Stories

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
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Rainbow the dog, smiling with mouth open

Faces of No-Kill: Solutions for dog with special needs

From a neurological condition and seizures to a penchant for pebbles, Rainbow has a lot going on — but her main concern is having fun with friends.
Her personality now shines
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Silver Sword the dog outside

Dog from overcrowded home shines as an individual

After a puppyhood spent in a home with over 50 other dogs, Silver Sword is finally stretching his legs and soaking up some one-on-one attention.
Finding friends everywhere he goes
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Smiling person holding Fossey the black cat

How Fossey the cat got his sparkle back

After many months of health challenges, this big guy has a bright future ahead of him.
Read about his care
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Officer Ben the brown dog outside wearing a blue leash

Dog’s overnight antics caught on camera

Discover how Officer Ben went from homeless pup to canine security guard to beloved family pet.
His great escape
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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
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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
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Person wearing scrubs and rubber gloves petting a cat on a scale

Shelter converts crematorium to dog, cat healing area

The removal of an obsolete crematorium symbolizes Animal Rescue League of Berks County’s renewed focus on saving the lives of more dogs and cats.
Their no-kill philosophy is firmly in place
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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!
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Gilda the dog on a couch

Faces of No-Kill: Pup trades farm life for city lights

Gilda, a dog with a heart of gold, finds her spot on the couch with her new family.
She's transitioned well
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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
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The head of Colt, the orange tabby kitten

Kitten with unique walk lives life to the fullest

Meet Colt, a resilient orange tabby who’s learned to navigate the world in his own way.
Now he's a very happy kitten
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Sarita and Colette the dogs next to each other with their front paws up on a desk

Best friends at Best Friends: Dogs find their footing

Colette was recovering from surgery, and Sarita was on the shy side — and their friendship helped both of them feel better.
Read about the pals
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The six people of the surgical team for the Brownsville spay-neuter-a-thon around a surgical table with a sedated black cat

Pet spay-neuter-a-thon erases backlog in Brownsville

A dedicated group of veterinarians and vet techs, organized by Best Friends, banded together over 10 days to spay or neuter more than 350 dogs and cats.
Read how they did it
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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
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