New York City Stories

Indy the cat, lying on a blanket

Shy cat sprinkled with love

Sometimes, all it takes is adding a little bit of sparkle to help a timid pet shine.
Colorful collars made her even more adorable
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Smokey the gray cat lying on a couch

Shy no more: One cat’s beautiful breakthrough

Thanks to time, patience, and chin scratches in his foster homes, today 10-year-old Smokey is exactly where he belongs.
New home, new beginning
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Goldilocks the cat lying on a cat scratcher

Tales of second chances for homeless pets

Across the country, Best Friends is finding pets homes full of love, fun, and sometimes even their own wardrobe.
The stories of some special dogs and cats
Best Friends Magazine
Kiwi the tabby cat

Cat missing for 19 months reunited with family

Lourdes Ortiz was distraught when her cat, Kiwi, went missing, but a microchip brought them back together despite the family moving a thousand miles away.
Now she's back in loving arms
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Hannibal cuddling in a dog bed with Cinnamon

Faces of No-Kill: Dog BFF provides soft place to land

How a once-shy pup gained not only a new family but a best dog friend to bring her joy
Now she's happy at home
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Mo outside with Cadbury the dog

Faces of No-Kill: Big dog in the big city

A 50-pound pup named Cadbury left a lasting impact on his foster family.
Foster home helps him meet his match
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Henry the dog looking happy and wearing a cowboy hat and bandanna

Faces of No-Kill: Beloved senior dog meets his BFF

At long last, 10-year-old Henry is exactly where he belongs.
Now he's living it up in his golden years
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Franklin and Nigel the cats in the vintage shop

10 inspiring pet adoption stories from 2024

Enjoy some of the year’s most heartwarming tales from around the country of pets going home.
Read the most heartwarming adoption stories of the year
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Three people, including Best Friends CEO Julie Castle, with three dogs at New York's Rockefeller Center

Adoptable dogs shine bright at Rockefeller tree lighting

Best Friends and Toyota spotlight pet adoption and fostering during the iconic holiday event in New York City.
Event was a dream come true
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Goldilocks the cat in a basket with her paw over the side

Faces of No-Kill: A just-right home for persnickety cat

For Goldilocks, home didn’t turn out to be a cottage in the woods. Instead, it was an NYC apartment full of love.
See her now
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Person holding a small brown and white dog over her shoulder

Heartwarming pet adoptions from across the country

Meet Archie the food thief, Phantom the TV star, and more dogs and cats who are loving life in their new homes.
See their happy faces
Best Friends Magazine
Pumba the tortoiseshell cat lying on the floor

Faces of No-Kill: Sassy cat trades swats for snuggles

A cantankerous cat named Pumba now has someone who appreciates her just the way she is.
Pumba is now living her best life
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Person removing a large crate from a transport van

Pets get lifesaving lifts out of Hurricane Milton’s path

When Pinellas County Animal Services in Florida needed help moving animals prior to Hurricane Milton, Best Friends was ready to lend a hand.
Some instant connections were made
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Alex Bowman holding a dog outside the Best Friends Lifesaving Center in New York City in front of his car

Racing to save dogs and cats in shelters

Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman’s love for his dogs fuels a Best Friends partnership alongside Ally Racing to help pets in shelters go home.
Heling animals in New York City and around the nation
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Jack Dugan with Lucky Charm the dog, who is wearing a green jacket

Faces of No-Kill: Senior dog is lucky in love

Katrina and Jack knew Lucky Charm was the dog for them, but the timing wasn't right to adopt — until it was, and then they couldn't wait another day.
It was meant to be
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