Thousands of years ago, Utah was home to the ancestral Pueblo people who built a peaceful and enduring culture and lived in harmony with the land and its animal inhabitants. Today, Angel Canyon is home to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
Located on a 33,000-acre ranch in the red-rock country of Southern Utah, outside Kanebou, Best Friends is situated close to the Zion National Park, the Grand Canyon’s North Rim and Bryce Canyon National Park. It sits on approximately 350 acres of Angel Canyon.
The nation’s largest no-kill refuge for animals, Best Friends, provides plenty of food, vitamins and veterinary care to needy animals before they are ready to be adopted by a foster family. The sanctuary also provides a permanent home for those who are too old, too sick, or irreversibly traumatized from past abuse or neglect to adjust to family life.
More than 650 dogs receive care and love in Dogtown, a healthy environment where dogs get personal attention and enjoy the companionship of fellow residents, volunteers and staff. Dogtown is comprised of specially designed octagonal buildings each with indoor and outdoor runs. There is a building exclusively devoted to dog food preparation, where each meal is individually prepared, as some dogs require special diets of medication. The back of the building houses a maternity room for expecting moms.
Wildcats Village is a unique shelter where the special needs of feral cats (cat that grow up in back alleys, city parks, or behind supermarkets who are considered poor candidates for adoption), are respected. Cage-free living and lifetime care is offered here. The village has an indoor and outdoor facility with tall outdoor screens that keep cats safe and provide them with fresh air. Inside, intersecting catwalks criss-cross the 12-foot-high ceilings. The rooms are furnished with cozy carpeted shelves, scratching posts, snug beds and lots of toys.
Handicapped cats are not considered to be good candidates for adoption, but Best Friends believes that even those with disabilities can live fully and happily. Benton’s House was opened at the sanctuary in honor of Benton, a family pet who got into an accident which resulted in a club foot. Benton’s House is the home of TLC Cat Club, s state-of-the-art shelter for cats with physical disabilities and special needs. TLC has four large indoor and outdoor catteries, each offering different kinds of care. Ramps are used for cats who cannot climb by themselves, and furniture is carefully placed for those with impaired vision.
Rabbits have a place of their own at the Bunny House. Bunnies live in groups of two to 20 and those who need special care have their own areas. Each group has indoor, outdoor and underground accommodations. The Happy Herd is a haven for horses, burros, goats, sheep, with plenty of pasture bordering Angel Canyon Creek.
Best Friends also has its own clinic where all animals are spayed and neutered upon arrival. The clinic also provides comprehensive medical care and dental for sanctuary residents.
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