New pets bring love and laughter
From leg-climbing kittens to trail-loving pups, these stories sent in from people who recently adopted pets from Best Friends are full of love, laughter, and the little moments that make a house a home.
Chitten, adopted by Michelle
Her full name is Artemis Chitstrina the Destructor, but we just call her Chitten. We absolutely love her. We are pretty sure that her mom was a lynx or a wild demon. She rips through the house at top speed, has broken many items, torn up any carpet that is outside a door, and literally climbs up your leg. Those little kitten claws are sharp! But when she’s all worn out, she cuddles up in your arms or neck and purrs so loudly. She is very sweet and very cuddly and loves everyone she meets. She has a big dog brother who has finally accepted her, and they sleep together all the time. While she has certainly tested our patience, we can’t imagine life without her.
Trixx and Misti, adopted by Beth and Lee
Trixx and Misti are best friends and partners in mischief. They are very smart and clever kitties. They can open cabinets, love to dig in the potted houseplants, and have decided that it’s lots of fun to unroll the toilet paper and pull the towels off the towel rod. It’s a good thing they are so cute and we love them so much. We are working on rewarding good behavior and discouraging the not-so-desirable behaviors. Trixx is by far the most affectionate cat we have ever owned. He loves everyone and wins over anyone who comes to visit us. They both like to snuggle with us on the couch or in bed.
Ciaran, adopted by Lauren and Hogan
Our pup is doing amazing, and we try to make every day feel like the best day of his life. We dragged this desert dog to the shores of Lake Washington, where he gets to splash around almost every single day. Thanks again for all you guys do. He makes us so dang happy.
Anna and Racer, adopted by Val
It has been one year since I had the happiest birthday of my 64 years. We volunteered at Best Friends and, much to my surprise, adopted the two most beautiful dogs in the world. Anna and Racer are gorgeous Great Pyrenees and the kindest dogs you could ever meet. They have played in the snow, ridden the trails in the Jeep, and met many new friends on their adventures in the mountains. They have brought so much joy to us and have made our home complete. Thank you to everyone at the Sanctuary for making my birthday a big floofy surprise.
This article was originally published in the July/August 2025 issue of Best Friends magazine. Want more good news? Become a member and get stories like this six times a year.
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Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill. 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.
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