Stories

Jonathan Ramirez next to his mural of a dog with the word, Adopt

One special dog inspired this artist to give back

Adoption gave a dog named Russell a second chance, but it also inspired his adopter to use his talents to help more dogs find homes.
Artist creates mural at Florida shelter
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Mirage being adopted by the pilot who found her.

A new home for the miracle kitty

After surviving a devastating fall at Bryce Canyon, a senior cat’s story comes full circle — thanks to the search-and-rescue pilot who never forgot her.
Overcoming the odds
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Indy the cat, lying on a blanket

Shy cat sprinkled with love

Sometimes, all it takes is adding a little bit of sparkle to help a timid pet shine.
Colorful collars made her even more adorable
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Cloud and Sol the puppies being adopted in front of Walmart

Aisles of smiles: Hundreds of pets adopted at Walmart events

Best Friends teamed up with Walmart to host pop-up pet adoption events at select stores from coast to coast.
Bring Happy Home adoption event is a huge success
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Multiple black dogs on a red rock outcropping

Desert dogs find new hope

Dogs found in a remote Utah area are now safe and settling into foster homes in Salt Lake City.
Enjoying new beginnings
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Emma and Solo the horses beside each other next to a fence

How 2 horses went from stranded survivors to friends

Horses rescued from Lake Powell two years apart become kindred pasture mates at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
Now they have a beautiful friendship
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The puppies lying on a red blanket

Puppies thrive thanks to foster volunteer’s courage

How one woman overcame her fear of needles when the lives of her foster puppies depended on it.
Commitment to help overcomes anxiety
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Llorona the black puppy smiling and sitting outside on the sand

No contact, no problem for a sweet pup

When rabies quarantine was a must for a young puppy, staff found ways to keep her happy and healthy for three and a half completely hands-off months.
Now she's catching up on her puppyhood
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Calico community cat with an ear-tip outside beside a chain-link fence

Cats in Wyoming get a lifesaving lift

A powerful trap-neuter-vaccinate-return collaboration is helping outdoor cats and building on Wyoming’s no-kill momentum.
Community support makes all the difference
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Small white fluffy dog on a green blanket

Book reviews: When animal lovers take a stand

Reviews of ‘I’m Not Done Yet!’ and ‘Lily Unleashed’
Authors speak up for animals in need
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Trinity the blind calico cat on some blankets

Faces of No-Kill: Brave cat is full of love

Trinity is blind, but she doesn’t let that hold her back from pursuing her true passion: making biscuits.
She received just the right recipe for healing
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Gregory Castle smiling and holding a small dog

A Tribute to Gregory Castle

Remembering an extraordinary man and Best Friends co-founder.
He changed the world
Julie Castle Blog
Smokey the gray cat lying on a couch

Shy no more: One cat’s beautiful breakthrough

Thanks to time, patience, and chin scratches in his foster homes, today 10-year-old Smokey is exactly where he belongs.
New home, new beginning
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Black, white and tan dog with his tongue out, outside on grass

Pet adoptions skyrocket at Indiana shelter

Jeffersonville Animal Shelter celebrates the first no-kill month in its history.
Helping animals get home faster
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Volunteers Rich and Linda Yates with a dog beside some crates

Volunteers hit the road to help animals in need

Rich and Linda Yates combine road trips with rescue work, lending their hands — and sometimes their backseat — to help the animals.
Now they're steady and spirited fixtures in the Best Friends family
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