Houston Stories

Brutus the dog looking up and smiling

From a dog out of time, to having the time of his life

After Brutus ended up on the euthanasia list, he came to Best Friends, beat heartworm disease in a foster home, and then found love.
Read Brutus' story
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Alida and Gary Oldham with Cleopatra the cat, who is nose-to-nose with Gary

5 men making a difference for homeless pets

This Father’s Day, tip your hat to the men in your community who are helping pets in their own way.
Read about their efforts
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Erik Smith and a woman adopting Nash the dog, holding a 'I saved my best friend' sign

Dog inspires radio DJ to promote pet adoption on the air

Erik Smith and ‘Best Friends Friday’ on 100.3 FM The Bull in Houston help pets go home, thanks to a special dog named Nash.
Learn more
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Fleury the goat nose to nose with two of her kids

7 animal super moms for a marvelous Mother’s Day

From kittens and puppies to baby goats, horses and mice, we’re celebrating all kinds of animal moms this Mother’s Day.
A mother's love shown in many species
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Mila the dog getting adopted by Christine and Kevin

Rambunctious dog lands a just-right home

A young German shepherd with overwhelming energy fits right into her new family.
Read Mila's story
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Group of volunteers holding the items they sewed for Best Friends

4 volunteers helping animals in unique ways

From teaching cats to “talk,” to creating videos that inspire others to get involved, these volunteers prove there are many ways to support pets in shelters.
Meet these volunteer dynamos
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Gloved hand holding a tabby kitten whose mouth is messy from eating from Best Friends in Los Angeles

Kitten showers help shelters prepare for kitten season

Best Friends teams up with shelters from coast to coast to collect supplies and recruit foster volunteers just in time for kitten season.
See how communities stepped up
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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
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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.
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Gracie Lou the dog in an office

Sweet pit bull terrier mix brings comfort, calm to young adopter

As Gracie Lou fills her new Lopez family home with love and laughter, she’s also formed a special connection with their son Michael, who has autism.
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Bruce the Great Dane-mastiff mix dog

Great Dane-mastiff mix is large, in charge and now basking in love

Bruce’s size, excessive energy and lack of manners were three strikes against him until he met a patient foster person who helped him find his match in the Lone Star State.
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Bob and Penny Burleson with some other people standing by the sign at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

Retirement for lifesaving: Couple puts in hours for Houston pets

Now that Bob and Penny Burleson have retired from demanding careers, they can finally focus on a cause dear to their hearts ― helping save Houston’s homeless pets.
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Dolly the dog wearing a sports T-shirt

Along came Dolly: Mama dog goes from shelter to home

Pit bull terrier lost her home and landed in a shelter, but now life is better than ever.
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Calico cat beside a sign that says: grateful, thankful blessed

10 (out of a million) reasons to be grateful for pets

This holiday season, take a moment to appreciate the many ways that pets make a difference in our lives.
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Robin, the brown and white shy dog

Loving a shy dog just the way he is

A once-fearful dog slowly learns to trust, with the help of a very kind and understanding adopter.
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