I'm very pleased to highlight the work of the Best Friends Animal Society in this latest spotlight. Located at 5001 Angel Canyon Road in Kanab, Utah this organization works to ensure that "homeless, unwanted animals are no longer being destroyed in shelters" and that "every healthy dog or cat can be guaranteed a good life in a caring home." The Best Friends Society offers a full range of adoption and educational services as well as operating an internationally recognized animal sanctuary. Though my family is located in Seattle, we are familiar with the Best Friends Society because they recently helped us find a good home for a difficult to place foster cat.
Last year we had the pleasure of caring for Erasmus (the orange kitty pictured above) for a time, and we discovered that he had a few issues that made his prospects bleak. It seems Erasmus had been turned over because his owner was moving and didn't want to take Erasmus along (an unfortunately common situation). Regrettably, Erasmus had never been socialized properly, and, though he got along with other cats very well, he absolutely did not like people. A quiet hiss was about as friendly a gesture as we could coax from Erasmus in six weeks. Clearly, he was going to need special care and a very great deal of patience. Working with our local Humane Society and through the Best Friends network of supporters, we were able to find someone in Washington who wanted to give him a good home and fully understood the kind of commitment that caring for Erasmus required. Notes from his new best friend suggests Erasmus is doing well in his new home. To be frank, if it weren't for the efforts of our local Humane Society's foster program and Best Friends, Erasmus would have been euthanized (the polite term for killed).
Best Friends has a very useful library on their web site, including a resource section providing information and resources on putting into practice no-kill ethics. I know this is a controversial position to some, but I fully support their passion for promoting non-lethal shelters. The compassion and mercy we wish to bring to the world can only be made real in the present - how we decide to treat the creatures in our care right now is the foundation for change.
Looking to connect with other friends of animals in your area? Be sure to check out the "Best Friends Network" online, currently hosting hundreds of local communities featuring news and information specifically tailored to your area.
