Foster Programs Stories

Jenna Sume holding Bug and another cat

Stepping up to save orphaned kittens

Jenna Sume dove heart first into fostering kittens with Best Friends and ended up ...
Lifesaving comes in many forms
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Billy the dog all smiles with a bit of tooth peeking out from under his tongue with a person behind him

How a snaggletoothed pup went from hurt to happy

When Billy arrived at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, he could barely walk. Now he ...
Now he's living the good life
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Sam Junqua and Emma Besier sitting on a couch holding foster kitten with a cat beside them on the armrest

Pro athlete and fiancée score big for kittens

By opening their home (and hearts) to homeless kittens, Sam and Emma are proving t...
Despite moving, family continues to foster kittens
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Sarge the dog outside on a leash in a dog bed

Senior dog goes marching toward new life

Sarge wasn’t feeling so great in his furry uniform, but with vet care and TLC, he ...
Now he's ready to take on the world
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Princess the cat wearing a protective e-collar

Life’s a fairy tale for once-gravely-injured cat

After overcoming trauma and a long recovery from surgery, Princess found her happy...
Becomes a "foster win"
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Lucky the cat sitting on a wooden floor

Faces of No-Kill: Cat thrives after surviving wildfires

After escaping the L.A. wildfires with burned paws and singed whiskers, Lucky went...
Now he's a lucky cat with a lucky family
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Pixie the dog on a dog bed under a blue plaid blanket

Happy life for dog evacuated from L.A. fires

It wasn’t magic alone that brought about her adoption — it took coordination, hard...
Pixie is now living out her fantasy
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Powder the kitten wearing her vest and lying on a pawprint blanket

Tiny vest helps brave kitten heal

In a true fashion-meets-function moment, the Best Friends vet team reshaped Powder...
Functional fashion
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David Bowie the dog getting a bath

Faces of No-Kill: Dog goes from shutdown to smiling

Once too sick to stand due to a rare autoimmune disease, Bowie is finally comforta...
Now he's got a new lease on life
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Eloise the cat lying on her side nursing her kittens

Fresh start for a loving mama cat

Eloise raised five kittens in a foster home and now has her own home.
Now she’s thriving
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Turbo the dog in a vehicle kissing the face of his adopter

Love on tap: Dog meets match at a tavern

For Turbo, who overcame a life-threatening injury, happy hour would turn into his ...
Chance meeting leads to home hundreds of miles away
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Didgeri and Didgeridoo the dogs lying next to each other on a couch

Faces of No-Kill: ‘Twin’ bestie helps dog heal

Twinning in looks and now in spirit, two dogs at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary pro...
A remarkable coincidence when everything changed
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Josie the sheep with Claude the dog and Matt Claflin

Teaching a spirited sheep to eat

Josie came to Best Friends with a crooked smile and an uncertain future. Now she i...
Her transformation hasn’t just been behavioral
Best Friends Magazine
Ayo the tortoiseshell cat lying in a cat bed

Life is sweet for once-shy cat

Patience and lots of treats were what Ayo needed to go from under the dresser to o...
Squeeze treats help Ayo to trust
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Annie the dog on a large cushion with two children who are smiling and holding tablets

Faces of No-Kill: Shelter dog now living on easy street

Annie overcame her challenges with time, support, and lots of broccoli.
She continues to make amazing progress
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