By Jack BeresfordShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberA Utah shelter hosted a special Thanksgiving dinner for its dog residents, in memory of a beloved rescue pup who is no longer with us.
For the fifth year in a row, hundreds of adoptable dogs at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab were treated to a gourmet Thanksgiving feast complete with all the canine-friendly trimmings.
This year’s dinner was a little different to those previous efforts, though—the meal was paid for by a generous donor, who did so in memory of her beloved tripod rescue dog Jack.
No expense was spared when it came to the meal itself, with the shelter enlisting staff at Kanab’s Sego Restaurant to prepare the feast.
It all amounted to a “Dogsgiving” to remember for the shelter’s residents. Sego’s team spent almost a full day transforming approximately 700 pounds of ingredients into an elaborate, dog-friendly meal prepared without salt, sugar, or spices.
It was then down to shelter staff to spread a little Thanksgiving cheer among the kennels by passing out servings to several hundred adoptable dogs who eagerly awaited the feast.
...By the end of it all, it was hard to tell who was having a better time.
Julie Castle, CEO, Best Friends Animal Society, says both she and everyone else associated with the work they do believe in the importance of including our four-legged friends in the annual Thanksgiving celebrations.
“Our pets are our family, so they deserve to be included in our Thanksgiving traditions,” Castle told Newsweek. “As long as we keep them safe and away from foods that could be harmful, it’s a wonderful way to show how grateful we are for the love they give us all year.”
Looking back over the course of another busy year, Castle believes the Best Friends Animal Society has plenty to be thankful for in 2025. “At the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary we’re thankful to care for 1,600 animals—from horses and bunnies to dogs, cats, and owls,” she said.
“Currently, two out of every three shelters in America are no-kill and all of us at Best Friends Animal Society are grateful to our 5,550 shelter and rescue partners across the country, as well as our supporters, who are helping us work toward a future where no pet is ever killed simply because they don’t have a safe place to call home."
...When it comes to enjoying Thanksgiving at home, in the company of a pet, the Best Friends Animal Society offers four key pieces of advice: don’t feed your dog scraps, never give them a bone from dinner, be vigilant of pets around toxic ingredients like chocolate and onions and, finally, make sure to close the front door to avoid any pets escaping out into the cold.
Above all else, they would simply encourage everyone to celebrate the day in the company of friends and family—both human and four-legged.
Request Reprint & LicensingSubmit CorrectionView Editorial & AI Guidelines
Add Newsweek as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.Recommended For You
PetsShelter Dog Enjoying Day Out Has Saddest Reaction When Realizing He’s Back3 min read
Rescue and AdoptionAbandoned Dog Takes Shelter Under Woman’s Car, Tears at What Comes Next4 min read
PetsTears at Face of Foster Dog Sleeping Inside a House for the First Time3 min read
Rescue and AdoptionRescue Dog Finally Leaves the Shelter, His Reaction Is Everything3 min read
Rescue and AdoptionDog Heartbroken As She’s Returned To Shelter She Was Adopted From Years Ago3 min read
PetsHearts Break As ‘Sweetest’ Shih Tzu Is Dumped at Park With All of His Stuff3 min readRelated Podcasts
Top Stories
NewsSarah Beckstrom, Andrew Wolfe Identified as National Guard Shooting Victims7 min read
NewsUncommon Knowledge: Trump, Biden and the Real Record of Afghan Vetting5 min read
NewsWinter Storm Map Shows Areas Possibly Getting Hit for Thanksgiving3 min read
National Guard Shooting Suspect Worked With CIA, Director Says4 min read
WorldUkraine War Live Updates—Russia Praises Trump ‘Realism’, Putin Promises Allies New Weapons2 min read
PoliticsJD Vance’s Chances of Being 2028 GOP Nominee Plunging: Polls5 min readTrending
New York8 Million Inflation Refund Checks Sent Out Ahead of Thanksgiving4 min read
WeatherWinter Storm Warning As 20 Inches of Snow To Hit: ‘Life-Threatening’4 min read
Live BlogThanksgiving Winter Storm Live Tracker, 2,000 Flights Delayed, Up To 3 ft Of Snow Expected1 min read
DogsAfter 2 Days at Daycare, German Shepherd’s Return Goes Viral: ‘Never Again’3 min read
Live BlogDC Shooting: Two Shot National Guard Members and Suspect Pictured—Live Updates2 min readOpinion
OpinionConventional Wisdom: The Anti-Thanksgiving Edition3 min read
OpinionHow to Remain Grounded and Thankful Amid the Chaos5 min read
OpinionThis Thanksgiving, Affordability Isn’t Just About the Turkey. It’s Everyday, Every Bill, Every Choice | Opinion4 min read
OpinionINTERPOL Must Not Elect One of Its Chief Abusers As Its Next President | Opinion4 min read
OpinionWhy We Care About Turkey Costs | Opinion5 min read
