Kanab, Utah - Visiting Best Friends Animal Sactuary

Every summer, during the month of July, my mom and I make our annual trip to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. We stay for a few days, volunteer in Dogtown, laugh until our stomachs hurt, have sleepovers with dogs from Dogtown, hike in the beautiful southern Utah terrain, love on as many dogs as we can, and then leave Kanab while uncontrollably sobbing knowing how much we will miss all of our new friends. It is such a wonderful experience. It seems only fitting that my dog blog starts with Best Friends, truly my home away from home.

It all began in 2009, our very first trip to Best Friends.

My Mom and I had become hooked to the TV show Dogtown, and the two of us decided that we had to see Best Friends for ourselves, and were inspired to become volunteers at the sanctuary. Best Friends animal sanctuary is a no-kill shelter that "is home on any given day to about 2,000 dogs, cats, and other animals, who come from shelters and rescue groups around the country for special care they can only receive at Best Friends" (bestfriends.org). We had learned from the show of all the amazing efforts that Best Friends makes on a daily basis to save and rescue dogs. Best Friends sent a crew to help save animals after Hurricane Katrina, they were the ones that saved the Michael Vick dogs while acknowledging that all dogs deserve a fair chance, they continuously are fighting to end puppy mills, and their number one mission is to create a world where there are "no more homeless pets."

From the first day I was there I learned truly how dedicated they are to their mission, and how many dogs at the sanctuary would not have had a second chance on life without them.

This is Mickey, a special needs dog with the heart and integrity of a puppy. Since our visit in 2009 he has found his forever home.

Cabby one of the most precious yellow labs that you will ever meet. She enjoyed the night with us as our sleepover pal. She was excited just to have a comfy bed to lay on right next to the air conditioning. When you walk into Cabby's octagon at the shelter there is no doubt that everyone that has ever met her has absolutely fallen in love. They told us she had a barking problem, but we only saw the peaceful quiet side of Cabby. She is now becoming an old girl, 10 years old, and she is still awaiting her forever home.

Momma Theresa is a dog that on any other day would be found with her ball in her mouth, but not on this day. Momma T came to best friends with a horrible skin condition, and Best Friends was able to rehabilitate her. However, after enduring the long recovery she found that her ball was her security blanket. She was the sweetest girl ever, and I am happy to say, and with tears in my eyes, that Momma T finally found her forever home.

Debo came to best friends after being hit by two diesel trucks near town. His owner brought him in with a broken back and a broken jaw and then never returned for him again. But, the Debo that I met was full of love and perfect on the leash. He was a true lover and a dog that will always be in my heart. Debo is now living comfortably in his forever home.

Pinky Bear- "There's no way I am going to let you just fill up my bath. I want to play. Spray me. Please." Pinky Bear was an absolute love bug, and what she really wanted on that hot summer day was some fun in the cool water. We didn't get the chance to have Pinky Bear as a sleepover buddy on this trip but the news on the streets was that she is a fantastic sleepover friend. I hope that she will find her forever home soon, but until then maybe some more volunteers will come by with the hose for some afternoon fun.

Best Friends, along with many other no-kill shelters, has helped reduce the number of animals that are killed each year in shelters by euthanasia across the United States. According the Best Friends' website in the 1980's nearly 17 million animals were being killed in shelters by euthanasia, today that number has dropped to "3 to 4 million." Best Friends was founded on the belief that "kindness to animals builds a better world for all of us."

The Facts:

• Approximately 5 million to 7 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year, and approximately 3 million to 4 million are euthanized (60 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats). Shelter intakes are about evenly divided between those animals relinquished by owners and those picked up by animal control. These are national estimates; the percentage of euthanasia may vary from state to state.
• According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP), less than 2 percent of cats and only 15 to 20 percent of dogs are returned to their owners. Most of these were identified with tags, tattoos or microchips.
• Twenty-five percent of dogs who enter local shelters are purebred. (Source: NCPPSP)
• Only 10 percent of the animals received by shelters have been spayed or neutered. About 75 percent of owned pets are neutered.
• The majority of pets are obtained from acquaintances and family members. About 15 to 20 percent of dogs are purchased from breeders, and 10 to 20 percent of cats and dogs are adopted from shelters and rescues. (Source: Ralston Purina and NCPPSP)
• More than 20 percent of people who leave dogs in shelters adopted them from a shelter. (Source: NCPPSP)
• Five out of ten dogs in shelters and seven out of ten cats in shelters are destroyed simply because there is no one to adopt them.

(ASPCA.org)

Please adopt and never buy, and always spay or neuter your pets. Your best friend is just awaiting their forever home.