Sanctuary Stories

Person wearing Best Friends sweatshirt walking Willow the mule on a lead

U.S Forest Service mule coasts into retirement

Willow worked for two decades, and now she’s soaking up the sweet life without res...
Retirement suits her well
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Edna the poodle wearing an orange bandanna standing between a person's legs

Blind miniature poodle pup blossoms in foster home

Edna is wobbly, blind and had severe trauma reactions that seemed like seizures, b...
See how she's blossomed
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Jake the dog lying on a multi-colored parachute

From at-risk dog to therapy pet in training

Jake was on a shelter’s euthanasia list before coming to Best Friends, but in his ...
Read about his new career
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The baby hummingbird on a branch next to some flowers

Baby hummingbird flies free

A tiny, orphaned bird gets a second chance at Best Friends...
Her road to recovery
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Sansa the dog outside while it's snowing

8 adoptable big dogs destined to be influencers

Instagram is the spot for charming characters, exciting adventures and good-time g...
Meet these picture perfect pups
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Elvis the dog next to Mary inside her house

Anxious hound loves his R & R

Life can get overwhelming for Elvis, but sleepovers with friends ensure this hound...
Elvis' practice for a home of his own
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Person sitting on a bench while Bear the dog lies in her lap

6 large, lovely lapdogs

If they fit, they sit....
Have lap? Will sit!
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Best Friends co-founder Celeste Fripp with a shepherd dog

Celeste Fripp, a woman who could do it all

Remembering and paying tribute to a Best Friends co-founder...
Honoring her memory
Julie Castle Blog
A hand reaching down to pet the mama cat with the kittens in the foreground

Cat family finds help at a local construction site

When construction workers spotted a litter of newborn kittens in the middle of the...
Read about the team effort
Best Friends Magazine
Emma hugging Archie the dog in the back seat of a vehicle

Happy tails from big dogs in their new homes

...
Big dogs get big love
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Baby wild rabbit with very large ears

Helping a baby cottontail get back on the bunny trail

This wild baby rabbit was found with signs of neurological trauma, but with help f...
See his improvement
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Leanne Parker smiling and holding Stannis the cat on her shoulder

Diabetic senior cat finds his place in adopter’s lap

When Leanne visited the Sanctuary, she said she had a good home for a cat with spe...
Read how they're both adjusting
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Boba the snake on the back of Brianna's neck

5 remarkable reptiles at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

Have you ever heard of a snuggly snake? How about a ticklish tortoise? Well, the S...
Meet some Wild Friends residents
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Stormy Shafer holding Abby the Siamese cat

Two blind cats, an RV and a happy life

After a difficult goodbye to her blind cat of 17 years, Stormy’s life and RV are a...
Learn about their life on the road
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Midas the dog on a couch with two kids

A story of love and learning with an anxious dog

When Lou adopted a strong malamute-husky mix named Midas who had bounced between h...
See how love makes it work
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