Sanctuary Stories

Annie and Coco the donkeys playing with a large ball with a person watching

Two mini donkeys, one big glow-up

A little patience, a lot of heart, and a few sweet treats at Best Friends Animal S...
Double the cuteness
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An older Emma the dog with her family in a vehicle

Remembering Emma, a truly special dog

Adopted from Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in 2010, Emma spent 15 years bringing j...
Loving tribute to beloved family member
Best Friends Magazine
Prairie Dawn the dog outside

Steps forward for a dog who once chose distance

With treat games and story time, Prairie Dawn is learning at Best Friends Animal S...
Trust, one spoonful at a time
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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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Notorious B.U.N. the rabbit outside in flowers

Springtime buzz at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

At the Sanctuary, the season of renewal brings fresh energy, new lives, and quiet ...
Fresh starts into lasting change
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Shiro the husky in the snow

Second chance for a pup with brucellosis

At Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Shiro is receiving top-notch veterinary care, pl...
Loving life in his home-between-homes
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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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Dr. Erin Katribe assessing Sadie the cat

Best Friends’ own named shelter veterinarian of the year

A national honor recognizing Dr. Erin Katribe’s work in shelter medicine.
She’s shaping the field in real time
Julie Castle Blog
Liz Tran lying beside Sage the dog, who is licking her face

Adoption update: The tail wag that wiggled one dog home

Sage gathered a collection of fans — and stuffies — at Best Friends Animal Sanctua...
A full-on love connection
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Volunteer Karin Hamilton massaging Rudy the horse

Listening between the lines with horses

Volunteer Karin Hamilton uses equine massage to help horses at Best Friends Animal...
Healing through stillness
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Cranberry the rabbit looking through a red tunnel toy

Cranberry for Easter? This bunny says yes

Celebrate springtime by learning what it takes to care for a rabbit like Cranberry...
She's ready to go on her next adventure
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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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Lutron the tiny kitten on an aqua blanket

Faces of No-Kill: A tiny kitten’s big comeback

Lutron the kitten could barely stand when he arrived at Best Friends Animal Sanctu...
Kitten finds his feet
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