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Smile File

Looking for a little joy? Check out our Smile File, a collection of inspirational stories and updates that are sure to put a smile on your face.

Want to add a story to our Smile File? We’d love to hear from you!

Smile File Stories

  • How Does Joybound’s Admissions Process Work? 

    How Does Joybound’s Admissions Process Work? 

    Partnering to Change Lives Did you know Joybound People & Pets partners with animal shelters across California and beyond to help ease overcrowding and give more pets a second chance? Our Admissions team regularly visits these “partner shelters,” bringing dogs and cats …

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  • Jonathan’s Journey Through Joybound’s Engelstad Grooming Academy

    Jonathan’s Journey Through Joybound’s Engelstad Grooming Academy

    From Soldier to Stylist When Jonathan first heard about Joybound People & Pets’ Engelstad Grooming Academy, he wasn’t looking for a career change — just a chance to combine his love of animals with his lifelong commitment to service. A U.S. …

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  • The Future of Pet Care, Joybound Style

    The Future of Pet Care, Joybound Style

    Joybound’s Upcoming Boarding Facility Goes Beyond Day Care Joybound People & Pets is thrilled to announce a new boarding and daycare facility for dogs and cats, opening Fall 2027. The new operation will offer high-quality pet care at a reasonable …

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  • From Puppy Kisses to Therapy All Star

    From Puppy Kisses to Therapy All Star

    Meet Espy, Cuddler-in-Chief of the Pet Hug Pack® If Espy had a LinkedIn, his headline would read: Professional Mood-Booster, Specializing in Kids and Cuddles. This six-year-old sweetheart joined Joybound’s Pet Hug Pack® in 2024, but his road to therapy dog …

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  • How Animals Boost Our Mental Health

    How Animals Boost Our Mental Health

    Proof That Love (with Fur) Really Is the Best Medicine “Americans clearly recognize that our relationships with our pets can have noticeable benefits for our overall mental health.” Pets are much more than companions in our life — they also …

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  • Wrapped In Love

    Wrapped In Love

    How Steve and Glenda Turned a Simple Idea Into 44,000 Blankets W hen Steve and Glenda Spero first walked into Joybound more than two decades ago, they never imagined they’d become the unofficial “Blanket Dream Team.” Back then, our shelter …

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  • The Joy of Fostering Together

    The Joy of Fostering Together

    How Volunteers Team Up to Train Future Assistance Animals What if you didn’t have to foster a future service dog alone? Joybound’s Shelter to Service program has launched an innovative Cohort Training model that gives volunteers the chance to share …

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  • The McCoy Education Center is Buzzing

    The McCoy Education Center is Buzzing

    A Legacy in Action: From Birthdays to Doggie Diplomas If walls could talk, the McCoy Education Center would be gushing with good news. This wing has always been a hub of activity, but with its new name honoring longtime supporter …

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  • Merlin’s Second Chance

    Merlin’s Second Chance

    How Joybound and VEG Made a Difference for Merlin When Victoria noticed that her beloved cat, Merlin, had suddenly become lethargic, stopped eating, and was struggling to urinate, her heart sank. She knew it was a medical emergency. As a …

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  • Polly’s Purpose

    Polly’s Purpose

    A Shelter Dog Turned Hero Some heroes wear capes. Polly wears fur. Once a stray on the streets of Madera, California, Polly (formerly Molly) had already beaten the odds by finding her way to Joybound People & Pets in 2014. …

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  • Ladybug’s Lessons

    Ladybug’s Lessons

    How One Joyful Pit Bull Helps Dog Parents Connect with Their Pets What happens when a dog with a big heart and a few challenges enters your life? You gain love, patience, and a fresh perspective on dog training. Sometimes …

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  • Homework, Litterboxes, and Love

    Homework, Litterboxes, and Love

    The Joy (and Challenges) of Raising Kittens What started as a plan to adopt a cat turned into a life-changing adventure in fostering. Meet Aria (16) and Kevin Yoder (13), two teens who, along with their family, have fostered nearly …

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