Sanctuary Stories

Equine trainer Christian Mathews putting a saddle on Byron the mustang

A mustang’s breakthrough

Byron was born in the wild, and today he’s learning the ropes to become a solid ri...
He's now a riding partner
Best Friends Magazine
Venus the dog running outside in the red sand with ears flopping and tongue out

The Secret to Happiness, a poem by Venus the dog

A poignant poem for the times, as told by a playful pup at Best Friends Animal San...
Read Venus' words of wisdom
Best Friends Magazine
Evelyn the kitten sitting in a sunbeam meowing at a much larger black and white cat

Cats pamper kitten with purrs

After losing her home, an incontinent kitten joins a team of doting feline caregiv...
See how she's thriving
Best Friends Magazine
Ashley hugging a happy Cayenne the dog

Laced with grace: Saying goodbye to a beloved dog

Excerpt from 'A Tail of Grace: A Year in Search of Home After the Death of My Soul...
Learn about her emotional journey
Best Friends Magazine
Volunteer Betty Grieb wearing a blue protective gown and gloves, holding a puppy on her shoulder

Volunteer prepares puppies for their best lives

Betty Grieb offers the puppies at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary lots of TLC to hel...
Read what motivates her to help
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Tax the dog, looking forward with mouth open in a smile

Anxious dog who’s deaf finds comfort with new family

Life seemed overwhelming for Taz when he arrived at Best Friends, but now he’s lea...
Read how he's settled into his new home
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Smiling person surrounded by baby Quaker parrots, including one on her head

Animals from closed zoo find safety at Best Friends

After a zoo in Puerto Rico closed, hundreds of animals needed new places to live —...
Their futures are bright
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Big Papa the cat on a blue chair with a young volunteer wearing a hat

71 cats arrive to safety at Best Friends

Cats and kittens get veterinary care and visits from Best Friends staff and volunt...
See how they're settling in
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Sweet Baby James the puppy in a wheelchair

Foster home helps puppy stand tall

Faces of no-kill: Sweet Baby James could hardly even crawl when he first came to t...
See him now
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Ash, Basil, and Cedar the rabbits in an enclosure and on a multicolored blanket

4-bunny bunch joins an even bigger family

Ash, Basil, Cedar, and Denali are in good company in their new home: a bustling fa...
Read how they're a hit with everyone
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Person running the Grand to Grand Ultra

Runners accept ‘ultra’ challenge to save dogs and cats

To this trio of animal lovers, raising funds for Best Friends by running the Grand...
Support their efforts
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Emma Dean the mama horse eating or drinking from a trough, next to Marina her foal

14-hour rescue of a stranded mama horse and baby

When rising water levels at Lake Powell marooned a mare and her filly, it took tea...
Read about their rescue plans A, B, and C
Best Friends Magazine
RoiLie the dog running in his wheelchair

Big love for little dog with wheels

An injury changed RoiLie’s life, but his huge personality and a whole lot of love ...
See him in his home
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Smitty the pig walking down a ramp following the training ball on a stick

Fun and games for pigs

Did you know pigs are super smart? School’s in session at Best Friends Animal Sanc...
Learning is easy ... with the right incentive
Best Friends Magazine
Shadow the dog with two people petting him

How adopting a dog changed one man’s life

Shadow’s life was saved when he came to Best Friends as a puppy, and he’s been bri...
Read their story
Best Friends Magazine