Sanctuary Stories

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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Honey and Hambone the dogs looking at each other nose-to-nose

Timid dog and her new family help each other heal

Honey was shy and shut down when she came to the Sanctuary, but in her new home with a new dog friend she’s learning it’s OK to relax and be herself.
Read about life her her new home
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Karigan the dog with a cast on one leg behind a bookshelf next to a smiling person sitting in an office chair

Dog found on highway survives, thrives, and goes home

Karigan was barely alive and couldn’t move after likely being hit by a car, but after lifesaving care and surgery, she’s thriving in her new home.
Now she's living her best life
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Tilly the sulfur-crested cockatoo with wings outspread and head cocked to the side

Wallflower cockatoo blossoms into dancing king

Tilly was shy when he arrived at the Sanctuary, and after trying everything to get him to open up, caregivers found his true love: ’80s women pop artists.
See him move to the groove
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Dolly the calico kitten on a blue blanket playing with a rainbow colored fleece toy

From tongue to tail, kitten thrives after trauma

Dolly was in rough shape — covered in ticks, incontinent, with sores on her tongue — but now she is feeling fine and even using the litter box on her own.
Read about her recovery
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