Tales of second chances for homeless pets

Adoption day is just the beginning. Best Friends helps pets and people find each other, and when the match is right, the rest is magic. These are the stories of some special dogs and cats who found love, comfort, and second chances in their new homes.

Rhonda wasn’t planning to adopt a pet when she stopped by the Best Friends Pet Resource Center in Northwest Arkansas to drop off some donations. But she hadn’t bargained on meeting Old Greg there (yes, that really is his full name). Dressed in a little sweater and hat, this 13-year-old guy had come to Best Friends from a nearby shelter. He was a bit despondent and seemed understandably confused at losing his home. Rhonda could barely stand to leave him behind, and when she told her wife about Old Greg, her response was “Go get him!” So Rhonda went back the next day and adopted him. Now Greg has a full wardrobe of clothes, and his heart is happy again.

Goldilocks is the perfect name for this kitty with the golden orange fur. Like the little girl in the fairy tale, Goldilocks the cat likes things to be “just so.” Take being petted, for instance: Sometimes it’s too much. Sometimes it’s not enough. Sometimes it isn’t in the right spot. While she was adored by staff and volunteers at the Best Friends Lifesaving Center in New York City, Goldilocks could be, well, a bit of a bear. A swipe of the paw was her way of saying “No thank you.” Then along came volunteer Katie, who saw past her occasionally grumpy behavior and offered to foster Goldilocks. That turned out to be just right for both of them, and Goldilocks was home for good.

Like most cats, Judy is an aficionado of the finer things in life. She came to the Best Friends team in Houston from a shelter in Texas, and it wasn’t long before staff noticed that she wasn’t using her litter box. She spent all her time in her happy place: sitting or lying on her cardboard scratcher. A thorough checkup at the vet revealed no medical reason for her accidents, but the mystery was solved when a kind couple offered to foster her. Judy was the only pet in their home, and her foster family bought her everything a cat could ever want, including a massive cat tree and scratching post. Judy showed her approval with zoomies through the house, lots of affection — and no more accidents outside of her box. She was so happy that her foster family couldn’t resist adopting her.

This article was originally published in the May/June 2025 issue of Best Friends magazine. Want more good news? Become a member and get stories like this six times a year.

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.