Pet Adoption Stories

Max as a puppy

Emaciated puppy gets fresh start

Little Max was found hungry and alone. It was the beginning of his long journey ho...
Now growing and thriving
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Person holding a kitten in front of some wire kennels at the Best Friends Super Adoption in Utah

450+ pets go home at Best Friends Super Adoption in Utah

Thousands of animal lovers joined dozens of shelters and rescue groups to connect ...
A supersized celebration
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Nigel the dog snuggling with another dog on a couch

Faces of No-Kill: Dog goes from barking to bliss

Nigel landed in a shelter where he became overwhelmed and stressed, but time at Be...
Preparing Nigel for his biggest adventure yet
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Maggie the dog with her adopter in a vehicle

Chance encounter leads to love for deaf dog

It seemed like fate when Maggie’s “adopt me” vest caught the eye of someone specia...
Now she's right at home
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Birdie the French bulldog lying down with her wheelchair behind her

Small dog’s big joy leads her home

Birdie’s bright personality led her to a life full of adventure on wheels.
A new way of moving through the world
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Isaac playing with a wand toy with Emmalee the cat

Faces of No-Kill: The cat who purred through it all

At Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Emmalee purred even through her veterinary care,...
Cat receives the care she needs to feel her best
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Child eating an apple with Leroy the rabbit

Adopted pets find joy in their new homes

Goofy pups, confident cats, and cuddly bunnies — these Best Friends alumni are set...
Happy adoption tales
Best Friends Magazine
Pearl the dog surrounded by people wearing orange prison jumpsuits

Pearls of wisdom from Pearl the dog

A dog found alone in the desert embodied the power of second chances for everyone ...
The power of second chances
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Kayak the dog lying next to another dog on a bed

How one easygoing dog helps shy dogs bloom

At Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Kayak’s calm presence — and very serious commitm...
Providing emotional support duties
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Tator the dog in a kennel

Couple’s plan to adopt one dog changes with a bark

A Texas couple fell in love with Tator’s online Best Friends adoption profile, but...
Right where they belong
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Millie the dog lying on a couch

Mama dog’s classic rom-com story

After being rescued with her seven puppies, Millie became the main character in a ...
She's now loving city life
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Minnie the dog outside on a leash

Faces of No-Kill: Dog meets her kindred spirit

The third time proved to be the charm for a shelter dog turned beloved best friend...
Temporary stay quickly becomes permanent
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Two people holding puppies at a Best Friends adoption event in front of a Walmart store

National Pet Month events send over 400 pets home

Best Friends and Walmart teamed up to make pet adoption easier and more accessible...
Making adoption easy and accessible
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Nicky the dog outside in a garden

Dog with lopsided smile bounds through life

A jaw injury couldn’t hold Nicky back from living the joyful life every pet deserv...
Now he's exactly where he belongs
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Bunny the cat beside a computer screen

How Bunny became a busy CEO (cat executive officer)

Bunny faced some health hurdles when she came to Best Friends, but today this frie...
Now she's finding her work-life balance
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