Foster Programs Stories

Diana Ross the dog, very happy outside with a person sitting next to her

Diana Ross the dog finds her endless love

Ain’t no mountain high enough to keep a once-stray dog from getting to a new home, thanks to a dedicated foster caregiver.
Second time’s a charm
Feature
Boone the dog receiving a veterinary exam

Life on 3 legs doesn't slow down perky pup

Boone’s journey home included a life-changing surgery and a dedicated foster volunteer who guided him through recovery.
He becomes a foster win
Video
Selfie of Victor with Dakota the dog whose tongue is out

Faces of No-Kill: Beloved senior dog goes home

After bouncing from place to place for a decade, Dakota finally has the stability and unconditional love she deserves.
Now life is all about the simple pleasures
Feature
Miles the kitten in his cart

Faces of No-Kill: Kitty gets kicking with care and a cart

A kitten alone by the side of the road dragging his back end, Miles needed help fast — and at the Sanctuary, he got just that.
Physical therapy is working wonders
Feature
Yazh the puppy in here dog wheelchair, with her mouth open in a smile

Survivor puppy shows big love for life

A bullet wound left Yazh paralyzed in her hind end, but she didn’t let it slow her down for a second.
Her foster home now provides consistency and routine
Video
Tina Turner the dog, lying on the floor, being hugged by a person

Foster home is simply the best for mama dog and pups

What’s love got to do with it? How a dog named Tina Turner and her puppies were a case of foster love at first sight for an 11-year-old girl.
She now has a new name and home
Feature
Rhett and Alfie the cats together in a kennel on some blankets

Faces of No-Kill: Supporting super-shy cat brothers

Rhett and Alfie were so shut down that it became an emergency — but with help, they bounced back and blossomed.
From foster to famliy
Feature
Spots the dog lying on the floor with eyes closed and mouth open smiling with Ellie behind him petting his chest

Senior dog finds love on the beaches of California

Spots came to Best Friends with an aggressive form of cancer and captured the heart of his foster person.
Read about their deep connection
Feature
Piglet, the black and white tuxedo kitten, sitting in a cardboard box

Mending a kitten's broken heart

Kitten survives emergency open-chest surgery and thrives in his foster home.
Foster home becomes permanent
Video
Ira Shankman wearing a Best Friends hat and holding Sonny the puppy, who is wearing hos orange bandanna

A puppy’s journey part 2: Puppy Bowl XX

Sonny joins the starting lineup on Team Ruff in Puppy Bowl XX.
He represents well
Feature
Sonny being held by Lilana and Lilyblue with a sign that says, "I heart my adopted dog"

A puppy’s journey part 3: Home

How signing up to foster a puppy changed his new family’s lives — and Sonny’s too
Foster win!
Feature
Sonny the puppy wearing an orange Puppy Bowl bandanna

A puppy’s journey part 1: A star is born

How a puppy named Sonny went from alone on a roadside in Alabama to a shelter and then a foster home where his whole life changed
The start of Sonny's journey
Feature
Wilbur the orange tabby cat wearing a sweater

Faces of No-Kill: Senior cat mentors foster kittens

This 15-year-old orange tabby teaches us that senior pets still have a lot of life to live and love to give.
See him at work
Video
Emily snuggling with Hale the cat, face-to-face, with her arm around him

‘Hands-off’ cat learns to show his sweet side

Hale expressed himself with his teeth and claws when he came to the Sanctuary, but patience and a gentle approach opened him up to the world of cuddles.
He's now blossomed
Feature
Jalapeño the dog, smiling, while sitting on sand in front of some trees

Helping a shy dog spice up his social life

Found as a stray pup, Jalapeño was shy and shut down around people, but his foster family is helping him find a bold new flavor.
How he's warming up
Feature