Lifesaving tales: Heartwarming dog adoptions

Full-on butt wiggles when you grab the leash for a walk. Never enough space on the couch (not that anyone’s complaining). The slobbery toy they keep bringing you with pleading eyes to throw it again. That smile on your face when you think about how dull life was before you brought home your dog.

All dogs deserve the chance to love and be loved in a home of their own. And the fact is, it’s possible: Around 7 million U.S. households will add a pet to their family this year. If just 6% more of them chose to adopt their pet instead of purchase from a breeder or pet store, we would end the killing of pets in our nation’s shelters.

To help inspire more people to adopt, we asked Best Friends supporters to share their stories of the day when they adopted their pets. Here’s what the dog lovers had to say.

Note: Stories have been edited for length and clarity.

We adopted Josie eight years ago from our local humane society at 11 weeks old. We thought she was a Bernese mix because she was so big, but her DNA test proved otherwise — (she was) cattle dog, malamute, border collie, and Australian shepherd. Her energy level almost caused us to return her, but other times she was so calm and snuggly we just couldn't do it.

Eight months later we adopted Monte, a 1-year-old Great Pyrenees. We did obedience training with them plus lots of hiking, and things got better. For many years they've provided pet therapy at schools and assisted living facilities, and they serve as animal ambassadors for Animal Allies Humane Society. It fills us with joy to see the smiles they bring to everyone they meet. We love Josie's spunky nature and appreciate Monte's gentle nature, and we can't imagine life without them!

— Jan Anderson

It was my wife's idea to get a dog, and while I love dogs, we also had a cat whom I didn't think would welcome such an intruder into our midst. My wife had never had a dog, however, and I didn't know how badly she wanted one. She went to the Greenville Humane Society many times and finally found the one she wanted: a medium-sized white dog. Though she played with him and really liked him, she drove away that day believing she should think about it before adopting. Not even a mile away, though, she turned around, calling herself crazy for driving away in the first place.

She called me, and I can't say I was overjoyed. But I thought I'd better get used to our new friend Max. The day after we got him, I had to leave on a trip. I was gone a week, hoping that while I was gone, our cat, Morgan, and Max would learn to love each other. Apparently, Max was willing; Morgan, not so much.

Over that week, my heart softened a bit as I thought about this little dog we adopted. I even showed colleagues some of the pictures my wife sent me. Max was 6 months old, happy, exuberant, wanting to love and be loved. All reports indicated that Morgan was thawing some or at least there was something akin to detente in our house.

I arrived home from our trip on Father's Day evening, tired and still apprehensive. When I opened the door, my daughters and wife were sitting on the sofa watching TV. But there at the door to greet me, as if we were long lost pals, was my new pal Max. "He heard your car about a block away and ran to the door," my wife said. "How is that possible?" I asked. Both my wife, my daughters, and Max just smiled at me.

I feel like crying even now as I type this, thinking about my pet and how he loved me from the start. Though my wife thought she was the foolish one for initially leaving him at the shelter, I knew that resisting love from this creature who was so happy to be with these complete strangers was the more foolish position. So I bent down and hugged Max, who licked me all over.

That was nine years ago. Morgan was lost to us five years ago, but before he left, he did become pals with Max. While Max is aging, he still loves nothing better than to take walks with us, and every time I come home, even if it's from the grocery store, he's right by the door to tell me how much he's missed and how much he loves me.

I tell him the same and hope and believe that he understands. To say he has completed my life would still be an understatement. I cannot thank my wife and the Greenville Humane Society enough for bringing us together with so much love.

— Terry Barr

Mae Belle was born on a farm, but when her first owner found out she was deaf, she was given away. Her second owner needed to rehome her due to a move into an apartment that could not hold Mae’s energy. When she arrived on a transport from Texas, her thoughts must've been jumbled: “What on earth am I doing in a parking lot with all these strangers? Who are they? Where am I going? What has happened to me?"

Mae Belle and I have walked 500 miles together in six months — just to establish trust, just to feel the earth. And little by little, I introduced sign language to her. I used to teach ASL to children, so I had a background that was so helpful.

Mae turned 2 in October of last year. She knows at least 25 signs. And most importantly, I have earned her trust. And that is the best feeling of all. She knows I’m coming back.

Being a herding dog and deaf can be challenging. Chasing sunbeams and shadows gets to be obsessive and needs constant redirection. Having her off leash can only happen in a fenced area. My first obligation is keeping her safe; then we branch out and adventure together. I've learned so much from her, and if I had the resources and land, I would choose to be a haven for deaf dogs. Mae Belle has grown my heart and bound me to the earth as we step together into the wilds.

— Caroline Martin

I brought Bandit home after Best Friends' mega adoption event in 2012. I was 8 years old. I am now 21 years old, and sadly Bandit passed away last year. The past 12 years of my life were filled with love and joy and excitement with Bandit.

He taught me what unconditional love was at such a young age. I'm so passionate about saving animals and giving them a loving home thanks to Bandit. He was extremely loyal to me and beat all the stereotypes about Chihuahuas. We even adopted another Chihuahua from your shelter event in 2014 to keep Bandit company, and her name is Princess. I do feel bad that Princess has lost her companion. They grew up together, and I grew up with both of them. I just want to say thank you so much for this experience that I will forever live with. I think of Bandit every single day. I hope he's doing OK in Heaven.

To add some exciting news, I adopted another dog — his name is Chico — from your pop-up adoption event in New York City last August. He was 2 months when I adopted him, and he is thriving. He has definitely eased my pain and grief. Thank you.

— Noemi Peguero

Five years ago, I went to the shelter looking for a small-ish dog. While waiting to meet one I thought would work, a volunteer appeared with this 60-pound animal. He explained the dog was found in the woods and was rescued and brought to the shelter three months ago. He was quite shy.

I said hi as he walked over, and he looked at me, put his front legs in my lap, and stared. Well, so much for a small dog. He's been with me ever since. He is quite old now, but we have had a great time together. Tigo is very special.

— Lois Hurd

When I lost my beloved Benson, my companion of 10 years, I wasn’t sure if I was ready to open my heart to another dog. The grief was still fresh, and I didn’t know if I could go through it all again. But then I met Jack, a 4-year-old Great Dane in need of a new home. His previous family, overwhelmed by his size and energy, couldn’t keep him, especially with their young children.

The moment I saw Jack, something clicked. It was as if we both knew we needed each other. He had no training, no basic commands, and no manners. But what he did have was an eagerness to learn and a heart full of love. From the very beginning, our bond grew through training. He picked up commands quickly, and now, he thrives on learning new things. He’s well-behaved, eager to please, and truly the best boy.

Jack’s journey hasn’t been easy. He came to me with neglected health, including heartworms. The road to recovery has been long, but every step, every vet visit, and every challenge has only strengthened our connection. I know, deep down, that Benson had a hand in bringing us together.

One of Jack’s quirks that makes me smile every day? His favorite animal is the octopus, just like me! You can tell by the collection of plush octopuses he's accumulated over time. He loves to carry them around, cuddle them, and sometimes playfully toss them in the air. It's just another reminder of how perfectly we fit together.

Jack wasn't just a dog who needed rescuing; I needed him just as much. And now, we're healing together, proving that the best things in life are rescued.

— Annette Stricker

In February 2012, I walked into my local PetSmart with no reason to be there. I had just lost my 16-year-old cat the previous year and was still not ready for a new pet. In the store, there was a big adoption event going on. I walked straight to the back of the store to the kennels and looked up at one of the top ones. A little, scrawny dog was looking straight into my eyes, my soul.

A volunteer asked me if I wanted to fill out an adoption application, and I took the clipboard and started filling it out with the intention of just leaving. But before I could, the volunteer came back and asked me to sit at the table with the manager of the rescue group for an interview. I was kind of in a daze and didn't really grasp what was going on, but I turned around and looked at that top kennel again. And still, this pup's eyes were boring into me, pleading with me.

As I finished the paperwork and realized that he was coming home with me, I started to doubt myself with having the responsibility of caring for a dog. It had been 12 years since my heart dog, the love of my love, had ceased to exist, and that hole was still huge and raw. But nonetheless this small bundle went home with me and started to grow on me very quickly. He was very scared, insecure, and clingy.

Three days later, he was undergoing surgery for chewing up and swallowing bits of plastic from a toy, so I was already challenged with him facing a medical emergency and me a hefty vet bill. When he was recovering, I looked at him with his "cone of shame" on and seriously considered giving him back to the rescue group.

But if I had done that, I would have missed out on building his confidence by attending puppy classes and seeing him become brave when facing the neighborhood cat and finally loving all cats. The biggest and most important thing I would have missed would have been him being my therapy dog through my cancer treatments. Only four months later, I was diagnosed and started my treatments. He was there for it all.

I also would have missed out on all our travels, vacations, seeing him be a perfect gentleman to seniors in nursing homes and attending church, trips to the shopping mall and all the other adventures we have had, camping, hiking, boat cruises, even a horse-drawn carriage ride. The list goes on, and I am hoping to keep adding to it every year that we have together.

— Margaret Erwin

Ready to meet your next canine BFF and bring love home? You can make a lifesaving difference when you adopt from a Best Friends location or a shelter or rescue group near you. Go to bestfriends.org/adopt to learn more.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.