Best Friends Animal Sanctuary: What to Know Before You Visit
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is one of the largest and most well-known animal sanctuaries in the United States, located in Kanab, Utah. If you're considering a visit or want to understand what the sanctuary does, there's real value in knowing how it operates, what to expect, and what distinguishes it from other animal-focused organizations.
What Best Friends Animal Sanctuary Actually Is
Best Friends is a no-kill animal rescue and sanctuary — meaning animals admitted to the facility are not euthanized due to age, illness, behavior, or lack of space. The organization focuses on shelter, rehabilitation, and long-term care for animals that are difficult to place, have been abandoned, or have special needs.
The sanctuary itself is a physical 3,700-acre facility where animals live in naturalistic settings. It's open to the public for tours and visits, which makes it distinct from some rescue operations that exist primarily to facilitate adoptions without public visitation.
The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and funds its operations through donations, visitor fees, merchandise sales, and grants. This financial model is important to understand because unlike commercial pet stores or breeding operations, the sanctuary's revenue is tied to its mission, not to the number of animals moved or bred.
How the Sanctuary Model Differs from Other Animal Organizations
To understand Best Friends' position in the broader animal sanctuary landscape, it helps to see how different types of organizations serve animals differently:
| Organization Type | Primary Function | Typical Animal Stay | Visitor Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional shelter | Temporary housing, adoption placement | Days to months | Limited or none |
| No-kill rescue | Long-term housing without killing policy | Months to years | Varies widely |
| Animal sanctuary | Lifelong care, naturalistic living | Life of animal | Often public |
| Breeding operation / pet store | Animal sales and profit | None | Commercial |
Best Friends sits in the animal sanctuary and no-kill rescue overlap. While many rescues operate from foster homes or small facilities, Best Friends maintains a large, permanent property designed to house animals in conditions that aim to reflect their natural behaviors and social needs.
What Animals Are at Best Friends
The sanctuary houses a diverse population, including:
- Abused and neglected dogs and cats (the largest population)
- Rabbits, guinea pigs, and small mammals from surrenders and rescues
- Birds including parrots and other species
- Horses and farm animals from cruelty cases or neglect situations
- Wildlife in some cases, depending on legal and facility capacity
The animals typically come from:
- Owner surrenders
- Cruelty investigations and law enforcement seizures
- Partner rescues with overcapacity
- Strays with medical or behavioral challenges
- Animals deemed unadoptable by other facilities
Not every animal at Best Friends came from dire circumstances — some are healthy, young, and adoptable. The sanctuary maintains adoption programs for animals ready for homes.
The Visitor Experience and What to Expect
If you're planning to visit, the sanctuary operates as a tourist destination alongside its rescue mission. Visitors typically:
- Pay an entrance fee to access the grounds (costs vary and should be verified directly)
- Take self-guided or guided tours through different animal habitats
- Interact with some animals in designated areas
- Learn about the sanctuary's mission through signage and educational programs
- Shop at on-site gift stores where proceeds support animals
The experience is designed to be accessible to families, but it's also a working facility. Animal care and medical treatment take priority over visitation, which means some areas may be closed or animals may not always be visible.
Adoption: How It Works and What It Involves
Best Friends operates an adoption program as part of its mission. Important distinctions exist between visiting and adopting:
Adoptable animals at the sanctuary are available for placement, though the process typically involves:
- An application and home visit or reference checks
- Adoption fees (which vary by animal type)
- Medical care already provided by the sanctuary
- Ongoing support from the sanctuary after adoption
Not all animals are adoptable. Some have behavioral or medical needs that make sanctuary care their permanent, most appropriate home. The sanctuary makes these assessments based on the animal's wellbeing and safety.
Adoption timelines vary. Unlike a pet store transaction, sanctuary adoptions prioritize matching rather than speed. Some animals may be available immediately; others require evaluation periods.
Funding, Sustainability, and Business Model
Understanding how Best Friends operates financially helps clarify what it is:
The sanctuary is entirely mission-driven, not profit-driven. Revenue sources include:
- Visitor admission fees
- Donations from supporters
- Grants and institutional funding
- Sale of merchandise and educational materials
- Adoption fees
This contrasts sharply with:
- Pet stores, which profit by selling animals
- Breeding operations, which prioritize offspring production
- For-profit rescues, which may prioritize volume over individual animal welfare
The nonprofit model means operational decisions are constrained by mission alignment and financial sustainability, not shareholder returns. This typically results in slower growth and greater financial volatility than commercial operations, but also removes profit incentives that can conflict with animal welfare.
Key Variables That Shape Your Experience or Involvement
Whether Best Friends is right for visiting, adopting from, or supporting depends on factors including:
- Your travel location — Kanab, Utah is remote; visiting requires planning
- Your interest in the cause — Whether the sanctuary's mission aligns with your values
- Adoption fit — The type and needs of animals you're willing to adopt
- Donation capacity — Whether supporting a large organization fits your giving goals
- Time availability — Tours can take hours; facilities are weather-dependent
Common Questions About Best Friends' Operations
Is it a legitimate nonprofit? Best Friends is registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and is tax-deductible. Verifying current nonprofit status through public databases is always reasonable.
Do animals suffer because of no-kill policies? This is a values-based question. The sanctuary's position is that animals are cared for long-term even when unadoptable, rather than euthanized. Different people weigh quality-of-life assessments differently, and this organization's approach is one perspective among many in animal welfare.
Can I volunteer? Many sanctuaries, including Best Friends, offer volunteer opportunities. Requirements, availability, and roles vary, so current volunteer information should be verified with the organization directly.
How is it different from a zoo? Zoos typically maintain animals for education and conservation breeding; many house animals that wouldn't otherwise be in that region. Best Friends houses animals primarily due to rescue, neglect, or inability to live in the wild — the driving force is rescue, not education or breeding.
What to Evaluate for Yourself
If you're considering involvement with Best Friends, whether as a visitor, adopter, or donor, the landscape includes real choices:
- Visiting sanctuaries versus other wildlife experiences carries different appeals and costs
- Adopting from a large sanctuary versus a local rescue involves different processes and support structures
- Supporting large national organizations versus local rescues involves different scaling questions and personal connection factors
The right choice depends on your values, location, practical ability, and what matters most to you in animal welfare support. Best Friends represents one significant model; understanding how it works helps you make informed decisions about whether and how you engage with it.