Foster Programs Stories

Bunny the puppy in her foster home

First-time dog foster volunteer helps puppy heal

An energetic puppy with a broken leg receives crate rest and lots of love in her f...
Bunny gets the care she needed
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Maryanne Dailey with Rosie

Maryanne Pagonis: Her will is her way of giving back

There is nothing Maryanne Pagonis wouldn’t do for her beloved dog Rosie — nor for ...
Her will is her way of giving back.
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The torbi cat looking at the camera

Cat conquers ringworm, finds confidence in foster home

Savannah was shy and had a bad skin condition — two issues that only strengthened ...
Read about her overcoming challenges
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Porcini hte black and white cat sitting on a wood floor

Cat goes from skinny and itchy to healthy at home

Porcini looked and felt terrible, but with veterinary care and diligent TLC from a...
Watch his journey
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Leonsio the blind orange tabby cat lying on a couch with a Hello Kitty pillow behind him

Blind cat sees the good in everything

Leonsio couldn’t see at all and was skinny and matted when he was found outdoors, ...
See how far he's come
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Reba Schnyder and Elliot Tolkin holding Cricket the puppy, outside on a lawn

Lessons in patience from a puppy

After hip replacement surgery and TLC from foster caregivers, a puppy stands on he...
Cricket makes herself at home
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Volunteer Cheryl Baker smiling and holding a gray and white kitten

Cat-loving L.A. volunteer donates over 5,000 hours

When Cheryl Baker and her husband, Paul, stopped for a tour while vacationing in U...
She does a little of everything, including fostering
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Alani the cat wearing a bandage on her paw playing with Simon the dog who is doing a play bow

Rescued dog and kitten are BFFs

Kitten with an injured paw finds a new best friend in Simon the dog
Watch their friendship blossom
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Elsa and Emma

Elsa Nilsson-Canin embraces the beauty in the beast

Credit a pit bull terrier named Herman for setting Elsa Nilsson-Canin on her lifes...
Her will is her way of giving back.
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Kya the dog in the back seat of a vehicle

Dog gains the courage to trust

A once fearful pup finds safety with a patient, loving family who accepts her for ...
See her progress
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Canelo the kitten playing with Wasabi the rabbit

A kitten and his bunny buddies

Canelo doesn’t get around well and he’s incontinent, but thanks to special therapi...
Read how time at Bunny House helped
Best Friends Magazine
Karla and Scott Hanley sitting next to Salem the dog

Meet two heroes for dogs

Newborn puppy Rosie is thriving today, and she’s not the first life Karla and Scot...
Read about their lifesaving efforts
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Lars the dog with his new person, lying together on a couch

Dog found barely alive gets help and a home

Lars almost died alone, starving, dehydrated, and full of porcupine quills, but ve...
Read about his new life
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Person holding a smiling Java the Chihuahua dog in a lap

Little dog is living large

Java has spina bifida and had difficulty walking when she came to Best Friends, bu...
Read how she's settled in
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Molasses the black and white dog sitting and wearing a purple bandana with colored flowers on it

Skinny bundle-of-love dog gains weight, then a family

Molasses was tiny and tired when firefighters found her, but now this once-lost pu...
Meet this 'foster win'
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