Our Animals

The Last Best Place for Animals (LBP4A) has been a safe haven for over 50 animals since the sanctuary opened its gates in 2012. Each animal who has called LBP4A home has come to us with their own story. As their advocate, we hope to celebrate and honor their individual personalities by sharing their lives with you.

Running Free

There is such joy in watching the horses run free, knowing they are cared for and trusting that they feel safe by witnessing their behavior.

The transformation from arrival can sometimes be astonishing.

Snow-covered trees lining a snow-blanketed road with a wooden fence on the right side, under an overcast sky.
Three horses running in a snowy field near a small building with hills in the background under a cloudy sky.

Steers

  • Astro

    Astro

    Astro was raised in the Helena valley on an adjacent farm. Although promised to a buyer, when his fellow pasture mates were being slaughtered, Astro decided he wasn’t going to participate. He jumped the farmer’s fence and a few more in between until he found himself in one of Andrea’s pastures. Surrounded by the steers she had at that time, his fate changed when she negotiated his freedom with the farmer. He has been a permanent resident of the sanctuary ever since.

  • A young black calf walking on a grassy field with a pink ear tag.

    Jed

    Jed originally belonged to sanctuary board member, Rainy Martin. As a calf he was given to her for her birthday, but as he grew, he became more and more difficult to restrain. And even though he was living with Rainy on a ranch with lots of horses and dogs, he was lonely. Jed joined the other residents of LBP4A in 2018.  With room to roam and a couple of BFFs, he is a much happier bovine.

  • Colossus

    Colossus

    Colossus came to the sanctuary as a four-year-old when Andrea saw an advertisement in the Helena Classifieds. Having been hand-raised, he was docile and friendly but large.  His owner could no longer keep him but did not want him going to slaughter. He came to live at LBP4A in 2018. He’s a “love bug” who enjoys being brushed.

Mini Mule

  • A brown miniature horse standing on dirt ground at a farm, with a black goat nearby, and fencing, green fields, and mountains in the background.

    Thistle

    Thistle is the lone mini mule at the sanctuary, but he doesn’t seem to know that. Thinking he’s a horse, who he doesn’t recognize are twice his size, he’s right in there with them occasionally nipping, kicking out, and generally acting tough. Although he can be stand-offish, his aloofness is a cover-up for shyness; he isn’t at all prickly like his name would suggest. He enjoys apples and has seriously bonded with Maddy, becoming her virtual shadow.

Horses

  • Ragnar

    Ragnar

    Ragnar is a former Amish buggy horse in his late 20s. Despite his age, he is a youngster at heart easily getting the herd wound up with his mischief-making playfulness. Having been a work horse, he’s now free to give full rein to his spunky personality.

  • A brown horse with a black mane standing in a fenced outdoor area with green trees and some farm equipment in the background.

    Magnus

    Magnus was adopted from a kill pen in Oklahoma. With his bobbed tail and draft horse physique, he probably pulled a cart in his younger years. Now in his mid- 20s, this gentle giant is affectionate and remarkably patient with Thistle when the mini mule tries to push him around.

  • Owen

    Owen

    ​​Owen is the herd’s alpha. Adopted from Sunnyside Feed Lot in Washington State, he keeps his pasture mates in line with a mellow and equable demeanor. There’s a story behind his tattered ear if only he could talk. Attentive, he also shows interest in the other animals at the sanctuary as well and gets along with all of them.

  • Charlotte

    Charlotte

    Charlotte arrived at the sanctuary with the personality of a hand-raised foal. Without a mom to teach her some boundaries, she was spoiled and pushy. Benefiting from the other horses who have helped her acquire some manners, she no longer acts out. And now that she is in her mid-teens, she’s blossomed into a valuable herd member.

  • Madeline

    Madeline

    Madeline (aka Maddy) started life as a wild Mustang on the Yakama Indian Reservation located in southern Washington State. Adopted from a kill pen, she joined the gang at LBP4A in 2018. Although very shy, she’s a smart, sweet girl who has acquired a shadow in the form of Thistle who will not let her get far from his view.

  • Lumi

    Lumi

    Lumi is the only resident of the sanctuary that opened her eyes for the first time to the beauty of the Helena valley. Lulu, her mom, was adopted from a kill pen in time to give birth to her. Born into instant sanctuary, Lumi is the herd darling - sweet and spoiled.

  • Hauser

    Hauser

    Hauser is a tall and skinny Thoroughbred, not quite fast enough for the racetrack but fast enough to join Ragnar’s antics of frisky troublemaking.  A giant “goof ball,” Hauser is never far behind.

  • Ruby

    Ruby

    Ruby was born on a ranch near the highline and came to LBP4A as a yearling. Regal in stature, she’s extremely affectionate and sweet-tempered. A leg deformity prevents her from all-out running, but she will quicken her pace when apples are on offer.

Pigs

  • Cute piglet with black and white spots, sitting on hay bedding inside a wooden enclosure.

    Evan

    Evan joined the sanctuary from River’s Wish Animal Sanctuary in Spokane. Raised from a baby, his owners did not want to slaughter him. Despite his size (approximately 500 lbs) he’s very laid back and sweet.

  • A piglet standing on dirt ground with a black feeding bucket on its side, near a wooden pig shelter in a fenced outdoor area.

    Olive

    Olive, with a mind of her own, is the lucky product of a 4-H project unable to be completed due to the pandemic putting the program’s annual auction on hold. Olive’s owner ended up keeping her. But as Olive continued to grow, she became impossible to contain, running around the neighborhood and causing havoc. So LBPA offered the sassy pig a home.

  • A small piglet sitting on dirt, with mud on its face and closed eyes.

    Cooper

    Cooper was originally a city pig. Like many Vietnamize Pot-belly pigs, he started out as a pet and was trained. For treats, he will sit and twirl (not at the same time). As he grew larger, he became destructive, wearing-out his welcome.  He joined LBP4A from a sanctuary in Spokane. He’s very aimable and curious with a big personality.

  • Young pig lying on hay inside a barn with wooden walls.

    Dean

    Dean is also a Vietnamize Pot-belly that started out as a pet but ended up in an animal shelter when he, too, became an adult with a mind of his own. These days he’s “chill” – gentle and sweet. Shyer than Cooper, Dean likes the quiet of his corner in the barn.

Goats

  • A black goat with white horns standing on dirt ground

    Elmer

    Elmer is the stately patriarch of the herd with the horns to prove it. He is often aloof, mostly because Boulder pushes his way to the front of any gathering, but the older goat is definitely the “big daddy.” Possessing a goat-ish kind of self-confidence, he isn’t threatened by the “kid” practicing his leadership skills.

  • A close-up of a brown goat with short fur, standing on a dirt floor inside a barn or pen.

    Boulder

    Boulder is the self-appointed boss of the gang and the rest of them just let him think that. Endlessly curious, he’s a super sweet personality although he can be a little greedy with treats. He and Granite arrived together from River’s Wish Animal Sanctuary in Spokane.

  • Goat with a white and black coat and a long white beard standing outdoors on dirt ground with a wooden fence in the background.

    Granite

    Granite is Boulder’s sidekick, frequently deferring all decisions to his close buddy. With blue eyes and beautiful markings, he lives up to his name, truly resembling granite.  He is also bursting with curiosity and sweetness. He loves a good laugh and can often be spotted sporting an Elvis Presley forelock.

  • A baby goat with white and black fur standing in an outdoor farmyard next to a hay bale and a plastic fencing, with a house and trees in the background.

    Abby

    Abby is the only girl in the gang; she joined the sanctuary in 2024 as a baby. Petite and very affectionate, she’s playful and interested in everything. She has learned to hold her own with the boys and can butt heads with the best of them.

  • A goat standing inside a wooden enclosure.

    Cocoa

    Cocoa also joined the herd in 2024 and is the spitting image of a Swiss Alp’s goat from the book “Heidi.” He is magnificently handsome with brown eyes and black markings and a beard of which Charles Dickens would be envious. He is very friendly and loves to play “king of the mountain.”

Roosters

  • Close-up of a rooster with vibrant, spiky feathers and a red comb.

    Prudentius

    Prudentius’ story is a case of mistaken identity. Thought to be a female as one of the many chicks popular at Eastertime, he grew up to be a rooster. Probably of the Polish breed, he is handsome in all respects, sporting brilliant rust and black feathers with iridescent green speckles and a hairstyle in homage to Roderick Usher.

  • Close-up of a rooster with black feathers, red comb, bright yellow beak, and yellow wattles.

    Rudy

    Rudy (aka Rude Man) is so named because when he first arrived at LPF4A he was very aggressive in his attempts to rule the yard. As time has passed, he has mellowed-out, and his bravado is more for show now - posturing for an attack and then slowing down to give the offending foot a harmless peck.

  • A white rooster with a red wattle standing in a field of greenery and plants.

    Elbie

    Elbie (LB) is a Bantam and a victim of abandonment, a trend that increased during the covid shutdown. Rescued from Barnmeyer Trail near Pattee Canyon in Missoula, he is likely another case of mistaken identity - thought to be a female as a chick that turned out to be a male. An excitable and happy bird, his MO is to give one final crow in the evening before being put to bed.