a meet and greet between Mika and Rio.

The moment Rio and Mika met, there was no need for further discussion. Mika, typically cautious with unfamiliar dogs, lit up. So did Rio. The two dogs greeted each other like old friends. No growls. No tension. Just a quiet, mutual recognition as if they looked at each other and thought, “Oh, there you are.”

Judy and Po knew they could provide what Rio needed. The companionship. The stability. The understanding. And just like that, Rio headed home with them that day — and with a new sister who looked just like her.

In her new home, Rio has blossomed. The destructive behaviors? Gone. With Mika by her side and her people rarely far away, she’s found her rhythm. These days, she hikes through meadows, splashes on ocean beaches, and naps in a “giant human dog bed” curled tightly next to Mika like two peas in a pod.

Every night, the pack heads out for long walks through lush parks or along the coast. Rio, who once struggled to come when called, now joyfully returns without hesitation. She isn’t just adjusting — she’s thriving.

[A story of love and learning with an anxious dog]

“She loves to spoon,” Judy laughs. “She’s the best cuddler. She’s perfect.”

Sometimes the timing just has to line up. Sometimes the right people show up with exactly what a pet needs. And thanks to a winding road trip, a spontaneous stop, and a little shared serendipity, Rio is right where she belongs — and deeply, delightfully loved.

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.