Faces of No-Kill Stories

Selfie of Sir Karen the cat (looking a little grumpy) with Taylor Seupaul

Faces of No-Kill: Sir Karen the cat fools everybody

A grumpy kitty had some surprises in store for his caregivers at Best Friends, but now he’s fitting right in at his new home.
Now he's all headbutts and biscuit marking
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Vera the dog next to a smiling person who has both hands affectionately holding her

Faces of No-Kill: Saving a dog with a sensitive soul

Vera went from a busy shelter to a charmed life in her new home.
Now she's a cherished member of the family
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Caesar the dog with his new family outside in front of a Best Friends sign

Faces of No-Kill: Dog goes from depressed to loved

Caesar was sick, in pain, and scared when he first came to Best Friends. A foster family changed his life, and he did the same for them.
See him now
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Petey the cat with Emily kneeling next to him

Faces of No-Kill: Befriending a fractious feline

Petey was frustrated with people and not afraid to show it — until he got specialized medication and a caregiver earned his trust. Now he’s in a new home.
A family for a finicky feline
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Rosita the dog with her new family, sitting outside on green grass

Faces of No-Kill: Loving a dog who has limited time

A senior dog with inoperable cancer, Rosita has her ups and downs — but her family makes sure her tail never stops wagging.
Meet this 'foster win'
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Whitney the puppy wearing a protective cone

Faces of No-Kill: Swift action saves puppy’s life

Whitney needed help fast after swallowing a foxtail.
See how Whitney got the care she needed
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Dixon the tabby and white cat lying on a lap

Faces of No-Kill: Cat thrives after FIP treatment

Dixon’s FIP diagnosis once might have spelled the end, but after taking part in clinical trials for a treatment, her future is looking bright.
Read about his lifesaving medical care
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Shane the cat in an area with an orange blanket

Faces of No-Kill: Shy senior cat gets a chance to shine

Space, patience, unconditional love, and a feline friend help 10-year-old Shane come out of his shell.
See how he's found his place
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Ruthie the dog with three people (two in military uniforms) in front of a large vehicle

Faces of No-Kill: 3-legged dog earns her military stripes

Ruthie went from a scared, injured puppy in a shelter to bringing joy to combat veterans who defuse bombs for a living.
She's loving her therapy dog training
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Pickle and Chip the kittens sitting next to each other on a tiny pink couch

Faces of No-Kill: Kittens heal from contagious condition

All you need is a bathtub and an open mind: how Best Friends cat expert Samantha Bell nursed kittens with sarcoptic mange back to health.
Learn how to step up
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Turtle the kitten wearing her protective helmet

Faces of No-Kill: Kitten with serious head wound gets custom helmet

Shelter collaboration, community support, and TLC help Turtle the kitten survive and thrive.
Joint effort helps save special kitten
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Jax the dog in a person's lap while being cradled in her arms

Faces of No-Kill: A scared dog learns to trust

With time, patience, and TLC, Jax went from a fearful dog who needed a home to a happy pup who’s blossoming with his new person.
Read how a special friendship formed
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June the cat wearing a pink collar and sitting on a counter in what looks to be a veterinary exam room

Faces of No-Kill: Injured cat finds comfort in new home

June the cat went from being found alone dragging her back legs to a shelter and then to nightly snuggles in her new home.
Read how a special friendship formed
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RoiLie the dog with a little fluff in his mouth from a multicolored toy, with another dog and person sitting on a couch behind him

Faces of No-Kill: The pets behind the philosophy

Best Friends’ new Faces of No-Kill series highlights pets who ended up in shelters and are alive and thriving today thanks to shelters embracing no-kill.
Meet a few of them
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