Utah Stories

Three kittens playing with a colorful wand toy

Swift teamwork saves kittens with a deadly virus

When kittens at a local shelter suddenly became critically ill with panleukopenia, collaboration with Best Friends and a quick response saved the day.
Coming together to save lives
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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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Simon the dog lying on the floor, smiling with tongue out

Foster caregivers help dog heal

Simon beat a serious skin infection with the help of modern medicine and two wonderful foster families.
Watch as he improves
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Boots the gray and white cat outside on a rock

Rescued cat lands gig at garden center

Boots has perfect attendance, is a team player, and has a knack for making customers feel comfortable.
See how she improves morale
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Frittata the gray tabby kitten next to a blue toy ball

Kitten who’s paralyzed purrs through life

Nothing stops Frittata from playing, pouncing, and having fun.
See his improvement
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Julie Castle bundled up in warm clothing at the finish line of the first-ever Strut Your Mutt event

A love letter to Strut Your Mutt

An event near and dear to my heart
Strut Your Mutt now returns to its roots
Julie Castle Blog
Foster Tyler Lisonbee wearing a hat and gray T-shirt, holding two black and white kittens in front of him

Volunteer makes a big difference for tiny kittens

Foster volunteer Tyler Lisonbee is an advocate for cats and kittens in Salt Lake City who need extra care and attention.
Read how he helps the most vulnerable
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Pancake the tortoiseshell cat lying in a bed

Drawn to adopt a cat with special needs

Pancake needs special care due to her incontinence, but Dakota doesn't mind. In fact, it's the reason she decided to adopt her.
See how she fits in
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Selfie of Elton the orange tabby cat and Aubrey Tsosie

Making every moment count for a cat in hospice care

Aubrey Tsosie gave Elton the time of his life, and he changed hers in the process.
See how he lived his best life
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Jean Paul the cream tabby kitten

Swift action saves young kitten’s life

Life is grand today for Jean Paul, a ginger kitten who came to Best Friends in need of a miracle.
See him recover
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Louis the cat sleeping on his side with a person's hand petting him

Falling in love with cats

Sara had only had dogs, but an orange cat named Louis is showing her how much fun it can be to share a home with a cat.
See Louis now
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Big Papa the cat on a blue chair with a young volunteer wearing a hat

71 cats arrive to safety at Best Friends

Cats and kittens get veterinary care and visits from Best Friends staff and volunteers to help them into the next phase of their lives.
See how they're settling in
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Person running the Grand to Grand Ultra

Runners accept ‘ultra’ challenge to save dogs and cats

To this trio of animal lovers, raising funds for Best Friends by running the Grand to Grand Ultra will be just as important as finishing the race.
Support their efforts
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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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