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An Unexpected Visit to
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
By Tamara Sevigny
It’s a long five hour drive to the Grand Canyon through Arizona from Las Vegas, but that’s exactly what we were looking for, my sister and I, this past April… An adventure through the desert, down Old Route 66, through the "towns" that consisted of nothing more then a building or two, maybe a house here and there and the vast desert, red rocks and stretches of land in-between.
The canyon was amazing, I’m sure I don’t need to mention that. It was after we left the canyon and headed further up north towards Utah to visit Zion through the sand hills of Arizona and into Southern Utah when we stumbled upon Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
It happened when we decided to stop in Kanab for the night. We drove through the town, the largest town we had seen in days, when I spotted a sign "Best Friends Animal Sanctuary 5 miles." I couldn’t believe it. "We’re going there," I told Krista. A half a day was a big sacrifice in our short 5 day trip but there was no way I was missing out on this. I had heard so much about Best Friends, but never realized it was right here in canyon country. It was ‘in Utah somewhere’; somewhere I’d never go….
We bunked in at the Perry Hotel and headed to Angel’s Canyon first thing in the morning. Little did I know that we could have stayed right in the sanctuary that night. They offer lodging on site for the tens of thousands of visitors and volunteers that come there every year.
We hopped on a tour bus after a short video and learned quickly that Best Friends was a special place. The tour took us through Angel’s Canyon, home of the sanctuary, down the curvy dirt roads surrounded by wildlife, beautiful red rock landscapes and many happy animals. The adorable cartoon animal road signs led us around to different areas of the sanctuary and the many buildings that house so many unwanted animals that come there from all over the country.
We were surprised to find out it sits on over 33,000 acres and homes as many as 2,000 animals at any given time. Most of the animals there are dogs and cats, but there are also horses, birds, rabbits, goats and an assortment of other animals.
The sanctuary is typically at capacity but with a 75% adoption rate they usually find room for those who would otherwise be put down. Most of the animals there come from other shelters who don’t have the resources to rehabilitate troubled or sick animals. In exchange they take those who are ready for adoption.
There are 500 inquiries a week that come in from people looking for help with an animal or looking to relinquish a pet. Best Friends responds to them all, even though they are typically at capacity. They offer all the help they can and try to help people resolve any problem they might be having that would cause the pet to lose it’s home in the first place.
The sanctuary employs about 400 people, including 4 full time veterinarians in their state of the art veterinary hospital right on site and various other professionals who offer the animals expertise for any possible problem they might have. There are training, fitness, rehabilitation and physical therapy centers as well as wildlife rehabilitation and ongoing care for those who can’t be released or adopted.
I was surprised that so many visit Best Friends. As many as 20,000 people go there each year. Many for a "vacation", they stay on site and spend their time volunteering with the animals. I quickly learned why. Best Friends is nothing like your ordinary shelter. It really is a sanctuary. The animals are happy. The facilities are really very clean, with no stench, as you might expect with so many animals living together.
In fact, the volunteers are a huge part of the success of Best Friends. They brush the horses, play with and care for the cats, walk the dogs, etc. They even take the dogs who are ready on "Doggy Sleepovers", which is required as part of a dog’s rehab before he can qualify for placement.
Best Friends started as a small group of people in the 1970s in Arizona who rescued animals who would otherwise be put down. They would rehabilitate those they could and offer a home for those left. Their efforts grew and so did the amount of animals. So in the 1980s they established this unique sanctuary in Southern Utah. Since then they continue to grow and continue to save thousands of animals and educate many more humans.
I think what amazed me most were all the aspects of Best Friends. Not only are they a shelter and home for so many, but they also run so many other programs. They want to help not only the animals, but humans. They do so through education. They offer seminars, workshops, publish a magazine, help with organizing foster and adoption programs and they also have low cost spay and neuter clinics for the public. The entire place is more then a sanctuary, it is a little village. There is a vegetarian cafeteria that offers generous meals complete with coffee and dessert for only $4. They have bunk houses, lodging and a little gift shop.
Best Friends always welcomes visitors and volunteers. Your well behaved pets are also welcomed. Only an hour from Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park and even the North Rim of the Grand Canyon you will find Angel’s Canyon the perfect vacation spot.
Best Friends is a place for those pets who don’t have homes. Once they are at Best Friends they will never be unhappy again. I get the feeling that the same goes for the humans there too.
For more information on Best Friends visit www.BestFriends.org where you will find an abundance of information, ways to help and donate, plus chat forums and even shopping. You can also call 435-644-2001.
With a minimum donation of $25 you will receive a 1-year subscription to Best Friends Magazine.
The book "Best Friends: The True Story of the World's Most Beloved Animal Sanctuary" by Samantha Glen is available at www.Amazon.com for $10.20.
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