Caring for Pets Stories

Dixon the tabby and white cat lying on a lap

Faces of No-Kill: Cat thrives after FIP treatment

Dixon’s FIP diagnosis once might have spelled the end, but after taking part in clinical trials for a treatment, her future is looking bright.
Read about his lifesaving medical care
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Rico the dog, sitting outside and smiling

Skinny dog blossoms in foster home

Rico was stressed and kept dropping weight, but a loving foster home was just what the doctor ordered to help him bulk up and feel safe.
Read how things turned around for him
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Simon the dog lying on the floor, smiling with tongue out

Foster caregivers help dog heal

Simon beat a serious skin infection with the help of modern medicine and two wonderful foster families.
Watch as he improves
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Ruthie the dog with three people (two in military uniforms) in front of a large vehicle

Faces of No-Kill: 3-legged dog earns her military stripes

Ruthie went from a scared, injured puppy in a shelter to bringing joy to combat veterans who defuse bombs for a living.
She's loving her therapy dog training
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Pickle and Chip the kittens sitting next to each other on a tiny pink couch

Faces of No-Kill: Kittens heal from contagious condition

All you need is a bathtub and an open mind: how Best Friends cat expert Samantha Bell nursed kittens with sarcoptic mange back to health.
Learn how to step up
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Frittata the gray tabby kitten next to a blue toy ball

Kitten who’s paralyzed purrs through life

Nothing stops Frittata from playing, pouncing, and having fun.
See his improvement
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Acadia the cat standing on his hind legs doing a high-five with a person

Cat goes from shy to showman

Acadia didn’t want anything to do with people when he first came to Best Friends, but special attention from a caregiver changed that.
Now he's a tour highlight
Best Friends Magazine
Foster Tyler Lisonbee wearing a hat and gray T-shirt, holding two black and white kittens in front of him

Volunteer makes a big difference for tiny kittens

Foster volunteer Tyler Lisonbee is an advocate for cats and kittens in Salt Lake City who need extra care and attention.
Read how he helps the most vulnerable
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The face of Reds the cat showing his crinkled ears

Regal red tabby cat is king of his adopter’s heart

Reds was feeling blue due to an ear infection when he came to Best Friends, but now he’s basking in love in his new home.
Read about the next chapter in his life
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Jinx the smiling with tongue out pit-bull-type dog, outside on a leash by a river and wearing a yellow bandanna

Shelter helps dogs put their best paws forward

McKamey Animal Center in Tennessee sets an example for lifesaving with its canine-centric programs.
Learn more
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June the cat wearing a pink collar and sitting on a counter in what looks to be a veterinary exam room

Faces of No-Kill: Injured cat finds comfort in new home

June the cat went from being found alone dragging her back legs to a shelter and then to nightly snuggles in her new home.
Read how a special friendship formed
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Ashley hugging a happy Cayenne the dog

Laced with grace: Saying goodbye to a beloved dog

Excerpt from 'A Tail of Grace: A Year in Search of Home After the Death of My Soul-Dog.'
Learn about her emotional journey
Best Friends Magazine
Tami and Troy

Tami Brown hits the legacy trail with Troy

Two souls in search of a better life reach new heights together.
Her will is her way of giving back.
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Jean Paul the cream tabby kitten

Swift action saves young kitten’s life

Life is grand today for Jean Paul, a ginger kitten who came to Best Friends in need of a miracle.
See him recover
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Aragon the dog in the foreground with a smiling person behind him, both outside in a yard

Video convinces mom to adopt a dog

Allison Botwinick wanted to adopt the family’s foster dog Aragon, but first she’d have to get her mom on board. So she got creative.
Meet the "foster win"
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