A new set of ears for an injured cat

Sweet Pea the cat wearing her crocheted ears
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.
By Best Friends staff

There’s something magical about people who foster pets. They open their homes to pets in need, providing a comforting place to stay. But it’s often so much more than that. For foster volunteer Erin Parker, it meant getting out her crochet hooks to make a special gift for her foster cat, Sweet Pea. 

Meeting sweet Sweet Pea

Sweet Pea was found in a parking lot with a shocking injury: Her pointy triangle ears were gone, and the wounds were still fresh. Despite the injury, she was beautiful inside and out. Whatever happened to Sweet Pea, it hadn’t broken her loving spirit.

[Just call her chicken pants: Hen’s fashions help her get around]

A cat rescue group in central Arkansas took in Sweet Pea and gave her immediate medical attention. The organization already had many cats and kittens in its care, so Best Friends offered to help by taking in Sweet Pea and placing her in a home. Best Friends’ goal is for shelters across the country to reach no-kill in 2025, and collaborating with our shelter and rescue partners to take in and place their pets in new homes is just one of the ways we work together toward that shared goal.

Sweet Pea the cat in her foster home

Only happy days ahead

A day after arriving at the Best Friends Pet Resource Center in Bentonville, Arkansas, Sweet Pea went to stay with volunteer Erin. She made herself right at home. From drinking water straight from the faucet to lifting her chin to receive scratches, it was clear Sweet Pea was feeling happy and comfortable.

[How this dog's 'snoods' are helping him beat skin cancer]

Erin wanted to do something special for this sweet girl who’d been through so much, so she put her skill and creativity to work. Erin got out her yarn and crochet hooks and fashioned a soft pair of ears for Sweet Pea to wear. The results? Off-the-chart adorableness.

Before long, Sweet Pea was adopted into a home of her own. Her new home is filled with tons of toys and lots of cozy spots for catnaps. She will spend the rest of her life being treated like the special kitty she is.

Sweet Pea the cat in her new home

Let's make every shelter and every community no-kill in 2025

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. 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.

Sweet Pea the cat on a bed in her foster home

Make your community no-kill in 2025

Last year, hundreds of thousands of loving dogs and cats were killed in shelters around the country just because they didn't have a safe place to call home.
Is your community no-kill?
Silhouette of two dogs, cat and kitten

You can help save homeless pets

You can help end the killing in shelters and save the lives of homeless pets when you foster, adopt, and advocate for the dogs and cats who need it most.

Smiling person playing with two kittens

Foster a pet

Fostering a homeless pet is a short-term commitment with a long-term impact. By opening your home to a cat for even a few days, you can save lives. 
The fun of fostering
Two happy people sitting with a cat on a couch in a home

Adopt a pet

When you adopt a homeless dog or cat from a shelter or rescue group, you’re making a lifesaving difference for a loving and grateful animal.
Adopting a pet near me
Smiling person looking at a tiny dog that they're holding

Advocate for pets

You can inspire and create local change to save the lives of dogs and cats, and to help keep them out of shelters by working with others in your community.
Defending pets near me

Saving lives around the country

Together, we're creating compassionate no-kill communities nationwide for pets and the people who care for them.

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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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Penelope the cat lying down with her leg in a cast in front of her

Faces of No-Kill: TLC saves sweet mama cat

Penelope came to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in rough shape with more than 50 other cats. But her sweet, spunky spirit and lots of TLC saved the day.
Recovery leads to adoption
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Categories:
Northwest Arkansas Arkansas Cat Volunteer Stories Pet Adoption