Nestled in the red rock cliffs above Angel Canyon in Southern Utah lies a huge sanctuary that is a healing refuge for both its animal residents and human visitors. On any given day, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is home to around 1,600 animals. These animals have usually had a rough start in life, but are well taken care of once they arrive at Best Friends in the hopes of finding their forever home.
From the moment we arrived at Best Friends, I was in awe at the sheer beauty of the place. From the gorgeous canyon and flowing creek below to Angel’s Rest Memorial Park and the lovely labyrinth, I could tell that this is a place that is truly loved and respected by the many dedicated staff and volunteers who spend countless hours caring for animals in need.
Founded in 1984 by a group of caring animal lovers, Best Friends has grown over the decades, becoming the largest no-kill animal organization in the U.S. I loved learning about the history of the sanctuary, but most of all, I loved getting to see the animals. We took a tour of “Wild Friends,” a section of the property that is dedicated to rehabilitating injured or sick wild animals, such as tortoises, ravens, minks, ducks, and many more. I especially loved seeing and learning more about the owls!
We also toured “Dogtown,” one of the most popular places at the sanctuary, with hundreds of friendly dogs—many of whom happily greeted us as we stopped along the way to learn some of the personal stories as to how these dogs came to be here. It was interesting to learn that Best Friends took in 22 dogs that had been abused in professional football player Michael Vick’s dog-fighting operation years earlier, but happily, many of the dogs found loving forever homes after their stay at Best Friends.
My favorite experience at Best Friends was the afternoon I spent volunteering at the “Bunny House,” which houses over 100 adorable rabbits in need of care. I cleaned out the rabbit enclosures, fed the rabbits lettuce that they happily munched away on, and even got to pet a few of these soft, sweet little beings. It’s hard to imagine the lives they led before arriving at Best Friends. A few were rescued after escaping from a farm where they were being raised for food. Some were rescued from hoarding situations. And many of them were simply dumped and discarded by humans—humans who don’t realize the extent to which these animals experience emotions like fear, pain, and grief. But it was wonderful talking to the staff at Best Friends who spend their days caring for these animals, and hearing their stories of what brought them to Best Friends.
As for the food at Best Friends, it’s no surprise that their entirely vegan cafe is—even at five dollars for the lunch buffet—absolutely delicious. Some people will make the drive up from Kanab just for lunch and the view, even if they aren’t working at or visiting the sanctuary. After all, they say that the food is free, and the five dollars is for the view. They may be right, as it was one of the most amazing views I’ve experienced from a restaurant, and the delicious vegan meals and desserts made it even more enjoyable. (The menu changes each day, and features delectable dishes such as Thai Peanut Sweet Potatoes, Three Bean Chili, Alfredo Pasta, and assorted desserts like Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Frosting!)
I was very sad to leave Best Friends, but hopefully I can return soon. (Like next year! And the year after that…) Next time, I’d love to tour “Horse Haven” and “Piggy Paradise,” and volunteer at “Cat World.” I can see why many people leave Best Friends with paw prints on their heart, and sometimes, even a new friend to take home!
