Caring for Pets Stories

Caregivers go the extra mile to provide various kinds of enrichment -- games, food puzzles, exercise and more -- for the dogs, cats, horses, pigs and other animals at the Sanctuary.

Tiny Chihuahua is 4,000th pet adopted from Best Friends Pet Adoption and Spay/Neuter Center in Mission Hills, California.

Fostering animals with special needs is rewarding. Read about cat with congestive heart failure, a dog going through physical therapy, and other pets.

Jeff and Stacey Clark are volunteers who specialize in helping and advocating for timid dogs.

Alfie the dog who survived parvo and distemper as a puppy has made amazing progress in his adoptive home. Read an update.

Diabetic cat is adopted and becomes a therapy cat with Pets on Wheels of Maryland. The orange tabby visits residents at an assisted living facility.

Abandoned hound dog found in Zion Canyon comes to Best Friends. She is receiving lots of attention and enrichment, including nose work and agility.

Foster homes for dogs and cats save pets' lives in a tangible way by freeing up space in shelters. Fostering animals provides other benefits, too.

Couple from Nebraska adopt a black Lab puppy from Best Friends. After training and socialization, he is now a therapy dog.

Blue and gold macaw parrot is perfect despite her birth defects: feet problems, malformed ears, and inability to hold her head upright.

Best Friends takes five pigs from Ironwood Pig Sanctuary, which was running at capacity, to help them find homes.

Rescued in the Michael Vick dogfighting bust, Ray the Vicktory dog passes his Canine Good Citizen test and is now in a foster-to-adopt home.

Dog trainer holds special workshop for shelters and rescues in Texas on how to prepare animal shelter dogs for adoption.

Shy dog from a dogfighting bust in Tennessee makes a dog friend, who is confident and helps him come out of his shell.

Cats at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary enjoy stroller rides, which provide great enrichment, entertainment and mental stimulation.