Dog Stories

Two dogs outside in the grass in a playgroup, one whose tong is hanging out

Magic of playgroups unveils dogs’ hidden sociability

A five-day seminar for 13 greater Houston shelters showed that even dogs who haven’t yet shown their best side can be adopted.
Learn about this lifesaving program
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Vera the dog next to a smiling person who has both hands affectionately holding her

Faces of No-Kill: Saving a dog with a sensitive soul

Vera went from a busy shelter to a charmed life in her new home.
Now she's a cherished member of the family
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Raquel the dog smiling in front of some wildflowers

‘Diamond in the rough’ dog loved just as she is

Wary of new people and other dogs, it took some extra time to find Raquel a home, but now she has a family who embraces everything about her.
Read how she's settling in
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Rexie the dog wearing a decorative protective cone embellished with blue and orange hearts

Rexie the ‘T. rex’ pup loves life in his new home

Found alone on the streets of Houston, a dog with heartworm disease helps a couple decide it’s time to adopt a new best friend.
He fits perfectly with their lifestyle
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Caesar the dog with his new family outside in front of a Best Friends sign

Faces of No-Kill: Dog goes from depressed to loved

Caesar was sick, in pain, and scared when he first came to Best Friends. A foster family changed his life, and he did the same for them.
See him now
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Pawrie the French bulldog on a Home Sweet Home doormat

French bulldog goes from homeless to home

Pawrie the Frenchie came from a shelter to Best Friends with multiple medical issues, but a loving foster family helped him on his way to a new life.
It was love at first sight
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Hanjae the dog with Caroline Moss and Jeanhee Yu

A senior dog’s journey home

Hanjae was at a shelter with a life-threatening medical condition. Today she’s thriving in her new home.
Cat volunteer brings home a dog
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Two people sitting on a blue couch petting a large white dog

Grant helps save more dogs in Chicago shelters

One Tail at a Time puts Rachael Ray Save Them All Grant to good use to support dogs from Chicago animal shelter.
They're thinking outside of the box
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Rosita the dog with her new family, sitting outside on green grass

Faces of No-Kill: Loving a dog who has limited time

A senior dog with inoperable cancer, Rosita has her ups and downs — but her family makes sure her tail never stops wagging.
Meet this 'foster win'
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Whitney the puppy wearing a protective cone

Faces of No-Kill: Swift action saves puppy’s life

Whitney needed help fast after swallowing a foxtail.
See how Whitney got the care she needed
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Earth the dog in a small blue pool nursing her puppies

Mama dog and pups get their day in the sun

After mama dog Earth delivered six puppies at a Salt Lake City shelter, they all came to Best Friends and were adopted in a flash.
Watch them grow
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German shepherd type dog on a leash with a person behind him

SPCA Tampa Bay says yes to puppy mills in new partnership

Promoting puppy mills under the guise of adoption is unconscionable.
New pilot partnership at Florida shelter a huge betrayal
Julie Castle Blog
Jules and Lannister the dogs playing together, each holding opposite sides of the same stick with their mouths

The right roommate helps calm anxious dog

Lannister loves making friends, but his nervous energy can be a lot for other dogs — until he met Jules.
See how they enjoy each others company
Best Friends Magazine
Atkins the white dog in front of a group of people when moving into the Shipley Dog Lodges

Announcing the Shipley Dog Lodges

A nod to the future through the experiences of the past
Celebrating a place designed to celebrate dogs with behavior challenges
Julie Castle Blog
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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