« zion national park: the circle of life! | Main | bryce canyon driving tour! »
Tuesday
May242011

volunteering at the best friend's animal sanctuary! 

Best Friend's "No Kill" Animal Sanctuary was started back in 1970 by 22 loving, dedicated, risk-everything-for-a-dream group of friends who envisioned a refuge where animals could live their lives in a comfortable, loving environment, safe from harm and cruelty. In 1982, these dreamers pooled their resources and bought 3,000 acres of breathtaking high desert canyon in the wilds of Southern Utah, now known as Angel Canyon – home to the most beloved sanctuary in the world. It truly is a remarkable story of love and triumph.

While the number fluctuates, BFAS is home to roughly 2,000 animals from all over the country. Everything from horses, pot belly pigs, bunnies, sheep, birds, cats, dogs, reptiles – you name it, it's probably there! Many of them need just a few weeks of special care before they’re ready to go to good new homes. Others, who are older and sicker, or who have suffered extra trauma, find a home and a haven there, and are given loving care for the rest of their lives. 

With a $40 million working annual budget each year, donations are crucial. With no federal funding, it's the personal donations that keep BFAS running. Second to their success is the 9,000+ volunteers that dedicate their time each year to socialize, feed and help care for the animals. While some of the animals are unadoptable, due to old age, medical conditions, etc, most ARE adoptable and that is the #1 goal of BFAS – to find good, safe, nurturing homes for their loving pets. BFAS has 70-80% adoption rate sanctuary wide, due in large part to the dedicated volunteers that help socialize the animals making them more family ready. 

I've always been impressed with Best Friend's noble, grass roots message. The slaughter of defenseless animals should not be tolerated ever. Through rehabilitation and education, change can happen. Their "No more homeless pets campaign" is a model others follow. 

I spent the day in the Bunny House and so far it's been the highlight of my trip! I fed, changed all their water and played with the bunnies for hours (helps socialize them!). Bunnies are the number three most neglected, abandoned, euthanized animal behind cat and dogs. Breaks my heart. So many adults buy bunnies for their kids, then the kid becomes disinterested and they release the bunny outdoors! Bunnies are prey animals - all bunnies. Releasing a domesticated bunny into the wild is the same as giving the little guy a slow death sentence. Horrible. 

The operations of this facility are on such an immense scale. The dog compound alone goes on for 50 acres! There is so much love and intelligent, thoughtful caring that goes into each and every animal from their diet to their training. I could go on for days but you need to see this place first hand to grasp the magnitude of love that fills the air. 

Best Friend's is in the heart of 2 National Parks: Bryce and Zion. Plan a tour and better yet, plan to volunteer one day while you're vacationing here. I promise you will thank me. I am soooo in love with the bunnies I can't stop smiling every time I think of them. I so badly want to take Cali home with me, but I don't think living in a camper with a chihuahua is a suitable living arrangement. My application would most likely be denied. 

BTW: ALL of these bunnies are up for adoption! Do your research and if you think you can give one of these beautiful little creatures a good home, please do! Cali and that floppy eared goof ball were my absolute favorites (but they were all so cute). After your application is approved, all animals are only $60 to adopt! Btw: Cali has a little mangled ear from when she was attacked. You can see it in the photo. :(

 

On the left, such a sweet bunny! And on the right, I'm being greeted by the most adorable goof ball! 

 

"Take me home! Please!"  LOVE CALI (on right)! She came out and kissed my hand as soon as I walked in!

This bunny is so outrageously dopey and cutel!! LOVE LOVE LOVE him!!

Dinner time! Look at these two little beggers sitting like dogs!! So freakin' cute I can't take it!!


Hand feeding the bunnies!! Oh my goodness I love them so much. 

TO MAKE A DONATION! CLICK HERE!

LEARN MORE! CLICK HERE! BESTFRIENDS.ORG

MORE BUNNY PICS, CLICK HERE!

EmailEmail Article to Friend

Reader Comments

There are no comments for this journal entry. To create a new comment, use the form below.

PostPost a New Comment

Enter your information below to add a new comment.
Author Email (optional):
Author URL (optional):
Post:
 
Some HTML allowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong>