Pet Adoption Stories

Person holding a puppy at the Los Angeles Super Adoption while another person behind them holds a sign that says I adopted my best friend

Empty trucks return to shelters after Best Friends Super Adoption

More than 460 dogs and cats were saved in Los Angeles.
Proof that collaboration works for all concerned
Julie Castle Blog
Veteran hugging his dog courtesy of K9s for Warriors

Veterans and shelter pets healing together

How dogs like Thunder bring hope and purpose to veterans facing life’s darkest moments
Groups save lives on both ends of the leash
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Couple holding a cat carrier containing the cat they adopted in front of the Rose Bowl

Stars align to send 400 pets home at L.A. super adoption

The Best Friends event brought together more than 5,000 attendees and 15 animal shelters and rescue groups to save lives.
See some of the happy new families
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Brown tabby cat lying on a blanket

Home and loving it: Stories of adopted pets

Read about a dog birthday celebration, a pup learning the ropes, big cat cuddles, and a thriving parrot who loves to learn.
Hear about life in their new homes
Best Friends Magazine
The two cavies, Hip and Hup, with one of them eating some fresh green grass

Spicing up life for wild ambassadors at Best Friends

See how caregivers at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary bring joy to wildlife who can’t be released.
Ways to enrich their lives
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Line of pet crates containing animals next to an airplane and animal control vehicles

Pets flown from hurricane-damaged Florida get new start

Best Friends has teamed up with other animal welfare groups to arrange transportation for pets away from storm-damaged areas to shelters in other states.
Giving dogs and cats a fresh start
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Pumba the tortoiseshell cat lying on the floor

Faces of No-Kill: Sassy cat trades swats for snuggles

A cantankerous cat named Pumba now has someone who appreciates her just the way she is.
Pumba is now living her best life
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The litter of Little Rock puppies sleeping in a pile together

Neighbors team up to save orphaned puppies

With the local animal shelter at capacity, an Arkansas family rallied their neighbors to care for 11 tiny homeless puppies.
Collaboration saves lives
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Marilyn Bunroe wearing a bandage and a colorful soft e-collar following her surgery

Resilient bunny zooms into life on 3 legs

When Marilyn Bunroe landed at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, she wasn’t feeling her best. But with vet care and TLC, now she’s jumping for joy.
Marilyn Bunroe defies the odds
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Indie the kitten in a Halloween-themed cat tube toy

Every day is this kitten’s best day

A grant to support special veterinary care helps Planned PEThood in Georgia save a tiny kitten’s life.
Now every day is Indie's best day
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Sweet Pea the cat wearing her crocheted ears

A new set of ears for an injured cat

After everything Sweet Pea had been through, her foster volunteer wanted to do something special for her, leading to a one-of-a-kind creation.
Look at her now
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Athena holding a smiling Gremlin the dog in her lap

From shy to safe: Dog with megawatt smile goes home

Gremlin needed a friend to help calm his nerves, which ended up leading to the match of a lifetime.
Now he's all smiles
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The face of Coral, the mama dog, wearing a red collar

Faces of No-Kill: Mama dog beats the odds

How a dog without a home hung on until she and her pups landed the good life
It was destiny
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Hutton the kitten with only one front leg on a red blanket with white snowflakes

Kitten thinks TikTok is the cat’s pajamas

Hutton arrived with a broken leg and found comfort in swift vet care, a foster home — and the joy of videos on social media.
Three legs don't slow him down
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Peridot the cat lying in the top shelf of a cat tree

Faces of No-Kill: Cat goes from grumpy to cuddly

Peridot used to swat away affection with hisses and growls. Now she’s home, snuggling with her adopters and shining like the gem she’s named after.
Read about her transformation
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