Los Angeles Stories

Volunteer Cathy Berry wearing a mask and holding an orange tabby kitten

A cat lover’s legacy

We’ve said goodbye to a beloved volunteer, but the impact she made endures.
Honoring Cathy Berry and her impact
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Peter the dog with his new family (including two other dogs), all on a front porch of a home

Excellent epilogue to a canine cliffhanger

After a harrowing adventure that left him stranded on a cliffside in the desert, Peter is now snuggling up and settling in with his new family.
Now he's part of the pack
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Littles the cat lying in a kennel

Shy cat finds the confidence to climb higher

After being found scared and disheveled in a home with too many cats, Littles has become one courageous and happy cat.
How she overcame her fears
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Collage of two photos - one of Harmony and one of Maui

A friendship story: Two cats together through thick and thin

Mia and Harmony share a unique and similar history, and today they’re thriving in their new home.
A new home for both
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Captain the dog next to Jill Shaw, who is looking at him, smiling and petting him

Faith leads a dog home

Captain was returned from every home he had and diagnosed with two heart conditions and cancer. But thanks to inspiration from Best Friends co-founder Faith Maloney, he’s now home for good.
Faith and the universe guide adoption
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Bud the dog with his two adopters sitting on the couch behind him

From underdog to super hero: Bud saves the day

When a fire threatened a dense southern California neighborhood, Bud the wonder dog awakened his people who called 911.
Meet the local celebrity
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Hollywood the dog sitting on an orange chair next to a stuffed toy

Channeling a dog’s boundless energy into a new home

Hollywood was stressed out and struggling when he lost his home, but a team of people at Best Friends helped him find joy again, as well as an adopter.
Memories old and new
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Hulk the dog lying on a wooden bench, smiling

Dog named Hulk lands a home with a bodybuilder

Hulk is big and exuberant enough to easily knock people over, but now his days are filled with exercise, playtime and naps in his new home.
Big dog, big love
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HarlieQ and Nicholas the kittens lying next to each other

Wobbly kitten is steadfast lover of life

Nothing (and certainly not cerebellar hypoplasia) stops Harlie Q. and fellow kitten Nicholas from living their best lives in their new home.
Read their story
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Volunteer Heather Mahood holding a tabby and white cat in front of kennels

Rock star volunteer helps hundreds of cats

Volunteer Heather Mahood, who helps the tiniest kittens and wisest senior felines, also has a soft spot for cats with ringworm.
Learn more about her
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Lisette the cat in a kennel lying on a colorful matt

Adopters see shy black cat for the rare pearl she is

What does a shy, middle-aged, jet-black female cat in Los Angeles have in common with a Tahitian pearl? More than you might think.
Read about this rare gem's journey
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Chris Alton sitting next to a dog in their RV

Couple converts RV into foster pet crash pad

Cat’s fear of dogs prompts Los Angeles family to get creative in order to continue fostering pets.
Read about this fostering innovation
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Ginny and Kenny Popvich with posing on a loveseat with a dog

Mother and son help dogs get adopted, one hike at a time

Volunteers Ginny and Kenny Popovich have been hitting the trails with dogs from Best Friends in Los Angeles for more than seven years.
Learn why they volunteer
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Nancy Stewart and Juve Vique adopting Banjo the cat, who is wearing his hat

A most memorable cat named Banjo

Adopting one cat with FIV leads to another for an L.A. couple, and now Banjo is living the life of his dreams.
Read Banjo's story
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Lil the cat lying on Kelly's chest

Cat gets comfortable in her own skin

Lil came to Best Friends with a bad skin condition, but with help from the medical team and a wonderful foster family, she’s now living her best life in Los Angeles.
See how she's living her best life
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