Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Support Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

Members of the whole family can find ways to join Best Friends in helping animals.


Best Friends Animal Society operates the largest no-kill animal sanctuary in the country, caring for about 1,700 dogs, cats and other animals. The sanctuary also provides wildlife rehabilitation and housing. Best Friends started in the 1970s as a shelter rescue and adoption program in Arizona that expanded to be a national organization, with the sanctuary facility in southern Utah. Current programs focus on stopping puppy mills, helping community cats (also called feral cats), advocating for pit bull dogs and promoting pet adoption.


Instructions


1. "Best Friends" magazine publishes good news about animals.


Subscribe to Best Friends magazine. The publication is also sold at many bookstores that sell magazines. It focuses on "good news" about domestic and wild animals and the organization's No More Homeless Pets program.


2. The Best Friends Focus on Felines program promotes efforts like feral cat trap-neuter-return.


Buy a book or other item from the Best Friends online store. Titles include "Best Friends: The True Story of the World's Most Beloved Animal Sanctuary," "DogTown: A Sanctuary for Rescued Dogs," "The Cats of Kittyville: New Lives for Rescued Felines" and "Not Left Behind: Rescuing the Pets of New Orleans." Complete seasons of the National Geographic TV series "DogTown" also are available.


3. Best Friends pit bull program works to oppose breed-specific discrimination laws.


Join the Best Friends Network online social networking site to stay connected with other animal advocates nationwide. Best Friends also offers the No More Homeless Pets online forum featuring a regular Q&A with guest experts on animal-related topics. Transcripts of past forums can be found in an archives section.


4. Supporters of Best Friends can donate online and join the group's social network.


Donate online or by mail, fax or phone to support the sanctuary. Giving options range from animal sponsorships, memberships and memorial gifts to planned giving and in-kind donations of supplies and equipment from the organization's wish list. Donations are tax-deductible.


5. Volunteers take dogs for walks, clean kitty quarters and even take pets on sleepovers.


Volunteer at the sanctuary, which provides tours, orientation and on-site housing. Those who stay in local Kanab, Utah, hotels while visiting Best Friends may take a dog, cat or other animal with them for an overnight stay. Volunteers may join staff members in the cafeteria for vegetarian meals and spend time working in areas designated for dogs, cats (including a separate building for cats with feline leukemia), rabbits, pot-bellied pigs, exotic birds, wild animal rehabilitation or the puppy care center.


6. Conferences and workships teach advocates about no-kill strategies and animal care.


Attend the No More Homeless Pets national conference to learn strategies to make your community no-kill. Best Friends also offers workshops about animal care and the operation of sanctuaries and shelters. Topics cover starting an animal sanctuary, fundraising basics, and humane education, as well as an art retreat for animal lovers.

Tags: Best Friends, Homeless Pets, More Homeless, More Homeless Pets, also offers