Viral Stories

Missing Terrier Trapped Under Fallen Rocks Found After 3 Days

Search and rescue volunteers with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) risk it all to save others’ lives at sea. Sometimes, they even get to prove their commitment to rescuing all those in need by saving distressed animals. In April 2021, a man and his dog were reported missing near Skinningrove in North Yorkshire, England. Incredibly, just as temperatures dipped below freezing, the Redcar RNLI lifeboat located the missing man (alive!) on April 9th using thermal imaging. However, they did … Read more

Young Cancer Patient Spreads “Pawsitive” Message To Animal Shelters Across The U.S.

When you’re truly passionate about something, you won’t let anything hold you back from accomplishing your goals and achieving your dreams. This certainly can be said about 14-year-old Avery Sontheimer from Northwestern Pennsylvania. She absolutely adores animals and has made it her mission to help as many as possible. “She’s always been an animal lover,” says Avery’s mom, Kim. “She wants to save them all.” That’s especially obvious by the fact that she has welcomed six rescue cats into her … Read more

Virginia Animal Shelter Receives Hefty Surprise Grant

Over the years, Angels of Assisi in Roanoke, Virginia has helped over 10,000 homeless animals find their forever homes. Now, they’re getting some major help in return. Announced Monday, the nonprofit animal shelter has been awarded a hefty $500,000 grant from the Petco Love Foundation. The funds will help the shelter create a new building in Roanoke, which is estimated to cost about $3 million. The team couldn’t be any more grateful for the money, as it will help more … Read more

Shelter Staff Is Shocked To Find A Bullet In Rescue Dog’s Abdomen

A 5-year-old Lab Mix named Sarge offered an unexpected discovery during his routine neuter procedure. His uncertain past was made clear while on the surgical table, revealing a previous injury that no one saw coming. Sarge was placed in the care of the Humane Society of Tampa Bay earlier this year. In transferring from a rescue in Northern Florida, the shelter staff did not have much information about his past. Sarge’s wagging tail and lovable personality won over each caretaker … Read more

Rescuer’s Post Describes Adoptable Chihuahua As A “Chucky Doll In A Dog’s Body”

Like any breed, Chihuahuas can be sweet, and they can be naughty. As the old poem goes, when they are good, they are very, very good, and when they are bad, they are horrid! Keep this in mind as you read the story of Prancer, a 2-year-old fawn-colored Chihuahua currently living in New Jersey with veteran rescuer and foster mom, Tyfanee Fortuna. In a hilarious and brutally honest Facebook post, Fortuna describes her home as a “demonic Chihuahua hellscape” ever … Read more

Dog Saves Family From Fire, Then Disappears For Two Months

About two months ago, the Bice family’s home caught fire while they were sleeping. But thanks to their furry friend, they made it out alive. Tank the Boxer barked and acted crazy to alert his family of the flames. But after the fire, Tank was still scared and confused. So, he took off, hoping to find the damaged home in one piece again. But Tank’s adventure caused him to get lost for almost two months! His family spent that time … Read more

Therapy Dog Has Helped Thousands During Pandemic, Earned Prestigious Award

We know that dogs bring healing to people who are suffering from both physical and psychological pain. They’re in our homes, our neighborhoods, sometimes in our schools, and occasionally even in offices! In England, there’s one dog that’s been helping thousands of people heal throughout the pandemic. Meet Max. He’s a Springer Spaniel mix that got his start as a therapy dog helping his dad, Kerry Irving. Irving is a locksmith that endured life-changing injuries after being rear-ended by a … Read more

Man Bullied By Employer And Paid In Pennies Donates $1,000 To Rescue Dogs

We’ve all had horrible bosses at one point. They’re miserable and their unhappiness seems to soak into the hearts of all of their employees. You probably saw the news recently where a man’s boss thought he got the last laugh, but if you didn’t let me catch you up. Andreas Flaten worked for A OK Walker Automworks in Peachtree City, Georgia. He decided to call it quits last November after spending too much time in what he considered a toxic … Read more

“Hero” Dog Who Helped 5 Others Escape From Hoarding Finds The Perfect Home

Animal hoarding is a very serious form of cruelty. Sadly, an estimated 250,000 animals fall victim to this phenomenon every year. Animals in hoarding situations suffer without proper sanitation, veterinary care, or nutrition. They often suffer silently too, without their neighbors even knowing what they’re going through. Serendipitously, Tonie Quinlin was outside her Colombus home on November 13, 2020, when she saw a dog hanging out of a window across the street. The 1 ½-year-old black Retriever mix had broken … Read more

Emotional Support Dog Is Adopted By Another Family During Owner’s Medical Emergency

The heartwarming moment of a man being reunited with his beloved best friend and service dog after an unexpected three weeks apart was caught on video by a local news station. Joey Martin and his German Shepard mix Maximus ventured from Portland to Auburn, Washington, where they were looking forward to exploring Olympic National Park together. However, they never made it to the park for their adventure. Not long after they arrived in Auburn, Martin experienced a medical emergency that … Read more

Dog Impolitely Achieves His Dream Of Becoming A News Reporter

Dogs can have dreams just like we do. And many of them probably want to do human things to be more like their loved ones. But is it possible for dogs to want a job? A dog in Moscow seems to think so. During an outdoor weather report in Russia, a Golden Retriever decided to attempt his goals. In order to become a news reporter and a star, he knew he needed a microphone. So, he interrupted a live report … Read more

YouTuber Builds Device That Informs Him When There’s A Dog Outside

Did you know just looking at dogs and cats can make you happier? Really, it’s backed by science. These days, we could all use a little cheering up while we’re stuck at home. Practically though, no one can spend all day staring out the window looking for doggie pedestrians. With this in mind, YouTuber “Ryder Calm Down” decided to put his technological capabilities to the test. He built a device that alerts him whenever a dog passes in front of … Read more

Family Creates Bed On Wheels For Elderly Dog’s Adventures

As dogs age, a lot can change in their personalities and abilities. They might slow down and prefer a good nap over a game of fetch, which is okay! But just because a dog is a senior doesn’t mean they want to miss out on adventures. Cocoa the Chesapeake Bay Retriever was once full of energy, but at age 16, she found walking difficult. Yet, she loved going on adventures in Virginia Beach. So, her family found a way to … Read more

Accomplished Border Patrol K9 Retires After 7 Years Of Hard Work

Kirpy the Belgian Malinois is just one of the many brave pups who fight for our country. From his puppy years to age seven, Kirpy worked as a police K9, specializing in locating illegal drugs. But no one should have to work forever. So, after seven successful years of hard work, Kirpy got the retirement of his dreams. Now, brave Kirpy gets to live the pampered life of a companion dog. The days of fighting crime are over, and now … Read more

Tinder Date Ends With Woman Jumping In River To Save Date’s Dog

Blind dates are already hard enough. The awkwardness of the whole thing has kept more than a few of us single. So we really feel for Lizzy Johnson of Surrey, England, who recently jumped into a river to save her Tinder date’s dog from drowning. The Dog Is All In The pooch, a Boxer-like pup from Lizzy’s description, had apparently never been around water. As the Tinder-connected pair took a stroll along the River Mole in Walton-on-Thames, the fearless boy … Read more

Children’s Hospital Gets A Dog to Comfort Their Patients

Brea Johns Hopkins Children's Hospital Dog

We all know there’s hardly a better treatment for a cold than a snuggly pooch who’s picking up on you feeling down. So we’re hoping that dogs like Brea, a 2-year-old Yellow Labrador, bouncing down the halls of Johns Hopkins All Children’s Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla., become a common occurrence at other hospitals. Puppy Love for the Sick Brea is the hospital’s first facility dog. Leah Frohnerath, a child life specialist at the hospital, is Brea’s handler. Brea … Read more

This Special Needs Puppy Has A Custom Helmet With Adorable Cat Ears

Tilly’s journey began at the Westchester SPCA in Virginia. Her mother was brought to the shelter as a very pregnant street pup, and soon gave birth to 11 puppies in early January. Having so many puppies made it challenging for Tilly’s mother to care for each of her babies properly. It soon became clear that Tilly would require a bit of extra care, which was just too much for the new mom. Tilly’s head was much larger than the rest … Read more

Tiny Dog Stranded on Icy River For 4 Days Gets Adopted by His Rescuer

For four days, Miracle the dog was trapped in the icy Detroit River, clinging to life. After having been chased out onto the ice by a coyote, the little fluffy dog was stranded with no way of escaping. He dodged birds of prey and even fell into the icy water at some point. That was until Jude Mead of an Ontario marine construction company heard about him and decided that the dog was not going to spend another second out … Read more

Dog Digs 20 Foot Tunnel To Protect Her Puppies From Freezing

Thousands and thousands of years after they were first domesticated, dogs still have incredible survival instincts. They can endure harsh conditions through both skill and intuition. In Hockley County Texas, an abandoned mama dog named Cedar proved this with the remarkable efforts she took to keep her newborn puppies safe and warm. Cedar gave birth to her litter in mid-February, 2021 before a polar vortex hit. To protect her babies from the cold and predators at the same time, she tunneled … Read more

Viral Parrot Says “I Love You” To Her New Puppy Sibling

Unlikely animal friendships are the cutest! But Sweet Pea the parrot takes it to a whole new level. The beautiful white cockatoo went viral after her human shared a photo of her interacting with her new puppy sibling for the first time. It only took Sweet Pea a few moments to learn how to shower a puppy with love. Sweet Pea’s video has already gained over 63,000 views on TikTok alone. Plus, it’s been shared all over the internet by … Read more

Hero Dog Fights Off Knife-Wielding Intruder to Protect Her Family

It was every parent’s nightmare. On the evening of March 25, Wylie, Texas couple Amber and Taylor Newsom were getting their daughters ready for bed when they heard their dog, Marley, barking. When they went to go check to see what was going on, they were met with a strange man wielding a knife inside their home. But Marley wasn’t going to let the man hurt her family. The black Labrador Retriever jumped into action — lunging and biting at … Read more

Country’s First Indoor Dog Water Park Is Approved By Pampered Pups

Whenever you stop at a hotel, kids are sure to burst with excitement if it has a water park. And as it turns out, many dogs are the same way. A South Dakota dog resort recently expanded its facility to include the country’s first indoor dog water park. Dogs can run around in a splash pad space any time of the year. This doggy play area had a slow start due to COVID, but now it’s booming with success! It’s … Read more

Working Dog Program Helps Farmers Overcome Mental Health Hurdles

When farmer Kelly Barnes had to give up physical labor due to chronic pain from fibromyalgia, she was left feeling hopeless and isolated. That was until she realized how much her Kelpie dog, Dugald, would be there by her side to help her battle through her mental health struggles. Now, Barnes is helping farmers throughout Victoria, Australia pair up with working dogs who will help them do the same thing through Dunkeld’s Working Dog Training School. “Going through this experience … Read more

Protective Pit Bull Safeguards Stray Cat As She Gives Birth In His Doghouse

When we think of unlikely friendships, the combination of cats and dogs is often at the top of our list. But that didn’t matter to a Pitbull named Hades and the stray cat he protected, befriended, and then welcomed into his family. This heartwarming story started when Juan José P. Flores, dog dad of Hades, noticed frequent visits from a stray Calico cat. Despite his inability to get close to her, Flores was concerned she may not be getting enough … Read more

After Spending 667 Days At The Shelter, Melvin Finally Found His Forever Home

A deserving pup that spent almost two years at the shelter has finally found a forever home. Melvin had to celebrate one birthday behind shelter walls, but he will be celebrating his next one with an incredible family. The 3-year-old Pit Bull spent 667 days at SPCA LA. After being found wandering the streets by the Long Beach Animal Care Service, he began a two-year waiting game. Melvin was deeply loved by the staff from the second he walked through … Read more

Adventure Group Bands Together To Rescue Dog From Steep Rock

If you’re an outdoorsy person, odds are you have an outdoorsy dog who loves accompanying you on your adventures. Hiking, swimming, exploring, and camping with our dogs can be fun ways to exercise and enjoy some fresh air together. That’s why Utah-based pup siblings Summer and Winter often accompany their parents on ATV trips. On one of their routine explorations of the backcountry, Summer took a misstep and ended up sliding dangerously down the rock. Luckily, she’s an obedient dog … Read more

Dog Arrested For “Attempted Unicorn Theft” Finds His Forever Home

Throughout our lives, we are often encouraged to “chase our dreams.” Well, one-year-old Sisu, a lab-mix from eastern North Carolina, did exactly this. Only, instead of having predictable puppy dreams of dog bones and tennis balls, this determined dog dreamed of taking home a very specific stuffed purple unicorn from Dollar General. On Sunday, March 21st, Animal Control received a call about a stray dog that kept entering a Dollar General as customers exited. Once inside the store, single-minded Sisu headed … Read more

Insurance Company Helps “Jake From State Farm” The Dog Get Adopted

When adoptable animals have a hard time finding homes, shelters often find a creative name can get them some attention. That’s what helped one sweet dog overcome his past to find his new forever home. That name the shelter gave him? “Jake From State Farm.” Yes, that helpful insurance agent on the other end of the phone in the popular commercials inspired this sweet boy’s name. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, you can view the original … Read more

Boy Has Cutest Reaction When His Lost Pit Bull Returns Home

There’s no bond like that between a boy and his dog. But what happens if that beloved dog goes missing? Most families say confidently that their dog will never run off, but it happens much more than we realize. A family in Polk County, Florida was devastated when their gray Pit Bull named Bruiser disappeared. They tried everything they could to lure him home, but nothing worked. Just when they were about to lose hope, they got the news they’d … Read more

Fire Crew Saves Deaf And Visually Impaired Dog From Drainage Pipe

It’s common for dogs to get themselves into tricky situations. Getting them out is the hard part. One dog in Florida got stuck in a drainage pipe and couldn’t find his way out. On top of everything, he was deaf and visually impaired. But despite the many challenges involved, fire crews rushed to save the day. The St. Johns County Fire Rescue and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office teamed up to complete the rescue mission. It took a total … Read more