My Visit to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

Exactly one year ago, Glogirly was given an opportunity of a lifetime. She and a small group of other writers and bloggers were invited to visit the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in a magical place called Angel Canyon in Kanab, Utah. We're thrilled to share her story again with new friends and readers, as well as those that followed her travels last year. This is the first of a three-part series originally published in June, 2016. We hope it touches your heart as much as it has left a forever footprint on hers.

Kindness.

Kindness for all living things. It's what brought a group of 31 idealistic people with a dream together a little over three decades ago. It's what created the world's largest no-kill animal rescue organization in the world. It's 3,700 majestic acres of the Utah landscape Best Friends has appropriately named Angel Canyon. It's what connects a family of over 1,500 Best Friends Network Partner organizations across the country. And it's about a common goal. Save Them All.

There are just so many words to describe my experience visiting the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah for the first time. So many, I find myself almost speechless. How do you describe something so beautiful, so inspiring, so moving, you physically feel it in your heart? How do you describe something that for reasons you can't explain, brings you to tears yet fills you with joy?

If I had to choose just one word, it would be Kindness.

The Best Friends Experience: Part One
Welcome to the first of three chapters of my Best Friends experience. Katie and Waffles are taking the day off and turning the blog reins over to me (Glogirly) for the first time in the eight year history of our little cat blog. Don't worry, they'll be back to their usual antics in no time, that is once they forgive me for taking almost a thousand photos of something or someone other than them. I hope you enjoy this as much as I've enjoyed sharing. And I hope Best Friends touches you as they've touched me.

It Gets Inside You
I can't believe it was only a week ago that I was returning home from my visit to Best Friends. As much as I love to travel, often the best part of a trip is coming home. Please don't tell Katie & Waffles, but this trip was very different. I didn't want it to end. One of the new friends I made, Barb, who has what many would call a dream job working for Best Friends and living just steps away from Angel Canyon told me that the coral sand gets in your veins. Those that visit Best Friends find it nudges it's way inside of you. It stays with you and draws you back. I believe her. And I know I'll be back.

Horses and Rabbits and Cats, Oh My!
The sanctuary is home to all kinds of animals. Horses, pigs, goats and birds. Cats, dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs. They've been abandoned, abused or surrendered. Some just cast away. Even wild animals in need of rehabilitaion. If we knew every detail of each animal's history our hearts would be forever broken.

Best Friends appreciates and celebrates the individuality and potential of every single animal. Their ultimate goal is to prepare each animal to be successfully adopted into a loving home. And to stay in that loving home, forever.

Learning How to Be
Some animals need to learn how to just 'be'... and Best Friends totally gets that. A dog that has been abused, or known nothing but fear, may not even know how to be a dog. An orphan foal without a mother to show him the way, needs a mentor horse to teach him how to be a horse. Allowing each animal to learn, at their own pace, that humans are not to be feared but rather are safe, fun and loving is at the core of their mission.

This is one of the things that inspired and impressed me the most. It's not just about saving a life, it's about preparing an animal for a lifetime of happiness and love in a real home. It's about doing what's right for that animal.

Named for a Prince
Just minutes after we arrived at Best Friends we were witness to something truly remarkable. This little orphan foal was taking his first steps outside in the sunshine. He was surrendered to Best Friends after his mother had rejected him. He needed to be bottle fed and had not been in the presence of another horse. The only humans he'd seen were his care givers. Born on the day the world lost Prince the musician, it was clear what this miracle foal's name would be.

What a sight to see. He was introduced to Feather, an adult mini horse, so he could begin to learn how to be a horse. Feather flipped onto her back and rolled around in the dirt. Moments later, Prince copied her and did the same thing. As he gained more and more control of his gangly legs he began to run around the corral. It was pure joy and a rare moment I'm grateful to have been a part of.

A Potbelly Paradise 
Just down the path from Horse Haven sits Marshall's Piggy Paradise and a sweet spot for some handsome and inquisitive goats.

The potbelly pigs were hilarious and full of personality. They purred like cats when we rubbed their tummies and Roxy, the big flirt above, had a LOT to say. Sadly, many people unknowingly adopt these cute pigs from dishonest breeders that mislead them into thinking they'll never get to be much larger than a small dog. 400, 500, even 700 pounds later, they're abandoned or surrendered. Best Friends works incredibly hard to find new forever homes for these delightful creatures and despite the challenges, they do indeed get adopted. Meanwhile, they live a very happy pig life of mud baths, healthy food, exercise and lots of love.

While most of the goats were more interested in soaking up the sunshine, there was the cutest of 'kids'  that thought he'd make a great tour guide and followed our every step. The beautiful and natural environments the animals live in provide them the highest quality of life possible. Clean, spacious with plenty of enrichment and loving care that lets them be the animals nature intended them to be.

The Loudest Bird in the World
Best Friends' Parrot Garden is home to some of the most exotic and vocal  birds in the world. I had no idea the Cockatoo was the loudest bird in the world! Based on my meeting with this spirited guy in the photo, I would have to agree! I've never been up close and personal with these incredibly intelligent birds before and it was fascinating. I met a parrot with a vocabulary of 370 words who could laugh like a human. I met bonded pairs that love and rely on each other so much they can never be separated. They are smart, full of personality and absolutely beautiful.

But they are also in peril. Many can live up to 100 years of age! That means many of them have been through a number of homes over the course of their lives. They need a lot of attention and mental stimulation. Many come to Best Friends with special needs and Parrot Garden provides a beautiful light-filled tropical environment with plenty of social stimulation, healthy food and veterinary care to help them rest, heal and thrive.

Welcome to Puppy Preschool 
It's impossible to have a litter of puppies crawling all over you and not giggle yourself silly. One of the most fun three hours of the trip was Puppy School. This adorable litter of puppies had never experienced any people outside of their care givers before. We were their first! Our job was to simply have fun, socialize with them, let them explore our cameras and us... all in order to teach them than humans (and humans with big cameras) are safe and fun.

It's all a part of Best Friends goal of preparing each puppy for the most successful, happy and healthy life possible with their new forever family.

And if all that wasn't enough fun already... we took the whole litter on their very first walk outside. This was the first time they'd even had a collar on. It was puppy-chaos at 100mph! And so much fun my cheeks are still sore from smiling and laughing.

Care Giving & Compassion
From Horse Haven to Dog Town, Parrot Garden to Bunny House, the love and compassion the care givers show the animals is unending. They know each one by name. They know what makes then tick. They speak their language. Nowhere was this more clear than with the bunnies. The sweet young woman caring for them understood their unique needs and was passionate about their predicament. Some were abandoned to fend for themselves, which is impossible for domesticated rabbits. Others were victims of excessive breeding or hoarding. They're so adorable, many people think they're a perfect pet for a child, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

Did you know that a bunny can get pregnant at only two weeks of age? And when they give birth, it's often to as many as 15 bunnies at a time. Repeat, repeat, repeat. It's an overpopulation epidemic.

Bunny House was peaceful, calm and quiet. For the most part the bunnies make no noise at all. They're some of the most gentlest creatures on earth and the same could be said for their care givers.

Next Up... 
Part 2 -  CAT WORLD
Please join us for an inside look at the beautiful cats of Best Friends and what it's like for them as they prepare and wait for forever homes:  CATS of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
Part 3 - Where Angels Rest
Easily the most moving part of my experience was a visit to Angels Rest, the final resting place for those Best Friends who now fly with the angels: Where Angels Rest



See the Entire Gallery of Photos
There's SO much more to see! I'd like to invite you to view my entire gallery of Best Friends photos.
Here's how:

1. Visit Glogirly on SmugMug
2. Select Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
3. Enter password: SaveThemAll

The best way to view them is to click on Slideshow. Enjoy!


A Destination Vacation With Purpose
Many people and families visit the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary as a vacation. I had the pleasure of meeting a number of people volunteering while I was there that did just that. It's an inspiring and meaningful way to experience the sanctuary, help the animals and enjoy the gorgeous landscape. For more information on how to turn your bucket list wish into reality, visit HERE.

Special thanks to Melissa, Hannah, Barb and the entire Best Friends family for hosting my trip to the sanctuary. You've each touched my heart and have inspired me by the kindness you show each other and the animals in your care.

Where Angels Rest: Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

That moment emotion rushes through you like a swift gust of desert wind. When you reach to brush the sand from your cheeks only to realize those are tears.

This one caught me by surprise.

The photographer and writer in me is constantly looking at angles. Angles for a shot. For that perfect sequence of images that will help to tell my story. And angles to a story that will help me find my words. I was completely unprepared for Angels Rest. The final resting place for sanctuary animals and beloved companions of Best Friends members and staff, it's more than just a cemetery. It's a place of peace and reverence. It's evidence of the love and respect we hold for our pets and for all animals.


The Best Friends Experience: Part Three

Welcome to the third and final chapter of my Best Friends experience. Katie and Waffles have taken the week off and have turned the blog reins over to me (Glogirly) for the first time in the eight year history of our little cat blog. Don't worry, they're busy enjoying sun puddles and bird watching while plotting their next adventure. I hope you enjoy this series much as I've enjoyed sharing. And I hope Best Friends touches you as they've touched me.

The Trail Less Traveled
Our small group of nine set off on a hike through the gorgeous coral sands and red rocks of Angel Canyon, home to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Our guide Cyrus Mejia, one of the original founders of Best Friends, led the way through paths less traveled.

We hiked through ancient lands where signs of people living 1000s of years ago still remained. When the trail led to a fork, we paused and Cyrus told us of a conversation he once had with a rattlesnake. A gentleman's agreement of sorts. There was an easy way and a hard way to negotiate the trail. The snake preferred the easy way. After a few encounters, Cyrus proposed taking the tough route up a steep and rocky incline if the snake would agree to stick to the easy side. And so they came to a peaceful understanding.

We never saw the snake and were very happy to know the snake kept his word.

Angel Canyon's Amphitheater
Just a short distance from the trail head sits an enormous red rock amphitheater with a lush grassy meadow at its base. It's where visitors and staff enjoy concerts and gatherings and it's where Jackson Galaxy was married in 2014.

The acoustics will take your breath away. You can stand on one end of the space and hear someone's voice on the opposite end. The 3,700 acres of Best Friends Angel Canyon is filled with vistas and scenes just like this.

Angels Rest Welcome
As the afternoon drew to a close, we arrived at Angels Rest. Though the hand-forged iron gates (designed by Cyrus) welcome you from the main road, we'd entered through the back from the hiking trail.

Perhaps that's why I never saw it coming.

The grounds are simply gorgeous and took my breath away. Walking paths wind through the space and small markers are placed at each grave. Every single animal is celebrated and honored, both in name and in ceremony. Each month, memorial services are held on the grounds of Angels Rest for those animals who have passed away.

With so much to take in, I was completely focussed on photos. Everything I saw... I just knew everyone would want to see it.

And then Came the Wind
It can be windy in the canyon, but when we arrived it was eerily quiet. Then like someone tapping me on the shoulder, the breeze wafted through the air and the flutter of a thousand wind chimes began to ring. Soft at first, then a concert of notes as the powerful gusts took over.

And it hit me.

The sound of a thousand angels. Those animals who may not have experienced love and compassion in life were loved and respected in death. I cried.

I cried for the souls of the cats who never had their own sofa to curl up on or a human companion to sleep with at night. I cried for the dogs that never had their own yard to play in and the Champions rescued from unspeakable acts. I cried for the young ones who didn't make it and the elders who could wait no longer. I cried for all the animals and their caregivers.

I thought about my mom and dad and how they taught me to love animals both through their actions and words. I remembered every animal from my childhood. Lady, Snoopy, Brandy and Big Red. I remembered the tiny kitten, abandoned in a grocery store parking lot, my mom and I found and rescued when I was 7 years old. I remembered Nicki, the cat who was with me and my dad the night that cancer took my mom from us.

Our sunglasses may have shielded our eyes from one another, but I know for certain that my traveling companions were awash in the same emotions.

Stones of Remembrance

Every grave, every ledge, every surface is adorned with small stones. But it wasn't always that way. Years ago a Jewish family laid their beloved cat, Tzipporah Countess of Calico, to rest. They placed memorial stones on her grave. It's considered a mitzvah (a good deed) to place them on grave sites as a way of honoring the deceased and fulfilling the obligation of kavod hamlet, respect for the dead. 

Forever 

Unlike flowers, stones last for eternity. And like the memory of our loved ones, stones will never die.

It was such a powerful and meaningful message, that people began placing stones on all of the graves. Visitors bring stones to remember those companions they have lost. Some are shiny and luminous as precious gems, some inscribed with messages of love and remembrance.

My Sanctuary experience has left an indelible mark on my heart and my soul. This place, it's a celebration of the living and of those we've lost. Many rescue workers come to Best Friends each year to recharge and reflect. Rescue fatigue can be debilitating. Working in the trenches and witnessing the daily suffering of animals can take it's toll. Best Friends is a place where like minded people can come together to give, to love and to heal.

Together we can #SaveThemAll.

Memorials

Each of those wind chimes are a memorial for someone's beloved pet. In addition placements, granite markers, dedication plaques and flagstones can all be arranged ordered. Visit Best Friends Angels Rest for more information.

Catch Up with Parts One & Two
If you missed our first post earlier this week, there's plenty of time to catch up.
Post One: Visiting Best Friends Animal Sanctuary Introduction
Post Two: Best Friends Cat World

See the Entire Gallery of Photos
There's SO much more to see! I'd like to invite you to view my entire gallery of Best Friends photos.
Here's how:

1. Visit Glogirly on SmugMug
2. Select Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
3. Enter password: SaveThemAll

The best way to view them is to click on Slideshow. Enjoy!

Special thanks to Melissa, Hannah, Barb and the entire Best Friends family for hosting my trip to the sanctuary. You've each touched my heart and have inspired me by the kindness you show each other and the animals in your care.

Visiting Best Friends Sanctuary: CAT WORLD

Love.

If I had to sum up my visit with the cats, volunteers and care givers of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary's Cat World, it would have to be Love. My prayers answered would mean forever homes for every single one of the 550 beautiful cats that Best Friends cares for in their 11 kitty-comfortable and well-appointed cat houses. But if you're a cat waiting to be adopted or getting help to become adoption-ready, this is the place to be. 

It's so peaceful. There's a calming energy present that reminded me how important it is to slow down and appreciate the small and the subtle. I was on such a high, arriving at the sanctuary and taking everything in. From the ruckus of the chatty parrots to the boundless energy of puppies on their first walk, it was like a marathon for my animal-loving senses. But when I walked into Benton House, the original and first cat building on the sanctuary grounds, everything slowed down. It was like I'd found my zen.

Benton House is home to many of the special needs cats at Best Friends. I quietly entered one of the five cat rooms, each home to anywhere from 10-15 cats, and sat down on the floor. One by one, the cats came over to check me out, say hello and take a peek at the big camera I was toting. 

Saying hello back is something you have to take slow. But gaining trust came easy. The cats reminded me of the importance of taking the time to enjoy the simple things. Neck scritches, head butts, soft and gentle conversation. 

And love.

The Best Friends Experience: Part Two
Welcome to the second of three chapters of my Best Friends experience. Katie and Waffles are taking the week off and turning the blog reins over to me (Glogirly) for the first time in the eight year history of our little cat blog. Don't worry, they'll be back to their usual antics in no time, that is once they forgive me for bringing home cat hair of every color. I hope you enjoy this series much as I've enjoyed sharing. And I hope Best Friends touches you as they've touched me.

Catio Heaven
Each of the 11 houses, has about five individual cat rooms where a group of cats who, for the most part, get along reside. The spacious rooms all have places to sleep, climb, scratch, play, hide, look out the windows, eat, drink use the litter box. And each of these rooms has it's own catio.

The catios, shown in the above photos, are glorious. The cats can enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the outdoors in a safe and stimulating environment. Some can even catch a passerby leaf or lizard through the mesh walls.

The climbing structures are made from repurposed wood used to build some of the first structures on the sanctuary ground and provide a perfect path up into the rafters where a kitty super-highway awaits.

The Super Highway
Way up high in the rafters of each catio is a network of ledges and runs for the adventurous cats as well as a place for some to just get away from it all. The entire time I was there, Jingles the orange boy, maintained his position high atop a carrier secured with bungee cords to one of the upper beams. It was clearly his spot and he could survey the entire area from his perch. Bruce (upper left) was on the move, jumping gracefully from beam to beam and Daisy, (bottom) was busy checking out the girl with the camera.

There was also a litter box, water dish and hidey hole box bungeed to the beams. ...a whole up-in-the-air world for cats that like to get high.

Volunteering is Pure Joy
There are two 3-hour volunteer shifts everyday at Best Friends. People come from all over the country to volunteer, often as part of a family vacation. I met Numi, the sweetest young girl who was volunteering with her mother, Isabelle. They had driven in from Salt Lake City. Their job was to simply socialize with the cats. They were just peacefully sitting on the floor in one of the rooms with cats all around them ...and on top of them. Numi was reading to the cats.

The gift of just being with these beautiful cats was so moving. And Numi's soft voice filled the room with a presence that meant the cats were anything but alone.

Is it Dinnertime?

In addition to socializing, volunteers help out with whatever needs to be done. With so many mouths to feed, there are a lot of meals to prepare and dishes to be done. Each house has it's own washer and dryer for laundry and there's always some scooping to be done too. 

I met a husband and wife from Virgina who make the trip to Best Friends every year so they can volunteer with the cats. They were so gracious to the care givers, the cats and to me. But they are not out of the ordinary. Everyone I met at the sanctuary was so friendly, so full of joy and so in love with the animals.

Hello Slidell

The first cat to greet me when I walked into Benton House was the sweetest little girl with huge green eyes. Slidell is a 5-year-old special needs kitty. Shel can't use her back legs, but they don't cause her any pain or slow her down. She's FIV+ and incontinent, so needs to have her bladder expressed and she also takes some daily medications. She's not a fan of her daily baths, but she always cooperates.

Like all the special needs cats of Benton House, Slidell doesn't know she's any different. She just knows she's a cat.  A beautiful, loving and trusting cat. She just needs the right person to come along and be her 'one.'

Special Needs

Benton House is home to many of the special needs cats at Best Friends. Some are FIV+, deaf, blind, partially paralyzed or incontinent. It absolutely broke my heart to learn that due to tail pull injuries, some of the cats were incontinent and would be for the rest of their lives. 

This is Aaron. He was lounging on top of a cat tree and was right at eye level with me when I walked into the catio. Before I could even say hello, he was greeting me with purrs and head butts, reaching out to me with his paws. He's a lover. He's 4-years-old and is clicker trained to shake hands. He suffers from incontinence so he needs a diet high in fiber and must have his bladder expressed daily. Despite his challenges, he's a happy kitty who loves people. 

Have Stroller Will Travel

Some of the kitties at Best Friends enjoy going for walks, both on harness and leash as well as in strollers. The Meowzers Meander is a beautiful path created just for the cats. It winds through the trees and bushes, connecting many of the cat houses. There's a shaded gazebo with benches for resting in the breeze.

Holly, the beautiful calico girl pictured above, LOVES going outside in her stroller. We went for a stroll and roll so she could smell the sunshine. 

The Lovers Room

One of the things that touched me the most about my time in Benton House was how special each and every cat is to the care givers. They know them all by name, they know their stories, their personalities, and silly little habits. They know who their buddies are and what makes them happy. They do absolutely everything they can to help each cat become ready for adoption, at their own pace and in their own way.

One of the last cat rooms I visited was called the lovers room. All of the cats in this particular room were so affectionate with one another. They groomed each other, exchanged head butts and just stuck together like glue. If two cats have bonded, the care givers make sure that they are adopted together. No exceptions. Just look at Nero and Maisie above.

Next Up: Part 3 ANGELS REST
It's with great emotion that I'll be sharing a very special glimpse into Angels Rest, the final resting place for those Best Friends who now fly with the angels: Where Angels Rest

Catch Up with Part One
If you missed part one's introduction to the sanctuary including horses, pigs, goats, parrots, cockatoos and puppies, you're in for a treat:  Visiting Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

See the Entire Gallery of Photos
There's SO much more to see! I'd like to invite you to view my entire gallery of Best Friends photos.
Here's how:

1. Visit Glogirly on SmugMug
2. Select Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
3. Enter password: SaveThemAll

The best way to view them is to click on Slideshow. Enjoy!


A Destination Vacation With Purpose
Many people and families visit the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary as a vacation. I had the pleasure of meeting a number of people volunteering while I was there that did just that. It's an inspiring and meaningful way to experience the sanctuary, help the animals and enjoy the gorgeous landscape. For more information on how to turn your bucket list wish into reality, visit HERE.

Special thanks to Melissa, Hannah, Barb and the entire Best Friends family for hosting my trip to the sanctuary. You've each touched my heart and have inspired me by the kindness you show each other and the animals in your care.

Visiting Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

Kindness.

Kindness for all living things. It's what brought a group of 31 idealistic people with a dream together a little over three decades ago. It's what created the world's largest no-kill animal rescue organization in the world. It's 3,700 majestic acres of the Utah landscape Best Friends has appropriately named Angel Canyon. It's what connects a family of over 1,500 Best Friends Network Partner organizations across the country. And it's about a common goal. Save Them All.

There are just so many words to describe my experience visiting the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah for the first time. So many, I find myself almost speechless. How do you describe something so beautiful, so inspiring, so moving, you physically feel it in your heart? How do you describe something that for reasons you can't explain, brings you to tears yet fills you with joy?

If I had to choose just one word, it would be Kindness.

The Best Friends Experience: Part One
Welcome to the first of three chapters of my Best Friends experience. Katie and Waffles are taking the day off and turning the blog reins over to me (Glogirly) for the first time in the eight year history of our little cat blog. Don't worry, they'll be back to their usual antics in no time, that is once they forgive me for taking almost a thousand photos of something or someone other than them. I hope you enjoy this as much as I've enjoyed sharing. And I hope Best Friends touches you as they've touched me.

It Gets Inside You
I can't believe it was only a week ago that I was returning home from my visit to Best Friends. As much as I love to travel, often the best part of a trip is coming home. Please don't tell Katie & Waffles, but this trip was very different. I didn't want it to end. One of the new friends I made, Barb, who has what many would call a dream job working for Best Friends and living just steps away from Angel Canyon told me that the coral sand gets in your veins. Those that visit Best Friends find it nudges it's way inside of you. It stays with you and draws you back. I believe her. And I know I'll be back.

Horses and Rabbits and Cats, Oh My!
The sanctuary is home to all kinds of animals. Horses, pigs, goats and birds. Cats, dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs. They've been abandoned, abused or surrendered. Some just cast away. Even wild animals in need of rehabilitaion. If we knew every detail of each animal's history our hearts would be forever broken.

Best Friends appreciates and celebrates the individuality and potential of every single animal. Their ultimate goal is to prepare each animal to be successfully adopted into a loving home. And to stay in that loving home, forever.

Learning How to Be
Some animals need to learn how to just 'be'... and Best Friends totally gets that. A dog that has been abused, or known nothing but fear, may not even know how to be a dog. An orphan foal without a mother to show him the way, needs a mentor horse to teach him how to be a horse. Allowing each animal to learn, at their own pace, that humans are not to be feared but rather are safe, fun and loving is at the core of their mission.

This is one of the things that inspired and impressed me the most. It's not just about saving a life, it's about preparing an animal for a lifetime of happiness and love in a real home. It's about doing what's right for that animal.

Named for a Prince
Just minutes after we arrived at Best Friends we were witness to something truly remarkable. This little orphan foal was taking his first steps outside in the sunshine. He was surrendered to Best Friends after his mother had rejected him. He needed to be bottle fed and had not been in the presence of another horse. The only humans he'd seen were his care givers. Born on the day the world lost Prince the musician, it was clear what this miracle foal's name would be.

What a sight to see. He was introduced to Feather, an adult mini horse, so he could begin to learn how to be a horse. Feather flipped onto her back and rolled around in the dirt. Moments later, Prince copied her and did the same thing. As he gained more and more control of his gangly legs he began to run around the corral. It was pure joy and a rare moment I'm grateful to have been a part of.

A Potbelly Paradise 
Just down the path from Horse Haven sits Marshall's Piggy Paradise and a sweet spot for some handsome and inquisitive goats.

The potbelly pigs were hilarious and full of personality. They purred like cats when we rubbed their tummies and Roxy, the big flirt above, had a LOT to say. Sadly, many people unknowingly adopt these cute pigs from dishonest breeders that mislead them into thinking they'll never get to be much larger than a small dog. 400, 500, even 700 pounds later, they're abandoned or surrendered. Best Friends works incredibly hard to find new forever homes for these delightful creatures and despite the challenges, they do indeed get adopted. Meanwhile, they live a very happy pig life of mud baths, healthy food, exercise and lots of love.

While most of the goats were more interested in soaking up the sunshine, there was the cutest of 'kids'  that thought he'd make a great tour guide and followed our every step. The beautiful and natural environments the animals live in provide them the highest quality of life possible. Clean, spacious with plenty of enrichment and loving care that lets them be the animals nature intended them to be.

The Loudest Bird in the World
Best Friends' Parrot Garden is home to some of the most exotic and vocal  birds in the world. I had no idea the Cockatoo was the loudest bird in the world! Based on my meeting with this spirited guy in the photo, I would have to agree! I've never been up close and personal with these incredibly intelligent birds before and it was fascinating. I met a parrot with a vocabulary of 370 words who could laugh like a human. I met bonded pairs that love and rely on each other so much they can never be separated. They are smart, full of personality and absolutely beautiful.

But they are also in peril. Many can live up to 100 years of age! That means many of them have been through a number of homes over the course of their lives. They need a lot of attention and mental stimulation. Many come to Best Friends with special needs and Parrot Garden provides a beautiful light-filled tropical environment with plenty of social stimulation, healthy food and veterinary care to help them rest, heal and thrive.

Welcome to Puppy Preschool 
It's impossible to have a litter of puppies crawling all over you and not giggle yourself silly. One of the most fun three hours of the trip was Puppy School. This adorable litter of puppies had never experienced any people outside of their care givers before. We were their first! Our job was to simply have fun, socialize with them, let them explore our cameras and us... all in order to teach them than humans (and humans with big cameras) are safe and fun.

It's all a part of Best Friends goal of preparing each puppy for the most successful, happy and healthy life possible with their new forever family.

And if all that wasn't enough fun already... we took the whole litter on their very first walk outside. This was the first time they'd even had a collar on. It was puppy-chaos at 100mph! And so much fun my cheeks are still sore from smiling and laughing.

Care Giving & Compassion
From Horse Haven to Dog Town, Parrot Garden to Bunny House, the love and compassion the care givers show the animals is unending. They know each one by name. They know what makes then tick. They speak their language. Nowhere was this more clear than with the bunnies. The sweet young woman caring for them understood their unique needs and was passionate about their predicament. Some were abandoned to fend for themselves, which is impossible for domesticated rabbits. Others were victims of excessive breeding or hoarding. They're so adorable, many people think they're a perfect pet for a child, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

Did you know that a bunny can get pregnant at only two weeks of age? And when they give birth, it's often to as many as 15 bunnies at a time. Repeat, repeat, repeat. It's an overpopulation epidemic.

Bunny House was peaceful, calm and quiet. For the most part the bunnies make no noise at all. They're some of the most gentlest creatures on earth and the same could be said for their care givers.

Next Up... 
Part 2 -  CAT WORLD
Please join us for an inside look at the beautiful cats of Best Friends and what it's like for them as they prepare and wait for forever homes: CATS of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
Part 3 - Where Angels Rest
Easily the most moving part of my experience was a visit to Angels Rest, the final resting place for those Best Friends who now fly with the angels: Where Angels Rest



See the Entire Gallery of Photos
There's SO much more to see! I'd like to invite you to view my entire gallery of Best Friends photos.
Here's how:

1. Visit Glogirly on SmugMug
2. Select Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
3. Enter password: SaveThemAll

The best way to view them is to click on Slideshow. Enjoy!


A Destination Vacation With Purpose
Many people and families visit the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary as a vacation. I had the pleasure of meeting a number of people volunteering while I was there that did just that. It's an inspiring and meaningful way to experience the sanctuary, help the animals and enjoy the gorgeous landscape. For more information on how to turn your bucket list wish into reality, visit HERE.

Special thanks to Melissa, Hannah, Barb and the entire Best Friends family for hosting my trip to the sanctuary. You've each touched my heart and have inspired me by the kindness you show each other and the animals in your care.

Monday Interruption & Sneak Peek

KATIE:  We interrupt your regularly scheduled program–

WAFFLES:  Program? What program? Can't we just DVR it, Boss?

KATIE:  Not that kind of program, Waffles. Our regularly scheduled blog post.

WAFFLES:  Our blog post is on TV? Like CSI and stuff?

KATIE:  CSI was cancelled, Waffles.

WAFFLES:  Cancelled? What about us??

KATIE:  Calm down, Waffles. We're not cancelled. We're not on TV. Never were. We're just fine. So how about you let me do the talking for once?

WAFFLES:  Four once? Which is it? Four or once? Because four is kind of a lot.

KATIE:  *sigh... all this from a cat who can't even count*

WAFFLES:  I can too count. One, two, three, chicken. See?


Upcoming Blog Feature:
Glogirly Visits Best Friends

Glogirly returned home late last evening from a trip of a lifetime. She and a very small handful of other writers and bloggers were invited to spend three days at the Best Friends Animal Society Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. In case you've never heard of Best Friends, they are the largest (and we think THE most amazing) no-kill animal rescue organization in the country. Their one-of-a-kind, 3,700 acre sanctuary nestled in the gorgeous landscape of Angel Canyon, is breathtaking, inspiring and has left an indelible imprint on Glogirly's heart and mind.


She's working on a very special blog feature we'll be bringing to you soon. That is after she processes her 700+ photos and finds the words to describe the indescribable. Please stay tuned... we want very much to bring the magic of Best Friends to you.