Sanctuary Stories

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Little dog was sick and shut down at the shelter, but his foster mom helped turn things around

Little shelter dog, with nubby tail and underbite, is treated for heartworm and mange and is now feeling better and being fostered.
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Heckin’ good doggos and cats werk the runway at Best Friends

Heckin' good pupperinos and pretty kitties werk the runway at Best Friends during epic photo shoot that inspires derps, mlems and borks.
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Volunteer couldn't work with kittens, so she made them over a hundred toys instead

Volunteer Marilyn Mott designs and sews handmade catnip mouse toys for cats and kittens at Best Friends.
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Shelter transformation inspired by one incredible dog

Best Friends dog training workshop helps Ivins Animal Shelter Adoption Center and Santa Clara-Ivins Animal Control in Utah with difficult dogs.
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Spunky kitten with cleft palate beats the odds

Neonatal kitten with cleft palate gets special feedings through a tube at the Best Friends kitten nursery. He is now being cared for in a foster home.
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Woman falls for feral dog and shows him how great love can be

Providing love, patience and understanding, woman fosters and then adopts a feral dog found roaming wild on a ranch in California.
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Vicktory dog Layla has passed away, but her memory lives on

Vicktory dog Layla, rescued from Michael Vick's dogfighting ring, died in June 2019. Her forgiving spirit lives on in all who knew and loved her.
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Falling in love and letting go: Why fostering pets is so rewarding

One of the producers of National Geographic's "Animal ER Live," Darcy Dennett spends months at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and fosters a cat.
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How a handful of animal lovers changed the world for homeless pets

On 35th anniversary of founding of Best Friends, Francis Battista reviews how the simple idea that homeless pets shouldn't be killed gained momentum.
Best Friends Magazine
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Thanks to babyproofing, this fragile cat doesn’t have to live in a bubble

Cat with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a genetic fragile skin condition, has a baby-proofed room, nail caps and collar to keep her from hurting herself.
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Adopting a 15-year-old dog is one of the best decisions this family ever made

Family's love for the senior 15-year-old dog they adopted from Best Friends Animal Sanctuary has not waned, and they continue to honor his memory.
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People thought this cute little dog was mean, but he was just afraid of everyone

People thought this reactive little dog was mean when he barked, lunged and bit, but he was just scared. Read more of his story.
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Father-daughter volunteer trip to Best Friends

In honor of Father's Day, read an interview with Dave and Amanda Giroux who took a father-daughter volunteer trip to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
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Cat used to hide in the rafters, but is so much braver now

Introverted cat who used to hide in the rafters at the Sanctuary is adopted by a woman who allows the kitty to adjust and open up at her own pace
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These animals are serious about one thing — snacks.

Enjoy funny and endearing pictures of animals, including kittens, parrots, a dog, pig and even a desert tortoise, snacking on their favorite foods.
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