Senior Animals Stories

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
Winter and Abbott the dogs inside with a bucket and raised bed in the background

Best friends at Best Friends: A real dynamic doggy duo

Meet Abbott and Winter, a couple of sweet senior dogs with a surprising past.
Now they're best buds
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
Two smiling people holding LaBamba the senior dog

10-year-old tiny terrier home at last

La Bamba went from all alone on the streets of New York City to part of a loving family.
He fit right in
Video
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
Captain Pearl the cat in the truck with his front paw outstretched forward

Senior cat keeps on truckin’

He’s got one eye and zero teeth, but senior cat Captain Pearl is loving his new home and life in a big rig.
Traveling the road to recovery into a loving home
Video
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
Feature
Monster the senior pug, smiling with tongue out

Embracing change saves more pets at Arizona shelter

Best Friends is helping city officials in Bullhead City transform the culture of its animal shelter to better serve the community and increase lifesaving.
Making the shelter more customer friendly
Feature
Forest the cat on the ground with other cats

Once-scared cat overcomes much to enjoy golden years

It took a lot of TLC to get Forest to come out of his shell — and then veterinary care to save his life.
He's doing better than ever
Feature
Petey the cat with Emily kneeling next to him

Faces of No-Kill: Befriending a fractious feline

Petey was frustrated with people and not afraid to show it — until he got specialized medication and a caregiver earned his trust. Now he’s in a new home.
A family for a finicky feline
Feature
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
Feature
Person's hand holding the paw of a black dog who is lying down on a blanket

The shape of our grief

Coping with the range of emotions, including self-blame, that accompany the loss of a pet
Finding comfort after loss
Best Friends Magazine
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'
Feature
Shane the cat in an area with an orange blanket

Faces of No-Kill: Shy senior cat gets a chance to shine

Space, patience, unconditional love, and a feline friend help 10-year-old Shane come out of his shell.
See how he's found his place
Feature
Pumpkin the cat wearing an autumnal colored bow surrounded by fall-colored leaves

Pumpkin the cat celebrates his season

It’s autumn now, and you know what that means: the perfect time for Pumpkin.
Who needs pumpkin spice when you have Pumpkin the cat?
Feature