Recently I had the pleasure of traveling to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. Best Friends was started just 4 years before HHAS, and in much the same way. They have now grown to be the largest sanctuary in the United States for companion animals, leading the “No Kill” movement, and starting a cooperative network for rescues and shelters to which Hallie Hill belongs. The purpose of my trip was twofold: to learn from them, and to renew my enthusiasm for our mission.
Since I had never traveled so far west, I was amazed by the landscape. The canyons and cliffs of the terrain are breathtaking. Compared to HHAS, Best Friends is huge. They have over 3700 acres of land and employ over 800 people. Usually, they care for about 1600 animals, but they are operating at almost half capacity during the pandemic.
During my short stay I was able to schedule lunch with one of the founders and take several tours of the facility including “Cat World” and the “Gratitude Garden”. Even though our policies andprocedures are very much in line, I came back with many new ideas and a renewed enthusiasm for the work we do. It is comforting to know that there are other sanctuaries with the same dedication to improving the lives of animals and that are passionate about “saving them all”.
As much as I enjoyed visiting Best Friends, my visit caused me to fall in love with HHAS all over again. I missed the green grass pastures, the verdant shade trees, AND the more temperate climate. Not only did it snow on my trip, but the temperature dropped to 16 degrees at night! So, thank you all very much for supporting HHAS. Your contributions make it possible for us to continue saving lives and ensuring a bright future for those special animals entrusted to our care right here in the Lowcountry.
