Flightless Bird Best Friends: Animal Cult
Jan 6, 2026
Jared Garrett, a former member of the controversial Process Church, shares his childhood experiences growing up in a cult that eventually transformed into Best Friends, a prominent animal rescue organization. He recounts the cult’s bizarre practices, including raising German Shepherds and community living under neglectful conditions. Jared also reveals shocking details about how he and other children helped build the Utah sanctuary. The conversation dives into the group's mysterious past and its transition from a religious cult to a leading animal welfare organization.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Kids Built The Sanctuary
- Jared says children around 13 worked long, unpaid days digging trenches and building facilities at the Kanab site.
- He calls it child labor and notes the official Best Friends history omits those two decades.
Rebrand Erased Religious Roots
- Best Friends officially rechartered as a 501(c)(3) in 1995 after ending its religious charter.
- That legal pivot erased explicit religious identity while retaining many founding people and structures.
The Hidden 'Lake House' Temple
- Jared describes the Lake House as a temple-like building meant for worship that became leaders' residence.
- He says visitors won't hear about it on tours despite its prominence on the grounds.