Our Favorite Pet Stories of 2025—From Heartwarming to Hilarious

A puppy nuzzling a kitten on a grassy background — Credit:
Arkadova / Getty Images

As the year comes to an end, we're taking a look back at our pet companions and furry friends who provided moments of joy and laughter. Here are some of our favorite heartwarming stories and hilarious videos from 2025.

Martha Added to Her Animal Menagerie

This year, Martha welcomed four new furry family members into her house—a shaded silver Persian named Magnolia; Dahlia, the dilute calico with soft, muted tri-color patches; her brown Persian longhair Lilium; and the newest feline to join the crew, chocolate Persian Chrysanthemum. So far, the cat crew is getting along well and exploring their new home.

She also added two more Friesian horses to her stable in Bedford. They were under the care of The Dorset Equine Rescue (DER). After a lengthy rehabilitation, the horses arrived at Martha's farm in September, and "so far, they’re doing great—they're healthy, curious, and enjoying the time in my giant run-in pasture, their new home. Everyone here at the farm is thrilled to have them here," she shares.

Adorable Adopted Puppy Grew Into an Unexpectedly Giant Dog

In 2024, Anna Winning adopted a puppy named Rolo from the Cork Dog Action Welfare Group (DAWG) in Ireland. She was unaware of his breed, and as he continued to grow, she was stunned by his transformation into an enormous dog with wiry fur and bright golden eyes. After a DNA test, Rolo was found to be a mix of Saluki, Greyhound, and two percent Scottish Deerhound heritage. DAWG shared a post on Facebook in August with images of the giant shaggy pup.

Cheetah Cub and Labrador Pup Became Friends at Australia Zoo

Earlier this year, a cheetah cub named Rozi and a puppy named Ziggy captured our attention with their adorable and unlikely friendship. Because Rozi had no cheetah littermates, zookeepers introduced her to Ziggy, a Labrador mix, when they were both just over two months old. The pair is expected to stay together for about 12 to 18 months.

A Sunbathing Cat Got Summer Highlights

Seven-year-old rescue cat Sophie is normally black, but after sunbathing, she came back with lighter fur, resembling sun-kissed highlights typically achieved at a hair salon. Her owner posted a video to TikTok about the feline's new look, with the caption: "My cat really said 'new season, new look'." The video quickly went viral, receiving over 384,100 views, more than 62,600 likes, and 678 comments.

This Shelter Dog Experienced the 'Freedom Zoomies'

A shelter dog's joyful reaction to seeing her new backyard for the first time after getting adopted went viral earlier this year. Her owner, Taylor Madison, first shared the heartwarming video two years ago on TikTok and reposted it on the account to celebrate the second anniversary of the pup's gotcha day. The video shows the pup running around the backyard, exploring her new lush surroundings.

A Pup Spotted Her Dog Walker and Couldn't Contain Her Excitement

A year ago, Tilly, an Australian Kelpie, went viral for her heartwarming reaction to spotting her dog walker "in the wild." In honor of a year since that moment, Tilly's owner reposted the video, which shows Tilly walking with her owner when she suddenly sees her dog walker. She begins wagging her tail and wiggling with excitement. She then hops up on her hind legs to embrace the dog walker with loud, happy barks and cuddles to show her love.

Golden Retrievers Took Over Colorado Town

In February, hundreds of Golden Retrievers and their humans gathered in the streets of historic downtown Golden, Colorado, for the annual Goldens in Golden event. Dogs from all over the country, including Seattle, Tennessee, and Florida, attend the event every year. While Golden Retrievers are the star of the event, the city joked that "nobody is checking IDs," and as long as they're friendly, trained, and leashed, other dog breeds are welcome to attend, too.

Orphaned Wolf and Shelter Dog Made the Perfect Pair at Kansas Zoo

Earlier this year, a young shelter dog named Slinky formed a unique bond with an orphaned wolf pup named Amora at the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas. At the time that Slinky, a three-month-old brindle mix, was taken in by the Kansas Humane Society, Amora, a maned wolf, was born at the Sedgwick County Zoo. Because Amora's mother had passed, the zookeepers were searching for a furry companion to stay by her side. Slinky turned out to be the perfect partner for Amora, as he, too, needed a companion after his sister was adopted.

Pets Saved From California Wildfires

When wildfires ignited across Los Angeles in January, national animal welfare organization Best Friends Animal Society enlisted the help of donors, rescue partner organizations, and residents to facilitate several rescue flights with groups including Wings of Rescue and the Philadelphia Eagles. Over 300 dogs and cats were transported around the country. They traveled to places where they had a better chance of being adopted, including Best Friends Pet Adoption Centers in Salt Lake City and New York City, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, and other partner organizations along the East Coast.

'Miracle Cat' Survived Incredible Fall

In April, a senior cat was found in a carrier after a nearly 400-foot fall in Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park. The next day, the cat was admitted to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, where staff named her Mirage because nobody could believe what they were seeing. She suffered a collapsed lung that most likely resulted from her traumatic fall. Over the course of several days, the miracle cat continued to recover at a vet hospital and was ultimately deemed healthy enough to return to Best Friends Sanctuary. Chelsea Tugaw, the pilot who rescued Mirage, eventually adopted her. She now lives in Salt Lake City with a dog and two cat siblings.