Sanctuary Stories

Gavin Spencer in bed on a sleepover with his arm around Blair the dog in a hug

Wish comes true for boy who loves animals

Make-A-Wish visit to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is filled with dogs, cats, pigs...
His unique experience
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Brooke the pig next to a piglet

Celebrating animal moms and ‘aunties' at Best Friends

A piggy big sis, doting mares, a stuffed animal owl: These are a few special ‘bonu...
Motherhood transcends species
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Tabby and white cat in a home setting

Sunny pet adoption updates to brighten your day

Read all about 100-pound dog zoomies, playful puppy antics, and a super-charged ca...
Read about the new families
Best Friends Magazine
Katy Bentz in a room in Cat World

Livestreaming for homeless pets

Learn how video game actor Katy Bentz got into livestreaming to raise funds for an...
Learn about her motivation
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Best Friends co-founder Jana de Peyer doing a workshop outside with another person and a horse

Dreamers who do (for animals)

Best Friends offers courses and support to people wishing to start animal sanctuar...
Learn about our accredited university course
Best Friends Magazine
Magenta the dog lying on a couch with her mouth smiling with her tongue out

Dedicated mama dog saves another puppy as blood donor

After her own trio of tiny tots went on to their new homes, mama Magenta took care...
She's a hero
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Waltz the brown tabby cat lying on a multicolored blanket

Cat goes from hissy to happy once he’s feeling healthy

With dental disease and a brewing FIP diagnosis, it’s understandable Waltz was sta...
He's a changed man
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Marvin the cat in a carrier with a person lying on the floor beside it with a cat on her back

Community rallies to set cat on road to recovery

Marvin was alone, underweight, and in very bad shape — but with help, he’s getting...
His cry for help was answered
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Sébastien in a wheelchair with Theophiel the cat in his lap and another cat stretching up to them

Faces of No-Kill: Head injury can’t stop this kitten

Found stumbling and disoriented, Theophiel’s story had a scary start, but things t...
Life is good for Theophiel
Best Friends Magazine
Vintage photo of Sharon St. Joan holding a bird of prey with cliffs and a beautiful sky in the background

Looking back: How Best Friends’ Wild Friends began

For orphaned and injured wildlife, Wild Friends is a place to recover before retur...
The history of Wild Friends from Best Friends co-founder Sharon St. Joan
Best Friends Magazine
Group of Southwest Airlines Southwest Animal Transport Team (SWATT) members holding puppies beside the open door of an airplane

Rescuing animals, one flight at a time

The SWATT program has been creating rescue-friendly skies through Southwest Airlin...
A great resource for homeless pets
Best Friends Magazine
Cobra the English bulldog with a smiling person behind him and a toy ball in front of him

Familiar ‘Fido’ faces at Best Friends

Dogtown hosts dogs of all shapes and sizes, including purebred and “designer” dogs...
Some of these faces may surprise you
Best Friends Magazine
Winter and Abbott the dogs inside with a bucket and raised bed in the background

Best friends at Best Friends: A real dynamic doggy duo

Meet Abbott and Winter, a couple of sweet senior dogs with a surprising past....
Now they're best buds
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Miles the kitten in his cart

Faces of No-Kill: Kitty gets kicking with care and a cart

A kitten alone by the side of the road dragging his back end, Miles needed help fa...
Physical therapy is working wonders
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Yazh the puppy in here dog wheelchair, with her mouth open in a smile

Survivor puppy shows big love for life

A bullet wound left Yazh paralyzed in her hind end, but she didn’t let it slow her...
Her foster home now provides consistency and routine
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