Admit it: 2021 was somehow, inexplicably, worse than 2020. Perhaps that was because we were all supposed to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and proceed with “regular” life again despite the fact that the coronavirus pandemic is far from over.
And yet, even in a year shrouded in darkness and despair, a little bit of light still crept in. There were still good things happening in the world, even if it didn’t seem like it most of the time. How do we know? Because we wrote about them.
Most of these positive, warm-fuzzy stories had to do with animals (because, let’s be honest, humans are often the worst). But there were a few good samaritans in the mix, too. We’ve rounded up the best moments of 2021 as a reminder that this year wasn’t as bad as perhaps we’re tempted to think it was.
Review these heart-warming anecdotes and hope that 2022 brings even more of them.
Cover Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / Contributor (Getty Images)
hall of fame 2021
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Newly Adopted Dog Drags Owner to His Phone After Suffering a Stroke, Can Mine Do That When I Get Texts?
Read more here.
Photo: Anna Frank (Getty Images)
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Meanwhile in Florida: Video Shows TikTokers Rescuing Doggy-Paddling Pup in Ocean, Doing Something Useful With Life Now Trending
Read more here.
Photo: TikTok
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Bomb Squad Called to Investigate Suspicious Duffel Bag, Finds Kittens Inside
Read more here.
Photo: Butler County Sheriff’s Office
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Mandatory Good News: 8-Year-Old Boy Sells Pokemon Collection to Pay Sick Puppy’s Vet Bills, Someone Help This Kid Dammit!
Read more here.
Photo: Oksana Shufrych / EyeEm (Getty Images)
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Mandatory Good News: Abandoned Puppy Saved From Recycling Bin by Kentucky Humane Society Employee
Read more here.
Photo: Kentucky Humane Society
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Meanwhile in Louisiana: Sanitation Workers Rescue 10-Year-Old From Kidnapper, Perfect Heroes to Take Out Trash
Read more here.
Photo: Pelican Waste and Debris
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Meanwhile in Japan: Emergency Rescue Divers Save Sex Doll From Drowning, Likely Falls Under ‘No Hole Left Behind’ Protocol
Read more here.
Photo: @nachangagaga (Twitter)
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TikToker to the Rescue: Young Man Helped Save Stranger From a Creeper by Pretending to Know Her
Read more here.
Photo: TikTok
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George Clooney Hilariously Fan Boys Over Brad Pitt For Charity Video
Read more here.
Photo: YouTube
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Bernie Sanders Turns Inauguration Day Meme Into a Sweatshirt Benefitting Charity
Read more here.
Photo: BernieSanders.com
