Getting word out about shelter animals up for adoption can be a challenging endeavor. However, one pizza place in Western New York came up with a clever solution to the problem. In March, Just Pizza & Wing Co. in Amherst began attaching flyers of adorable pups seeking forever homes to pizza boxes. Mary Alloy, the pizza shop’s owner, was inspired to help after volunteering at the Niagara SPCA. Since launching the campaign, dozens of dogs have found homes. Alloy intends to keep attaching flyers until every adoptable animal is matched with loving pet parents.

In the early morning hours of a Sunday in September, a family in Bethel, Connecticut, was suddenly awakened by their 4-year-old Dachshund, Jasper. The dog’s erratic behavior led the husband to discover the neighbor’s porch was engulfed in flames with the family sleeping inside. The husband immediately warned the family and called 911. Thanks to Jasper’s quick actions, the neighbors escaped the home unharmed. Jasper’s mom, Robin Houser, was proud but also surprised by her little pup: “It’s just not like him. He’s so goofy.” Goofy or not, Jasper deserves a medal, or at the very least some treats.

When a stray dog started showing up at a car dealership in Brazil back in the spring, it didn’t take long for the staff to fall in love. After leaving out food and water for several days, Prime Hyundai manager Emerson Mariano decided to open the dealership’s doors and adopt the precocious pup. Mariano named the pooch Tucson, after Hyundai’s popular SUV model, and even hired him as a “Pawfessional” Consultant. Today, Tucson can be seen providing excellent customer service and gaining fame on his Instagram page.

When mandatory stay-at-home orders and shutdowns began being issued in March, one Long Island brewery turned to its furry friends to help weather the storm. Facing uncertain times, the owners of Six Harbors Brewing Company started making home deliveries. And who better to greet customers at their doors than adorable Golden Retriever brew dogs, Buddy and Barley? Adorned with empty four-packs around their necks, Buddy and Barley brought needed smiles to countless families in and around Huntington, and they continue to do so today.

When flood waters ravaged impoverished neighborhoods around Tabasco, Mexico in early November, the Mexican Navy was called in to assist those impacted. A few days later, hearts across social media were captured after a video surfaced of a young Marine saving a frightened Golden Labrador Retriever huddled near a home on a flooded street. Since the pup received a clean bill of health and was never claimed, the Mexican Navy decided to adopt him with hopes of training him to become an official rescue canine.

In July, a 4-year-old Labrador named Cleo was reported missing by her owner in the town of Olathe, Kansas. Several days later, the pup was discovered safe and sound, but the story doesn’t end there. Cleo found her way home, but not her home in Olathe. Instead, she traveled over 50 miles to her previous home in Lawson, Missouri. Once the new residents gained the trust of a confused Cleo, they had her scanned for a microchip. The information retrieved led to an appeal posted on her owner’s Facebook page. Not long after, Cleo was reunited with her owner back in Olathe.

The devastating bushfires that swept across parts of Australia from September 2019 to March 2020 took a catastrophic toll on the country’s Koala Bear population. However, the losses could’ve been worse if not for the efforts of one special rescue dog. Bear, a Koala Detection Dog, was dispatched by the International Fund for Animal Welfare to help locate injured Koalas in the aftermath of the fires. By picking up the scent of the animals’ fur, Bear helped save the lives of over 100 wounded Koalas trapped in the smoldering remains.

When Anastasia Pagonis lost her sight at age 14, she didn’t let it crush her dreams of becoming a competitive swimmer. After two years of conquering setbacks and retraining herself in the water, Pagonis is now preparing for the 2021 Tokyo Paralympic Games with help from a furry  companion. Back in August, a Labrador Retriever service dog named Radar joined Pagonis to help her regain her independence. Together, this dynamic duo is focused on bringing home a gold medal for Team USA.

It’s been a busy couple of years for Sully the service dog. After loyally serving late President George H.W. Bush, the 4-year-old Yellow Labrador Retriever was sworn in as a Facility Dog at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in February 2019. Then in November 2020, Sully’s devotion and companionship were honored with the unveiling of a statue near his birth home on Long Island. Crafted by renowned sculptor Susan Bahary, the pristine bronze replica depicts a seated Sully carrying his leash.

Election Day 2020 literally went to the dogs in the tiny town of Rabbit Hash, Kentucky. After a heated race with Pitbull incumbent Brynneth Pawltro, French Bulldog Wilbur was declared the town’s new mayor on November 3. Wilbur’s biting campaign slogan, “Give me liberty or give me… Milk-Bones,” proved to be enough to sway the residents of Rabbit Hash in his favor. The election, which also serves as a fundraiser for the town’s historical society, was a pleasant distraction from those involving two-legged candidates.