Training and Enrichment Stories

Starling the cat interacting with the Handy Hank artificial hand

Meet Handy Hank, a helping hand for shy cats

With the help of a special training tool, a shy cat named Starling is learning tha...
A touch of confidence
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Kenneth the cat affectionately rubbing heads with Brian another cat

The one-cat welcoming committee

Kenneth helps other shy felines like him feel comfortable at Best Friends Animal S...
Helping other shy cats shine
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Marge the dog holding a ball in her mouth outside in front of a person

Faces of No-Kill: One smart cookie of a dog

Marge fills her days at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary with nose work, stick “redec...
Approaching every day with exuberant joy
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Bubba the cat sniffing Jesse the caregiver's face

Faces of No-Kill: Cat goes from swats to purrs

At Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Bubba learned that humans can be friends — a les...
Learning love, then finding it
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Bebe the dog hiking outside on a leash

Shy dog’s confidence blooms in foster home

Once wary of the world, Bebe’s journey shows how patience, trust, and friendship c...
Foster home provides life-changing impact
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Salt Water Taffy the cat licking a treat from a lickable cat treat

Faces of No-Kill: Treats help cat unwrap her sweet side

Salt Water Taffy was painfully shy, but her caregivers had a secret weapon to help...
Yummy incentive
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Vesuvius and Max the cats

Love leads the way for 2 shy cats

A big-hearted cat shares his bravery with a shy friend, one baby food jar at a tim...
A love story, Sanctuary style
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Mai Tai the dog under a blanket with his mouth open smiling with his tongue out

Faces of No-Kill: A dog’s security blanket

One dog shows how patience, trust, and a growing blanket collection can change eve...
His world's now cozier
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Luz the dog wearing a bandanna and necklace below some Valentine's hearts

Small acts of love for the animals this Valentine's Day

At Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, one dog shows how the smallest moments can be th...
Love’s little ways of showing up
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Link and Marble the cats outside on a sidewalk on leashes

Adopted cats harness adventure together

Seeing two cats stroll by on leashes might make neighbors do a double take — but i...
Now, the sidewalk is their catwalk
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Person walking white husky dog at the Sanctuary

A howling good time at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

For the dogs of the Sanctuary’s Dogtown, nothing beats a trail walk filled with wa...
Footsteps toward the future
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Grog the cat's head, backlit by the sun

The cat who climbed down for friendship

Grog watched from the security of a high perch for quite a while at Best Friends A...
Trust, one spoonful at a time
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Hilo the husky running outside in the snow

Faces of No-Kill: Dog’s journey from guarded to goofy

Hilo’s big personality and bigger heart are proof that with time and trust, even t...
He's even become a role model
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Gray and white cat looking intently at a Christmas tree

Why cats love Christmas trees and how to keep them safe

Learn from Best Friends cat behavior expert Samantha Bell why many cats are obsess...
Set your cat up for success
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Dog licking a whisk

Baked goods for some good dogs

A spoonful of kindness, a handful of treats, and a whole lot of wagging tails are ...
Tasty new volunteer opportunity is for the dogs
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