Sanctuary Stories

Three kittens playing with a colorful wand toy

Swift teamwork saves kittens with a deadly virus

When kittens at a local shelter suddenly became critically ill with panleukopenia, collaboration with Best Friends and a quick response saved the day.
Coming together to save lives
Feature
Forest the cat on the ground with other cats

Once-scared cat overcomes much to enjoy golden years

It took a lot of TLC to get Forest to come out of his shell — and then veterinary care to save his life.
He's doing better than ever
Feature
Adored the cat with her head and two front paws overhanging the corner of the area she's lying on

Helping a cat feel absolutely Adored

From scared to snuggly, this tangerine tabby has come a long way.
Now instead of running away, her purr motor revs up
Feature
Petey the cat with Emily kneeling next to him

Faces of No-Kill: Befriending a fractious feline

Petey was frustrated with people and not afraid to show it — until he got specialized medication and a caregiver earned his trust. Now he’s in a new home.
A family for a finicky feline
Feature
Rosita the dog with her new family, sitting outside on green grass

Faces of No-Kill: Loving a dog who has limited time

A senior dog with inoperable cancer, Rosita has her ups and downs — but her family makes sure her tail never stops wagging.
Meet this 'foster win'
Feature
Two cavies, nose-to-nose

Cavy curiosities: Meet our new wild friends

Learn about Hip and Hup the cavies, two unique new residents at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
Starting their jobs with Wild Friends’ educational program
Best Friends Magazine
Dixon the tabby and white cat lying on a lap

Faces of No-Kill: Cat thrives after FIP treatment

Dixon’s FIP diagnosis once might have spelled the end, but after taking part in clinical trials for a treatment, her future is looking bright.
Read about his lifesaving medical care
Feature
Jules and Lannister the dogs playing together, each holding opposite sides of the same stick with their mouths

The right roommate helps calm anxious dog

Lannister loves making friends, but his nervous energy can be a lot for other dogs — until he met Jules.
See how they enjoy each others company
Best Friends Magazine
Atkins the white dog in front of a group of people when moving into the Shipley Dog Lodges

Announcing the Shipley Dog Lodges

A nod to the future through the experiences of the past
Celebrating a place designed to celebrate dogs with behavior challenges
Julie Castle Blog
Pumpkin the cat wearing an autumnal colored bow surrounded by fall-colored leaves

Pumpkin the cat celebrates his season

It’s autumn now, and you know what that means: the perfect time for Pumpkin.
Who needs pumpkin spice when you have Pumpkin the cat?
Feature
Frankie the dog in the lap of a person who is reading "101 Dalmatians" to him

Deaf dog loves story time

Even though he can’t follow along with his ears, Frankie loves it when people read to him.
It's fun for everyone
Best Friends Magazine
Ruthie the dog with three people (two in military uniforms) in front of a large vehicle

Faces of No-Kill: 3-legged dog earns her military stripes

Ruthie went from a scared, injured puppy in a shelter to bringing joy to combat veterans who defuse bombs for a living.
She's loving her therapy dog training
Feature
Julian Lin and Julie Castle sitting by one another, each with cats in their laps

Young entrepreneur brings generosity to adoptable pets

After his lemonade stand was robbed, 8-year-old Julian Lin visited Best Friends Animal Sanctuary to meet CEO Julie Castle.
Read about his trip of a lifetime
Feature
Person wearing a hat reaching down to feed some watermelon to a pig in a small yellow pool

A pool party just for pigs

Pigs at the Sanctuary make a splash and have a blast at a summertime soiree just for them.
Check out the fun
Video
A person and dog in a green canoe on the water in front of a rock overcropping

Dogs find treasure at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

Photo essay explores dogs taking a dip in waters rumored to hide ancient riches and how they end up discovering something even better.
Is Montezuma’s gold hidden at the Sanctuary?
Feature