Special-Need Animals Stories

Anna the caregiver petting Woody the dog

Blind dog’s world shines brighter than ever

Woody came to Best Friends with severe glaucoma; he was in pain and couldn’t see w...
Woody now shines with confidence
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Cubby the black kitten with white spot on chest sitting on a multicolored blanket

Kitten who’s paralyzed thrives with love

Cubby may not be able to run, but he’ll speed right into your heart....
Foster family provides loving care
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Zima the cat lying on a bed with her adopters

Faces of No-Kill: A love match for an extra-special cat

Zima dazzled visitors at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary — including her adopters, w...
Now she rules the roost
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Josh the dog in his wheelchair in a shallow water feature with a person behind him

Faces of No-Kill: Meet the pink-wheeled pirate pup

With his pink wheelchair, pirate flag, and love of stuffed toys, Josh is showing t...
He's rolling toward happiness
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Flora the tabby cat lying on a bed in a sunbeam

How a cat named Flora got her second chance

When Flora landed at Best Friends with 84 other cats, she was cautious and shy — b...
Cerebellar hypoplasia doesn't slow her down
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David Bowie the dog getting a bath

Faces of No-Kill: Dog goes from shutdown to smiling

Once too sick to stand due to a rare autoimmune disease, Bowie is finally comforta...
Now he's got a new lease on life
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Licorice the cat lying on a blanket

The magic of one very lucky black cat

At Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, caregivers turn mobility challenges into magic f...
Living a charmed life
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Boo, the black and white kitten, lying on a blanket

Three-legged kitten with a whole lotta heart

From injured kitten to confident cat, Boo’s story is all about second chances and ...
She hit the ground running (on three legs)
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Kansas and Twister, the merle-patterned dogs, standing on sand

A remarkable dog friendship built on trust and treats

A blind dog and deaf dog enjoy the good life in their home-between-homes at Best F...
They're perfect complements to each other
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Lexi the dog with upright ears

Faces of No-Kill: Support for a special pup

Lexi came to Best Friends as a little puppy who turned out to have megaesophagus, ...
Now she's queen of the pack
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Indy the cat, lying on a blanket

Shy cat sprinkled with love

Sometimes, all it takes is adding a little bit of sparkle to help a timid pet shin...
Colorful collars made her even more adorable
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Trinity the blind calico cat on some blankets

Faces of No-Kill: Brave cat is full of love

Trinity is blind, but she doesn’t let that hold her back from pursuing her true pa...
She received just the right recipe for healing
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Indy the cat playing with a colorful wand toy

Faces of No-Kill: Mighty kitten's miraculous recovery

Indy fell into a coma when she was just a tiny kitten, but swift action saved her ...
She continues to make steady progress
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Rusty the cat sleeping while on a sleepover

Faces of No-Kill: Pet sleepovers spark second chances

The sleepover program at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary helps two kitties with spec...
Program offers potential adopters a chance to connect in a real way
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Adonis the cat lying on a blanket wearing his boots

Meet the cat who wears boots

See how caregivers at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary found a creative solution to h...
He's quite the dashing hero
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