Pet Adoption Stories

Person hugging Henrietta the dog

Speed dating is for the dogs

The eligible singles at Best Friends in Los Angeles don’t care if you drive a fancy car or how snazzy your clothes are. But if you don’t love dogs, it’s a deal-breaker.
Read about this unique way of making matches
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Dolly Jean the puppy looking up from sitting on a tile floor

Skinny puppy is now living her best life

Dolly Jean was too thin and had a belly full of worms when she came to Best Friends, but now she’s thriving.
See how she's now thriving
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Spartacus the cat lying on a plaid blanket next to a blue bowl

Miracle cat's healing journey

Faces of no-kill: Beautiful, blue-eyed cat Spartacus came to Best Friends with a broken leg and a terrible respiratory infection, but today he’s thriving in his new home.
See how he's doing now
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Sweet Baby James the puppy in a wheelchair

Foster home helps puppy stand tall

Faces of no-kill: Sweet Baby James could hardly even crawl when he first came to the Sanctuary, but today he’s stronger and in a home of his own.
See him now
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Ash, Basil, and Cedar the rabbits in an enclosure and on a multicolored blanket

4-bunny bunch joins an even bigger family

Ash, Basil, Cedar, and Denali are in good company in their new home: a bustling family farm where they’re never lonely.
Read how they're a hit with everyone
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Taylor Hill with Kiba the dog in her lap

Playgroups at Arkansas shelter let a shy dog shine

Kiba was standoffish around people, but around other dogs she proved she’s a social butterfly ready to put her best side on display.
Proof that initial dog labels can be flawed
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Mr. Truffles the cat lying on a cushion

Senior cat is love at first sight

A longtime dog lover finds joy and comfort from adopting a senior feline who needed the same from him.
Read how Mr. Truffles brings serenity to his new home
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Zoey the senior dog with her new adopted family, outside in front of some bushes

Senior dog with medical issues charms new family

Older dogs can be overlooked in shelters, but 10-year-old Zoey was exactly what her new family had been looking for.
Zoey brings comfort in an unexpected way
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RoiLie the dog running in his wheelchair

Big love for little dog with wheels

An injury changed RoiLie’s life, but his huge personality and a whole lot of love keep him going strong.
See him in his home
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Person reaching out to touch a smiling red heeler type dog

11 happy pet tales from national adoption weekend

Best Friends’ first national adoption weekend of 2023 finds loving homes for thousands of pets.
Meet some happy new families
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Alyssa Leon and Tommy Rigdon sitting on a ledge with Brew and Julien their adopted dogs

A most adorable pair of adopted dogs

Brew and Julien play together, nap together, and are helping their adopters make friends in their new city.
Adopted dogs bring a sense of community
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Blue-eyed Siamese cat meowing by a window

Positively precious pet adoption updates

A debonair dog, a canine cardigan, and an adoption to cure doggy depression: These adoption stories will make you smile.
Meet the happy families
Best Friends Magazine
Magellan, a brown tabby and white cat standing on a yellow wooden box

7 pet adoption stories worth celebrating

A couple of Potatoes and a Berry might not make a meal, but they do make for charming animal adoption tales.
Read about these happy adoptions
Best Friends Magazine
Shadow the dog with two people petting him

How adopting a dog changed one man’s life

Shadow’s life was saved when he came to Best Friends as a puppy, and he’s been brightening peoples’ lives around him ever since.
Read their story
Best Friends Magazine
Smiling person sitting on a couch while holding a cat

National adoption weekend for dogs and cats

Thinking of adopting a pet? The time is now.
Learn more
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