What Best Friends Animal Society is and where to find them
Best Friends Animal Society is a nonprofit animal shelter and sanctuary based in Kanab, Utah. Unlike shelters that operate in most cities and counties, Best Friends runs a single large facility — the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary — where they house and care for animals. They also run adoption programs, spay and neuter clinics, and animal behavior services at that location and through partner organizations in other cities.
The sanctuary itself sits on 3,700 acres in southern Utah and holds thousands of animals at any given time. Best Friends does not operate neighborhood shelters in your city the way municipal or county shelters do. If you want to adopt from Best Friends, you either visit the sanctuary in person or work with one of their adoption partners in your area. You can search their website to see which animals are available and whether any adoption partners near you have animals from Best Friends.
Best Friends is funded by donations, not by tax dollars. This means they do not have the legal obligation that municipal shelters have to hold stray animals for a set number of days before making decisions about their future. They can choose their own policies about intake, length of stay, and outcomes for animals.
Key Takeaways
- Best Friends Animal Society operates a single large sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, not neighborhood shelters in your city.
- You can adopt animals from Best Friends by visiting the sanctuary in person or through adoption partners in your region.
- Best Friends runs spay and neuter clinics and behavior services, some available through partner organizations outside Utah.
- As a nonprofit funded by donations, Best Friends sets its own policies on animal intake and length of stay rather than following municipal shelter rules.
- You can search their website to see available animals and find adoption partners near you.
How to adopt an animal from Best Friends
If you want to adopt directly from the sanctuary, you travel to Kanab, Utah, and visit in person. Best Friends does not conduct remote adoptions or ship animals. You can browse their website before you go to see which animals are there, but you will need to meet the animal face-to-face and complete paperwork on-site to take it home.
The adoption process includes an process, a conversation with staff about your home and lifestyle, and a fee. Best Friends staff will discuss whether a particular animal is a good match for your situation. If you are not ready to travel to Utah, you can work with an adoption partner in your state or region. These are separate organizations that partner with Best Friends to place animals in homes. Your local adoption partner will have their own process and fee structure.
Best Friends also maintains a waiting list for animals that are not yet ready for adoption — for example, animals that need medical treatment or behavior work first. If you fall in love with an animal that is not yet available, you can ask to be notified when it is.
Spay, neuter, and medical services Best Friends offers
Best Friends runs spay and neuter clinics at the sanctuary and through partner clinics in other states. These services are low-cost or reduced-cost depending on your income and location. You can contact Best Friends or search their website to find a clinic near you and learn about their pricing and how to book an appointment.
The sanctuary also provides medical care to animals in their care, including emergency treatment, surgery, dental work, and long-term management of chronic illness. This is part of their shelter operations, not a service open to the public. However, Best Friends publishes information about animal health and behavior on their website that you can read for free.
Behavior and training support
Best Friends employs animal behaviorists and trainers who work with animals at the sanctuary. They also publish guides and videos about animal behavior, training, and socialization that are free to read and watch. These resources cover topics like introducing cats to each other, helping fearful dogs, and understanding rabbit body language.
Best Friends does not offer remote behavior consulting or training for animals you own. Their behavior team works with animals in their care at the sanctuary. If you need help with an animal's behavior, you can read their free resources or contact a local trainer or veterinary behaviorist in your area.
How Best Friends differs from your local animal shelter
Your city or county animal shelter is usually run by a government agency and funded by tax dollars. It is required by law to hold stray animals for a minimum number of days (often five to ten) while the shelter tries to locate their owners. Best Friends, as a private nonprofit, does not have this legal obligation. They can choose their own policies about how long to hold animals and what outcomes to pursue.
Your local shelter typically handles animal control — responding to loose animals, animal bites, and cruelty reports. Best Friends does not provide these services. Your local shelter also usually has animals available for adoption in your neighborhood, while Best Friends animals are in Utah or available through their adoption partners.
Best Friends focuses on long-term care and rehabilitation. Many animals at the sanctuary stay for months or years while they receive medical treatment, behavior work, or straightforward time to decompress. Your local shelter, by contrast, typically aims to move animals through the system more quickly — either back to owners, into adoption, or to rescue organizations.
Donating to Best Friends and volunteering
Best Friends accepts monetary donations through their website. You can give a one-time donation or set up a recurring monthly gift. Donations support the sanctuary operations, animal care, spay and neuter clinics, and behavior programs.
Best Friends also accepts volunteers at the sanctuary in Kanab. Volunteers help with animal care, cleaning, feeding, socialization, and other tasks. You can explore through their website to volunteer. Most volunteer positions require you to be on-site in Utah for a set period — typically a few days to several weeks, depending on the role.
Finding a local shelter or rescue if Best Friends is not the right fit
If you are looking for an animal to adopt and Best Friends is not convenient, your city or county animal shelter is usually the fastest option. Search online for "[your city] animal shelter" or "[your county] animal control" to find the facility nearest you. Most shelters have websites showing available animals and adoption hours.
You can also search for breed-specific rescues or general rescue organizations in your area. These are nonprofits that focus on particular types of animals or breeds. A search for "[breed name] rescue near me" or "[animal type] rescue [your state]" will show you options. Rescue organizations often have animals available for adoption and may offer behavior support or medical care as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I adopt an animal from Best Friends without visiting Utah?
You cannot adopt directly from the sanctuary without visiting in person. However, Best Friends has adoption partners in many states. Search their website to see if a partner organization near you has animals available. These partners handle the adoption process locally.
How much does it cost to adopt from Best Friends?
Adoption fees vary by animal and location. The sanctuary charges a fee for animals adopted directly there. Adoption partners set their own fees. Contact Best Friends or your local adoption partner to learn the specific cost for the animal you are interested in.
Does Best Friends take in stray animals like my local shelter does?
Best Friends does not operate as a stray animal intake facility. If you find a stray animal, contact your city or county animal shelter or animal control. They are responsible for handling lost and found animals in your area.
Can I volunteer at Best Friends if I do not live in Utah?
Most volunteer positions at the sanctuary require you to be on-site in Kanab. Some roles may allow short-term or seasonal volunteering. Check their website for current volunteer openings and requirements, or contact them directly to ask about options that fit your situation.
Does Best Friends help with behavior problems in animals I already own?
Best Friends publishes free guides and videos about animal behavior and training that you can read and watch. They do not offer remote consulting for your own animals. For personalized help, contact a local trainer or veterinary behaviorist in your area.