Best Friends Sanctuary

This afternoon, in the midst of the Glass Festival while enjoying a cigar out front of the SoulFull Cup Coffee Shop, I had a brief but pleasant conversation with a woman named Gloria from Horseheads.  We talked a bit about my dog Jetta, who, of course, was there with me.  I mentioned that we had gotten Jetta from the Wellsville SPCA when she was 8 weeks old.   This led us into a discussion about animal shelters and Gloria's mention of the Best Friends Sanctuary in Utah.

Gloria had nothing but praise for the sanctuary.  Over the past several years she had done a week of volunteer work at the sanctuary on four separate occasions.  She just traveled out there and did care work for the animals (dogs, cats, goats, rabbits etc.).  There are all different types of care and a volunteer can pretty much choose whatever work they like doing most. She said they have cabins you can stay at for minimal expense - if you plan far enough ahead and make reservations.

Here's a bit of info from the Best Friends website:

Volunteer at the Sanctuary

When you become a Best Friends Sanctuary volunteer, you're giving the animals what they want and need most: personal attention, hands-on care and love. Whether you volunteer for a day, a week or longer, the animals at the sanctuary truly appreciate the time you spend with them.

Although we are a working sanctuary, your volunteer experience can be as laid-back or active as you like. Volunteer activities include things such as spending quiet time socializing with our animals, walking, feeding, grooming and assisting with the cleaning of the animal areas. Taking some of our animals on outings to town or other nearby locations is another way our volunteers help give them new and valuable experiences.

Volunteers can also take some of our animals on sleepovers which help prepare them for their forever home. All of these volunteer activities are very important for our animals and we appreciate you coming to the sanctuary and pitching in!

Volunteers are welcome to volunteer in one or more of our animal areas at Best Friends. To learn more about each of these areas, please click on the animal areas in the column on the left of the page.

Sounds to me like a very nice way to spend a vacation.