Salt Lake City Stories

Volunteer Jeff Harris sitting on an orange seat hugging a black and white dog in front of him

From strategic planner to traveling volunteer

Jeff Harris took a sabbatical from his career, so he could help both people and pets.
Read how he helps
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Rumi the kitten being held in someone's arms

Fighting spirit helps kitten come back from the brink

Rumi was in rough shape and was the weight of a deck of cards when she came to Best Friends. She’s still tiny, but mighty — and mighty healthy, too.
See her now
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Stella the at lying on a multi-colored blanket

How a cat named Stella got her groove (and her fur) back

What does it take to help a cat heal from severe skin allergies? Persistence, patience and a team of determined people.
Teamwork helps Stella thrive
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Volunteer Ben Richards holding a black and white cat in front of some kennels

Labor of love: serving pets and people

Ben Richards has dedicated his life to service and channels his faith into helping homeless pets in Salt Lake City.
Learn what motivates him
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Pepper the cat wearing a crown while being held by her new family

Cat purrs in the face of adversity

Pepper is the picture of resiliency after a traumatic past
See how she's thriving
Best Friends Magazine
Merlot the German shepherd smiling in front of a smiling person

From rescued dog to service dog

Merlot was homeless and needed emergency surgery, but now she’s helping her new person cope with anxiety and PTSD.
See how they're growing together
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Valentina the black and white kitten being held by gloved hands and you can see wounds on her face

Fearless kitten meets life’s challenges head-on

With a difficult first two months behind her, Valentina shakes off adversity for a bright future and a home of her own.
Read about her care
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Happy senior dog with two people behind him

6 happy tails from adopted pets

Meet a puppy who can’t believe she got adopted, a cat who snuggles her sloth toy and more pets with new families.
Meet the happy families
Best Friends Magazine
Benedict the kitten sitting on a cat tree

Kitten seizes life on two legs

Benedict’s hind legs are paralyzed due to spina bifida, but that doesn’t stop him from loving life in his new home.
Meet this foster-win
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Winter the kitten lying on her back with her paws up over her head

Joining forces to save a newborn kitten

Best Friends medical team and volunteers team up to save a struggling, days-old kitten.
Winter gets twice the love and care
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Krueger the cat lying on a box in the warehouse with stacks of boxes behind him

A cat who works from home

Krueger calls True Leaf Seed Company his home, and he has worked wonders for employee morale, just by being himself.
Read about this working cat
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Otto the orange tabby cat lying on an orange blanket in a kennel

A ‘senior’ shelter cat’s secret

Otto the cat was so ragged and unhealthy looking that the staff judged him to be an old man until they took a closer look.
Read about his transformation
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A person cradling a dog while another person checks out his feet at a Ruff Haven Crisis Sheltering clinic

Streetwise help for people and their pets

Ruff Haven Crisis Sheltering, formed in the midst of the pandemic, is blazing trails in Utah with new, innovative community sheltering services.
Keeping people and their pets together
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Smooches the kitten on a fuzzy blanket

Tiny but mighty: a kitten’s journey

Born with three legs, Smooches came to Best Friends for special care when she was just days old.
Watch this foster-win
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Zoey Crooks the cat sitting on the corner of a carpet

Couple goes the distance to adopt shy cat

Leslie and Keith drove from Reno to Salt Lake City to adopt a cat they can’t touch, but love all the same.
Read how she's fitting in
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