Stories

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U.S. serviceman honored for his work helping homeless pets

U.S. serviceman Christian Ordonez is honored with the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal for volunteering with Best Friends in Salt Lake City.
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Helping New York City’s pets who lost families during the COVID-19 pandemic

How a partnership between Best Friends in New York and Animal Care Centers of NYC helps pets find homes again after their people became ill or died from COVID-19
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Animal nonprofits like Gateway Pet Guardians exemplify why moving beyond rescue to comprehensive, community-based sheltering saves more pets

Animal welfare organizations around the country are saving more dogs and cats by finding positive, community-based solutions that don't have to rely on admitting dogs and cats to shelters.
Julie Castle Blog
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Girl’s toy cats come to life

The parents of eight-year-old Mila brought some magic to her world by adopting two cats that look just like her favorite stuffed animals.
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Pet portraits draw laughs, raise dollars for pets

See the art, both good and bad, from animal shelters' creative fundraisers.
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Summer recipes with Rescue Dog Wine pairings

Inspiration to eat, drink and be merry this Fourth of July with three vegan recipes and wine pairings from Rescue Dog Wines
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Progressive leaps in Texas and Georgia, 5,500+ no-kill communities, and a crisis that has cat hair all over it. Buckle up, we’ve got new shelter data for you!

Best Friends' pet lifesaving dashboard update shows lifesaving progress for animals in shelters from 2019 and the path ahead for achieving no-kill nationwide for dogs and cats by 2025.
Julie Castle Blog
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Supporting pet lovers in East St. Louis and surrounding areas

Gateway Pet Guardian's new pet resource center will offer East St. Louis residents everything needed to care for their pets.
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Are your expectations of how your local animal shelter should be saving pets driven by data or fantasy?

A lifesaving collective of animal shelters and rescue organizations in Dallas exemplifies the kind of community-centered work and willingness to adapt required to achieve no-kill for dogs and cats.
Julie Castle Blog
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Barn life is the best life for these two cats

Some cats prefer being pampered, but Meow and Leopold are happiest living the good life with their pig and horse friends.
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143-pound mastiff becomes daddy’s girl

Severe spondylosis landed Hazel in a shelter, but now she's living her best life with her new dad.
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How one of the least adoptable dogs finally found her people

See why a Los Angeles couple fell for a shiba inu mix who waited six years for a home.
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Grants helping Houston pet families during the COVID-19 pandemic will continue

The Friends For Life wellness clinic and food bank helping pets during the COVID-19 pandemic has been so successful that the shelter plans to keep it going.
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L.A. foster dad has helped 54 kittens, and counting

Meet a pet foster dad in Los Angeles who loves helping save baby kittens
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How a small group of grassroots animal advocates made a big impression on California’s Veterinary Medical Board

Local 2025 Action Team members in California made their voices heard during a veterinary medical board meeting, which led to critical telemedicine expansion for pets during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Julie Castle Blog