Faces of No-Kill: Healing dog finds joy with pup pal

For Zoey, every day is the best day. (You can just tell by her megawatt smile.) And with BFF and housemate Max by her side, those best days become the bestest days. The canine companions love being out in the yard together, play-wrestling and zooming around on seven legs. Back inside, you can find them sharing a tasty bone or napping together in positions that seem to defy both physics and common sense. These two have been inseparable since the day they met.

However, Zoey’s life hasn’t always been this way. Before her carefree days with Max, she had to overcome incredible challenges.

Zoey is a 2-year-old pup with white fur, a speckly belly, and a dark circle around one eye (à la Petey from The Little Rascals). She came to the Best Friends Pet Resource Center in Bentonville, Arkansas, from a nearby shelter after surviving a horrific accident. Zoey had been hit by a car, leaving her with a shattered front leg and severe road rash. She was rushed to an area vet clinic, where the team performed surgery to remove her leg.

[Faces of No-Kill: Dog springs into new life on 3 legs]

Zoey’s body may have been broken, but her spirit wasn’t. During her recovery at the clinic, she was adored by the staff because of her joyful and kind nature. Their beloved patient quickly adapted to life on three legs and soon had no trouble romping around.

Upon arriving at Best Friends, Zoey charmed staff members just by being herself. “Zoey was so sweet and affectionate,” says Kayla Harmon, Best Friends foster program coordinator. “She was so gentle and loving with everyone she met.” She even received a special visitor: a staff person from the vet clinic where she’d been treated. Zoey had made such a lasting impression that they just had to see how she was doing.

The Best Friends team took over Zoey’s care, which included medication and skin ointment to help with healing. But their most important job? Finding this special girl a loving home.

Meanwhile, Ashley and her family had been looking to adopt a new pup. They visited the pet resource center (where they’d previously adopted their dog, Max) a few times, but no one felt quite right.

Then Ashley saw Zoey’s photo online.

Everything about Zoey spoke to Ashley’s heart: Her scars. Her missing leg. Her Christmas morning-worthy smile. She knew instantly.

[Spirited stray dog loses leg but gains a new home]

The family hurried in to meet Zoey and fell in love. (Because how could you not?) After celebrating her adoption with a doggy cake and tiny party hat, Zoey was heading home.

In addition to Max, Zoey’s new family includes two adults and two little humans who adore her just as much as Max does. “Zoey is super sweet, cuddly, and just wants to lie in anyone's lap. She just wants love,” says Ashley, adding how gentle Zoey is with the kids.

With her loving family and loyal pal Max, it’s only best days ahead for Zoey.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.