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

Footage of a heartwarming moment between two unlikely friends has gone viral on TikTok. A Golden Retriever named Pablo could not hold back his excitement when seeing an old friend, proving just how special animal friendships can be! 2-year-old Pablo lives in the Northern Ireland countryside in the village of Maguiresbridge. This part of Ireland is filled with lush green lands and farms, and there are adorable cows on just about every corner. Each day when Pablo walks with his … Read more

My love for dogs began the moment I was born. My parents brought me home and introduced me to our Chow and Keeshond, Buddha and Kaysha. There hasn’t been a day in my life that I have been without a dog waiting for me at home. This love for dogs and witnessing their unconditional love and devotion has fueled my passion, which is exactly why I love writing for iHeartDogs. One Dog Changed The Course Of My Life I have … Read more

Jimmy Nicholos works part-time at the START Rescue Resale Store, a thrift shop in Sherman Oaks outside of L.A. that funds pet rescue adoptions. Though he’s currently experiencing homelessness, he has a service dog named Boots who helps him get by. Sadly, New Year’s Eve was the last time he’d seen his best friend and helper in weeks. On that day, a woman Nicholos had met before came into the store. She offered to groom Boots for free, and since … Read more

Once you let your dog in your bed, there’s no going back. They’ll want to sleep beside you and hog the covers every single night. Most dog lovers adore their pups so much we don’t mind sacrificing a little sleep. A couple in Yorkshire are especially familiar with their dog hogging the bed. Their English Springer Spaniel named Spike has slept beside them every night since they first adopted him. But now that he’s getting older, the family has made … Read more

We truly don’t deserve dogs. Even in the saddest, most hurtful moments of their lives, they still show us love and companionship. Sometimes, dogs will even be loyal to a human they’ve never met before. But maybe they can just tell when someone has a kind heart. One woman extended her kindness to two dogs who had no one looking out for them. Instead of being scared or aggressive, one of the dogs stepped forward and showed compassion in return. … Read more

Nate, a beautiful purebred Husky, came in to Seal Beach Animal Care Center as a stray. When the shelter scanned his microchip, they saw it wasn’t registered, but had been claimed by a laboratory. A laboratory that practices animal testing. Though no one knows exactly what tests poor Nate had to endure, the signs of abuse were clear. Nate’s tail had been docked and his ears were notched as well. SBACC staff speculated the tail docking was so it wouldn’t … Read more

When Bruce, a playful black Lab, passed away, his family found a beautiful way to memorialize him and bring joy to other dogs and their families. At a popular beach in Mandurah in Western Australia, they set up a wooden box filled with tennis balls. People visiting Silver Sands beach with their pups are encouraged to take one either to borrow or to keep. For some reason, the brightly colored, erratically bouncing balls fulfill our dogs’ prey drives. Plus, they … Read more

When Hayley Compton went to visit her parents in Lexington, North Carolina she already had a big weight on her shoulders. She had recently lost her grandmother, and in the same year, a job. Her four-legged best friend Rascal, a 7-year-old rescue Pomeranian, helped make things better. But on this trip, 500 miles away from their New Jersey home, Rascal escaped the front door and was lost. Knowing her best friend was out there in a strange place all alone … Read more

Have you ever had that fantasy, the one where you’ve won the lottery and all you have to do is decide how to spend it? For most of us that’s all it is: a fantasy. But recently, one Virginia couple really did get that rare opportunity. Their $1 million lottery ticket was a winner and the lucky recipients decided they wanted to spend a large chunk of their winnings on homeless animals. They donated $10,000 to the Montgomery County Animal … Read more

When you’re a kid, your birthday is probably the most exciting day of the year. All the focus is on you and you get tons of awesome presents! But not all kids see it this way. Instead of giving in to the selfish parts of birthdays, some kids choose to give back instead. One little boy named Michael was particularly generous when his birthday rolled around. Instead of asking for some new toys, he decided to gather gifts for someone … Read more

Dogs that experience trauma early in life become harder to adopt through no fault of their own. Many have lived their whole lives tied up or in barren cages, knowing no human kindness and living in their own filth. Even basic home living can confuse and frighten them. They don’t know or trust people, and they can’t simply be placed into new homes when rescued. Overcrowded shelters don’t have the time or resources required to rehabilitate these animals and they … Read more