Abandoned Animals - A Serious Problem

I heard something on the TV news the other day that really, really upsets me. Apparently people are losing their homes all over the country and because of that, lots of pets are being abandoned. For some reason, people are taking all their stuff but leaving their animals behind. Maybe they can’t take their animals with them, and maybe some of them become homeless and have no money to eat much less feed their pets. But these people made a commitment and they’re just walking away from their responsibilities to their family pets as well as their loans. How can they do that? Why can’t they take their animals to an animal shelter or contact someone before they move out of their homes to take care of their four-legged family members?

In addition to cats and dogs, farm animals are being abandoned, too. Beautiful and proud horses are left to starve when they are left behind. I know what it is like to be hungry because someone abandoned me, but I was just a little kitty and it didn’t take as much to feed me as it does a horse, or a pig or goat. Plus I was awfully cute and people were bound to feel pity for me.

So what can you do to help these abandoned animals and pets? If you can adopt a homeless animal, please do. And if you can only give money to help animals, give to your local no-kill animal shelter.

Also, there’s an animal sanctuary in Southern Utah called Best Friends that rescues animals that have been seriously mistreated and abused (like Michael Vick’s dogs), or are seriously ill or injured and need lots of medical care, therapy, and rehabilitation. Those animals that can be rehabilitated are put up for adoption. Those that are beyond hope are given a lifetime of loving care, regardless of their problems. Best Friends welcomes volunteers to help out in addition to having a large paid staff of professionals in animal care. Animals live in their own sections with names like Dogtown, Horse Haven and Kittyville.

If you have an RV, Best Friends has a couple of beautiful RV sites at their sanctuary in Angel Canyon in Kanab, Utah, so you can stay there while you visit, plus there are several other nearby RV parks. RV stays in the Sanctuary sites are limited to 14 days. The Sanctuary also has eight guest cottages and additional cabins that can be rented. Members of Best Friends pay reduced rates.

This would make a great vacation for those who want to physically help out, especially families with kids, although children under five are not allowed to volunteer. The Sanctuary is close to several National Parks where you can go hiking, sightseeing, or boating amid breathtaking scenery like that in Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon and Lake Powell. They are why this area is called the Golden Circle of National Parks, plus the Vermillion Cliffs are nearby and the Grand Canyon is not that far away. The Sanctuary is about 4 hours from Las Vegas and 6 hours from either Phoenix or Salt Lake City.

I put a link to Best Friends on the right—or go here to learn about the Sanctuary: http://www.bestfriends.org/aboutus/,
or here to learn about accommodations: http://www.bestfriends.org/atthesanctuary/angelcanyon/visitorfaq.cfm.
Please, please check their site to learn about this amazing, life-saving, compassionate program.