Foster Programs Stories

Person holding Emmett the lamb in her arms

Orphaned lamb is beloved black sheep of the family

Things looked grim for Emmett when he lost his mother shortly after he was born, but with his new family flock, this lamb is thriving.
From bottle baby to adolescent
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Beau hugging Mac the puppy

Survivor puppy is young boy’s best surprise yet

Despite his mom needing emergency surgery when he was just days old, Mac is a healthy puppy and a young boy’s best friend.
The best surprise ever
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Two children associated with Grant Parish snuggling with a dog and puppy, both dogs wearing bandannas

Grant Parish in Louisiana goes to the dogs

Shelter embraces a new foster program, adoption events and sending 75 dogs (and counting) to new homes.
See how people are stepping up to help
Best Friends Magazine
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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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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Edna the poodle wearing an orange bandanna standing between a person's legs

Blind miniature poodle pup blossoms in foster home

Edna is wobbly, blind and had severe trauma reactions that seemed like seizures, but thanks to vet care and her foster family, she’s like a new dog.
See how she's blossomed
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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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CrossFit Tony in the passenger seat of a car with a hand on him

Big hunk of love dog lands a home

His nickname is “CrossFit Tony” because he’s super fit, but he’s also sweet, loving and finally in a home of his own after months of false starts.
"Crossfit" finds right fit
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Elvis the dog next to Mary inside her house

Anxious hound loves his R & R

Life can get overwhelming for Elvis, but sleepovers with friends ensure this hound dog isn’t “cryin’ all the time.”
Elvis' practice for a home of his own
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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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Heather holding Goose the dog

Lucky Goose: Shy pup finds his person

Goose was scared and needed heartworm treatment when he first came to Best Friends, and now he’s living the good life.
Goodbye heartworm, hello love
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A hand reaching down to pet the mama cat with the kittens in the foreground

Cat family finds help at a local construction site

When construction workers spotted a litter of newborn kittens in the middle of their work zone, they made sure they got them somewhere safe.
Read about the team effort
Best Friends Magazine
Smiling person sitting on a bed with a happy dog

Best Friends satellite foster programs take off

Best Friends teams are building foster programs remotely for shelters all across the country
See how it works
Best Friends Magazine
Peanut Butter the tortoiseshell cat with Jasmine behind her

From cat curious to fans of felines

Peanut Butter the cat shows a kind couple how much fun it can be to have a feline in your life.
They all hit the jackpot
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Tres the dog wearing a purple harness and lying on a blue blanket

Front row seat for a scared dog’s transformation

First-time foster volunteer shares her story about helping a scared Chihuahua find her rhythm and then a home.
Read Tres' story
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