Caring for Pets Stories

Frittata the gray tabby kitten next to a blue toy ball

Kitten who’s paralyzed purrs through life

Nothing stops Frittata from playing, pouncing, and having fun.
See his improvement
Video
Acadia the cat standing on his hind legs doing a high-five with a person

Cat goes from shy to showman

Acadia didn’t want anything to do with people when he first came to Best Friends, but special attention from a caregiver changed that.
Now he's a tour highlight
Best Friends Magazine
Foster Tyler Lisonbee wearing a hat and gray T-shirt, holding two black and white kittens in front of him

Volunteer makes a big difference for tiny kittens

Foster volunteer Tyler Lisonbee is an advocate for cats and kittens in Salt Lake City who need extra care and attention.
Read how he helps the most vulnerable
Feature
The face of Reds the cat showing his crinkled ears

Regal red tabby cat is king of his adopter’s heart

Reds was feeling blue due to an ear infection when he came to Best Friends, but now he’s basking in love in his new home.
Read about the next chapter in his life
Feature
Jinx the smiling with tongue out pit-bull-type dog, outside on a leash by a river and wearing a yellow bandanna

Shelter helps dogs put their best paws forward

McKamey Animal Center in Tennessee sets an example for lifesaving with its canine-centric programs.
Learn more
Feature
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
Feature
Ashley hugging a happy Cayenne the dog

Laced with grace: Saying goodbye to a beloved dog

Excerpt from 'A Tail of Grace: A Year in Search of Home After the Death of My Soul-Dog.'
Learn about her emotional journey
Best Friends Magazine
Tami and Troy

Tami Brown hits the legacy trail with Troy

Two souls in search of a better life reach new heights together.
Her will is her way of giving back.
Feature
Jean Paul the cream tabby kitten

Swift action saves young kitten’s life

Life is grand today for Jean Paul, a ginger kitten who came to Best Friends in need of a miracle.
See him recover
Video
Aragon the dog in the foreground with a smiling person behind him, both outside in a yard

Video convinces mom to adopt a dog

Allison Botwinick wanted to adopt the family’s foster dog Aragon, but first she’d have to get her mom on board. So she got creative.
Meet the "foster win"
Video
Louis the cat sleeping on his side with a person's hand petting him

Falling in love with cats

Sara had only had dogs, but an orange cat named Louis is showing her how much fun it can be to share a home with a cat.
See Louis now
Feature
Smiling person surrounded by baby Quaker parrots, including one on her head

Animals from closed zoo find safety at Best Friends

After a zoo in Puerto Rico closed, hundreds of animals needed new places to live — and help getting there.
Their futures are bright
Feature
Dolly Jean the puppy looking up from sitting on a tile floor

Skinny puppy is now living her best life

Dolly Jean was too thin and had a belly full of worms when she came to Best Friends, but now she’s thriving.
See how she's now thriving
Video
Big Papa the cat on a blue chair with a young volunteer wearing a hat

71 cats arrive to safety at Best Friends

Cats and kittens get veterinary care and visits from Best Friends staff and volunteers to help them into the next phase of their lives.
See how they're settling in
Feature
Sweet Baby James the puppy in a wheelchair

Foster home helps puppy stand tall

Faces of no-kill: Sweet Baby James could hardly even crawl when he first came to the Sanctuary, but today he’s stronger and in a home of his own.
See him now
Feature