Features

Caregiver Brianna Vlach with Eagle the rat

Meet the caregiver: Brianna Vlach

Brianna Vlach is a champion of misunderstood animals. Whether they’re domestic, exotic or wild, she and her crew at Wild Friends give them what they need to thrive.

Calico community cat with ear-tip outside by a chain-link fence

Embed program helps cats and people who love them in North Carolina

Through TNVR, training and humane deterrents, Best Friends and Franklin County Animal Services are keeping neighborhood cats where they belong ― in their community.

North Carolina cats saved through TNVR

Cover of the book ‘Speckled Beauty: A Dog and His People’

Book review: ‘Speckled Beauty: A Dog and His People’

A writer from the Deep South and a stray dog find each other when they both need help and hope.

Gouda the Pekingese mix dog in the grass surrounded by fallen leaves

Matted, scared Pekingese mix gets a makeover and then a home

Scared dog learns to love life with a change of scenery and loving adopter.

Read how TLC helps Gouda

Gray kitten lying on his back on a fuzzy bed

Grant supports Providence Animal Center’s work in helping other shelters

500 cats, kittens and parvo pups in the Northeast benefit from a $50,000 Best Friends grant to Providence Animal Center.

Read how the funds saved lives

Patch the dog standing outside

Senior dog with a heart of gold now has a new home

A big, black senior dog named Patch needed heartworm treatment and a new home, and eventually he got both

See Patch's journey

Smiling woman hugging a dog

Strong relationships save lives in Tulsa during distemper outbreak

With guidance from Best Friends and support from area rescue groups and shelters, Tulsa Animal Welfare moved to quickly get a distemper outbreak under control.

See how partnerships helped

Person playing with two dogs in the snow

9 fun winter activities for pets

Despite shorter days and colder weather, the animals at Best Friends have plenty of suggestions for fun.

Orion the dog outside with a person standing over him

Prison program, trainers put adoption in the stars for a spirited dog

Orion needed training help so, through a partnership with Paws for Life K9 Rescue, he headed to prison.

Read Orion's story

Cover of the book 'The Ride of Her Life'

Book review: ‘The Ride of Her Life: The True Story of a Woman, Her Horse, and Their Last Chance Journey Across America’

A Maine farmer, running out of luck and time, sets out to see the Pacific Ocean with her two best friends: her horse and terrier.

Quincy the dog walking in front of a fence

Dog had more energy than people could handle, until she met her new family

When a family looking for a young dog up for adventure and fun reached out to Best Friends, the team helped Quincy make a great first impression.

Blue the yellow Lab smiling with red hearts behind him

9 ways pets tell you they love you

Our beloved dogs and cats don’t need words when they have so many other ways to tell us how they feel this Valentine’s Day.

Skelly the dog at the bottom of the stairs

Slow-to-trust dog finds kindred spirit in patient adopter

Slow to warm up to new people, Skelly isn’t a fan of pats or snuggles but to her new family she is precious.

Caregiver Elle Greer with a cockatoo in her lap

Meet the caregiver: Elle Greer

Elle Greer’s passion for rescue work and parrots brought her to Best Friends. We think she stays for the dance parties. They are a regular part of her job caring for the birds at the Parrot Garden, where every day is a new adventure.

Actress Jacqueline Piñol next to a Lost Family flyer on a tree, written in Spanish

Actress Jacqueline Piñol uses her talents to advocate for dogs

Get to know the producer of The Canine Condition documentary series and podcast, who joined Best Friends to promote pet adoption to Spanish-language audiences.