Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

Two of my nieces just returned from a weekend helping at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah and said it was one of the neatest experiences of their life. Hearing that, it brought back memories of a trip my husband and I took a few years back. We were told to visit the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary so we traveled into the warmth of southern Utah to get away from the cold and snow we are still experiencing here in northern Utah. We got to see so many beautiful places, unique sights and interesting things, but I think my favorite was our visit to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Angel Canyon near Kanab.

 

At first, neither my husband nor I thought we would be seeing much more than a normal animal shelter. Gosh, were we wrong! We traveled into a beautiful canyon nestled in the coral and pink sandstone mountains. We arrived too late for a normal tour of the facility, but we figured we’d just take a drive on our own down the sandy road that wound into the canyon past large, spacious paddocks housing horses and burros. We found spacious kennels where dogs of every kind were housed amidst the beautiful cedars. Mule deer wandered around and in front of us as we toured.  Small, furry bunnies hopped about green pastures next to grazing horses. A flock of Osceola turkeys soared from the tops of the tall canyon walls to scratch for food before they flew into tall trees to roost for the night.  We hiked up to a natural amphitheater where cool flowing water, beautiful green grass, and natural acoustics amazed us. Nothing could have prepared us for the many breathtaking sights we found.

The most impressive was the Angel’s Rest Pet Cemetery where the first thing we noticed was the beautiful sounds of wind chimes. We turned off the engine of our truck and as the gentle breezes blew, the chimes sounded like an organ playing a majestic song. Rock pathways led to a gazebo and small benches where you can relax and enjoy the calm serenity. The cemetery is not about dying but an affirmation of life where the beautiful rock canyon holds urns, vases and memorials of the little animals who have brought so much to our earthly life.

If you have the opportunity to visit southern Utah, don’t miss the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.  It’s a special haven for abused and abandoned animals of all kinds. They have an expert staff of veterinarians, trainers and caregivers to see to the special needs of about 2000 cats, dogs, horses, rabbits, owls, and other animals. It is supported entirely through donations. It’s an amazing place where their philosophy is – kindness to animals builds a better world for all of us. 

Take a minute and browse their web site -- www.bestfriends.org

 

K. R. Bailey

http://www.KRBailey.com

Pets - They Add So Much To Our Lives

Most of us have pets – dogs, cats, birds, horses, goats, even pigs. They add so much enjoyment to our lives.

I grew up around horses. My Morgan horse, Racal, became my friend and confidant.

Everything in life seemed better when I crawled on his back and went for a ride. I loved sitting in the hay barn, enjoying the smell of hay. I’d pour out my heart to my Rascal as he ate from the manager. I knew he was listening because his ears would move back and forth as I talked. Every once in a while he’d lean up and nuzzle me as if tell me everything will be okay.

I remember my sister telling her daughter, who was scared to be outside by herself, to watch their horses. If everything was fine, they’d be eating and meandering around the pasture. But if someone was out there, their ears would be forward, as if on alert, and she’d know to come into the house and be careful. Wasn’t that insightful of her? After that, my niece never was scared to be outside by herself.

Today my family has a yellow lab. He’s our second one. His name is Shilo,

and he’s my buddy. It’s always amazing to me that we can be busy and not play with him for a day or so, but whenever we go out, he’s there, wagging his tail, thrilled to see us.

Our first lab was named Max. My son bought him, then decided to get married and couldn’t keep him. We inherited him and had him for eleven years. He was part of the family. When my husband retired and I was still working full time, Max used to go everywhere with him. They were definitely buddies. It definitely broke our hearts when he died.

My most unique pet was a young turkey. His name became Beep Beep because when he was little, every time we went by the box we had him in, he’d make a chirping sound like Beep Beep. As he got older, we’d call him and he would coming running and follow us around. People used to laugh that we had a pet turkey.

Pets become part of our families, adding happiness, and becoming an integral part of our lives. As I write my stories, you’ll notice that my hero and heroines nearly always have animals in them. A story wouldn’t be real if it didn’t have a dog wagging its tail or a horse wanting to have his neck rubbed. Wouldn’t you agree?

Happy Reading!

K. R. Bailey

http://www.KRBailey.com

Pets Make Our World Special

Most of us have pets – dogs, cats, birds, horses, goats, even pigs. They add so much enjoyment to our lives. What an empty world it would be without them, don’t you think?

I grew up around horses. My Morgan horse, Rascal, became my friend and confidant. 

Everything in life seemed better when I crawled on his back and went for a ride. I loved sitting in the hay barn, enjoying the smell of hay. I’d pour out my heart to my Rascal as he ate from the manager. I knew he was listening because his ears would move back and forth as I talked. Every once in awhile he’d lean up and nuzzle me as if tell me everything will be okay.

He was born on our property, and I started breaking him to ride when he was just two. For over 28 years, he was there for me, and I have so many special memories of spending time with him.  I’ll never forget the day my dad called and told me he’d died.  I lost a special friend that day.

I remember the day my son bought our first yellow lab and named him Max. He was a little six-week old puppy, round ball of fur. We had so much fun with him. When my son decided to get married and couldn’t keep him, we inherited him. He was my husband’s companion after he retired. I don't think my husband went anywhere without that little dog.  He was always part of the family. He loved going for rides with us on our ATVs, and I’ll never forget the time we loaded up the 4-wheelers. Max knew something was up and he crawled up on the trailer, onto the 4-wheeler and he spent the night there. He made sure he wasn’t left behind when we went for rides.

Today we have another yellow lab named Shilo.

He’s three and just getting past the puppy stage. He’s my buddy, and its always amazing to me that I can be busy and not play with him for a day or so, but whenever I go out, he’s there, wagging his tail, thrilled to see me.

My most unique pet was a young turkey. His name became Beep Beep because when he was little, every time we went by the box we kept him in, he’d make a chirping sound like Beep Beep. As he got older, we’d call him and he would coming running and follow us around.

Pets become part of our families, adding happiness, and becoming an integral part of our lives. As I write my stories, you’ll notice that my hero and heroines nearly always have animals in them. A story wouldn’t be real if it didn’t have a dog wagging its tail or a horse wanting to have his neck rubbed. Wouldn’t you agree?

Do you have a special pet? I'd love to hear about it.

K. R. Bailey

http://KRBailey.com