Network Partners Stories

Teresa LaCross holding a cat

A determined voice of change for homeless pets

How one shelter director found her voice and skyrocketed lifesaving by recognizing the power in a single word: listen
How they've embraced change
Best Friends Magazine
Amy holding the orange kitten in the plane

Swift action saves pets in shelter from raging wildfire

When a wildfire in New Mexico threatened local animal shelters, Best Friends and area animal welfare organizations teamed up to save lives.
Working together to save lives
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Baby Girl the white dog, smiling with tongue out, lying in green grass

Texas animal shelter’s total turnaround

Year-long embed program with Best Friends is over, and today the city shelter in Brownsville is saving so many more pets than ever before.
Read about their progress
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White and tan dog with mouth slightly open smiling

Shelters get creative to showcase adoptable pets

These groups are using every opportunity and tool at their disposal to send more dogs and cats to new homes — and keep pets together with their families.
See what they're doing
Best Friends Magazine
Person holding a litter of brown puppies in her arms

The making of an animal shelter super mentor

A small, scrappy shelter in the Midwest is setting the bar for no-kill mentorship.
These partnerships save lives
Best Friends Magazine
Happy child affectionately cradling a pit-bull-type dog's face

Super adoption success: More than 200 pets head home

The Best Friends Super Adoption in Northwest Arkansas brought together more than 30 animal organizations to save lives.
Collaboration was key
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Jakie Hernandez with another person doing population rounds at a shelter

A well-rounded approach to saving more dogs and cats

Best Friends is working with shelters on new ways to monitor the animals in their care and get pets out of shelters and into homes faster.
Pets are heading to homes faster
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Kookie the dog posing with Valentine's Day props

Young mama dog gets serendipitous happy ending

After being found as a pregnant stray in Texas, Kookie’s story comes full circle.
It was meant to be
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Bongo the cat after the surgery on his eyes

Cat regains sight thanks to dedicated volunteers

When volunteers discovered Bongo had a dangerous eye condition, they went above and beyond to help this community cat.
His second chance at life
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Selfie of Kylie LaVigne hugging Koda the dog

Spirited stray dog loses leg but gains a new home

When the word went out that Koda needed a foster home following surgery, Kylie volunteered and, as it turns out, brought the boy home for good.
Now they're a happy family
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Person at eye level with an orange tabby cat

New programs help save more dogs and cats in Nebraska

Best Friends and Nebraska Humane Society are working together on programs and strategies at the shelter that have had a profound impact on lifesaving.
They now hope to be a guiding light to other organizations
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Best Friends marketing intern Jazmin Aguilar holding a dog wearing a pink Adopt Me bandanna

Intern makes lasting impact for Brownsville pets

Through her shelter marketing internship with Best Friends, Jazmin is helping homeless pets, raising awareness, and setting herself up for future success.
Residents encouraged to get involved
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Person bending down to kiss Pluto the puppy

Tennessee animal shelter’s rapid turnaround

Rhea County Animal Shelter’s save rate hit the no-kill threshold four months in a row, enabling a Best Friends embed assignment to end three months early.
Embed program offers a solid foundation
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Cheesecaek the dog smiling with tongue out

Grant helps save senior dog’s eyesight

A Lab mix named Cheesecake had a disease that threatened her eyesight, but a Rachael Ray Save Them All Grant helped her to see again.
Extra funds help save lives
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Mama the dog with a smiling woman

A new life for dogs rescued from dogfighting

29 dogs put cruelty in the past and begin new lives after being saved in South Carolina.
Helping the underdogs
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