Sanctuary Stories

Ash, Basil, and Cedar the rabbits in an enclosure and on a multicolored blanket

4-bunny bunch joins an even bigger family

Ash, Basil, Cedar, and Denali are in good company in their new home: a bustling family farm where they’re never lonely.
Read how they're a hit with everyone
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Person running the Grand to Grand Ultra

Runners accept ‘ultra’ challenge to save dogs and cats

To this trio of animal lovers, raising funds for Best Friends by running the Grand to Grand Ultra will be just as important as finishing the race.
Support their efforts
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Emma Dean the mama horse eating or drinking from a trough, next to Marina her foal

14-hour rescue of a stranded mama horse and baby

When rising water levels at Lake Powell marooned a mare and her filly, it took teamwork and ingenuity to get them to safety.
Read about their rescue plans A, B, and C
Best Friends Magazine
RoiLie the dog running in his wheelchair

Big love for little dog with wheels

An injury changed RoiLie’s life, but his huge personality and a whole lot of love keep him going strong.
See him in his home
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Smitty the pig walking down a ramp following the training ball on a stick

Fun and games for pigs

Did you know pigs are super smart? School’s in session at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, and pigs are star pupils.
Learning is easy ... with the right incentive
Best Friends Magazine
Shadow the dog with two people petting him

How adopting a dog changed one man’s life

Shadow’s life was saved when he came to Best Friends as a puppy, and he’s been brightening peoples’ lives around him ever since.
Read their story
Best Friends Magazine
Baby owls after they've matured in rehabilitation

Bringing up orphaned barn owls

Wild Friends welcomes two groups of baby barn owls who had been separated from their parents.
Read how they've thrived
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Pharaoh the dog on a sand dune with a toy in his mouth

Helping an anxious dog is all fun and games

A bored Pharaoh is a stressed Pharaoh, so his friends are always coming up with ways to entertain him.
See Pharaoh in action
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Two foals and two mares running

First frolicking foals born at Best Friends

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary just welcomed a trio of tiny trotters, and everyone is falling in love.
Meet the babies
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Johnny the little tabby kitten

Kitten comes back from the brink

Johnny was unresponsive when he arrived at Best Friends, but now he’s either playing or cuddling with his feline BFF.
Watch the video
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Precious the black and white cat

Paralyzed cat has sweet spirit that can’t be stopped

Life for Precious hasn’t always been easy or kind, but she never fails to find something to purr about.
Read about her progress
Best Friends Magazine
Shenzi and Bonsai the puppies sitting outside on some sand

Puppy sisters shine after beating parvo, distemper

Shenzi and Bonsai survived two life-threatening diseases, and now they’re finally getting to enjoy puppyhood.
Life is now all fun and games
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Gertie and Prima, a horse and her foal

Three rescue horses just had babies

For the first time in Best Friends Animal Sanctuary history, foals were born at Horse Haven.
Watch the video
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Ethel and Skylar the pigeons in a carrier being held by Kyle and Naomi

Pigeon pair land a pair of pigeon people

After being adopted, Ethel and Skylar are living in a pigeon paradise and getting comfortable snuggling up to their new people.
Now they live lives of luxury
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Ken wearing a cowboy hat and holding Minnie the dog in his lap, sitting on a boulder in front of a river

Life of adventure for a dog who couldn’t be left behind

Minnie left the Sanctuary for a life full of adventure with her new family.
Read about her travels
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