Heartwarming

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Last month, 69-year-old David Deshon was reported missing by his daughter Shona. Two days later, Placer County, CA sheriff’s deputies discovered his body in the snow. It is a heartbreaking end to a valiant rescue effort, but Deshon’s loved ones take comfort in knowing he was not alone in his final moments. Deshon’s beloved dogs, 10-year-old Buddy, and 5-year-old Baby Dog remained by his side throughout the entire ordeal. Even after their master passed, Baby Dog refused to abandon him, … Read more

It was love at first sight for an injured Chihuahua mix and the vet who saved his life. The pup named Jim suffered from a fractured pelvis, but despite having a leg amputated, he was happy and loving. Dr. Sue Lynch admired his bravery and positive attitude, so she knew she couldn’t let him go. After fostering him during his recovery, she chose to make him a permanent family member. Now, not only did he survive this scary situation, but … Read more

11 years is a long time for anyone. But it’s especially lengthy for a dog, considering that many canines don’t even live that long. But after 11 long, patient years, a Pit Bull mix named Wiggles is finally getting a fresh start to life. The 14-year-old dog spent 11 lonely years in a shelter, waiting for a forever family. But her age and health problems made humans overlook her for practically her whole life. To Wiggles, age is just a … Read more

As a police officer on patrol, your duty is to serve and protect your community. Occasionally, that includes local canines in need too. Police officers frequently help stray or injured animals and recover lost pets when they can. Lucky for one lone puppy in New Jersey, patrol cars came his way when he needed them. On January 2nd, Mount Laurel Police Department officers found the small gray and white Pit Bull puppy wandering alone in an industrial area. The little … Read more

When I was in college, I began working at a busy animal hospital as a veterinary assistant. As much as I adore dogs, I didn’t think it was fair to adopt one with my crazy schedule of classes, work, and friends—until the day I met Brandy. It was a typical afternoon when I noticed a group of staff clustered around one of the exam room doors. The veterinarian inside was speaking to a man about his dogs, and from the … Read more

Even when we tell our dogs that everything will be okay, they don’t always understand. Being away from their loved ones is stressful, and it sometimes feels like the worst situation in the world. So, when Cemal Senturk was taken to a hospital in Turkey, he wanted to tell his dog that he would be back. But she didn’t understand why he was leaving her. The loyal dog waited outside the hospital for 6 days, hoping her human would come … Read more

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a dedicated dog lover and a passionate rescue dog advocate. I even made a career out of writing about dogs and encouraging others to adopt. But this passion didn’t just appear out of thin air. It isn’t something I was born with. Everyone’s love for rescue dogs starts somewhere, and my passion began thanks to a tiny puppy mill survivor named Zoe. Unlike most of the other dog bloggers out there, I didn’t … Read more