Best Friends Resource Center prides itself on finding the perfect forever for its animals by taking time to get to know each candidate.
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Best Friends Pet Resource Center in Bentonville is known for finding perfect matches for families and their four-legged companions.
“This is what we do. It’s what makes every day great, and being able to see families that find their perfect match and the animals finding their perfect match with the owners is just the best that we can ask for,” Alexandra Heule, the Life Saving Program Manager at the pet resource center, said.
Staff members invest time in understanding both animals and adopters to ensure the right fit.
“It’s a lot of time having our staff here at Best Friends spend time with the animals to understand them and figure out what would be the best fit for them,” Heule said. “But then, more importantly, for our adopters, it’s taking the time to have conversations with them, rather than looking at a piece of paper and finding reasons to say no.”
Dogs like Doug, who has an eye disorder and needs extra care, benefit greatly from this approach.
“Whenever we learned about that, to me, it wasn’t really something that we worried about because we’re all broken in our own ways — whether that be your eyesight is not the best or some other issue — but it doesn’t really seem to bother him,” Ralph Bartley, Doug’s owner, said.
Finding the perfect fit can also make a tough time just a bit better, which is what happened for Job and his daughter Lindley after adopting their dog Riley.
“In February, Lindley was diagnosed with congenital foot disorder where she had two bones in both of her feet that were growing together that weren’t supposed to be. We had some surgeries coming up, and we knew that life was going to change,” Job said. “[I] saw [Riley], and I thought that she and [Lindley] would be an excellent match for one another, and had a quick conversation with my wife, and I took her home, and it’s been all crazy ever since.”
The bond between a girl and her dog is unlike any other.
“She’s really playful, so I can play with her,” Lindley said. “And she’s naughty, but that’s what makes her a puppy. And she’s sweet when she gets tired.”
