Zion and Best Friends animal sanctuary

July 11th, 2009

This is just a day ride through Zion and on towards Kanab and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.

Weather: Nearly perfect all day until I returned through Zion. Once on the West side of the tunnel I was hit by a wave of desert heat. Temps reached nearly 100 degrees. Ride early and higher elevations.

After leaving Zion, via the East entrance station, I continued on towards Kanab. There wasn’t much traffic.

The rest of this report will be about my destination, Best Friends pet cemetery.

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is located North of Kanab. They are a sancuary of last resort for many animals. I think they house several hundred dogs. They also care for cats, horses, birds and reptiles.

If you watch “Dogtown” on NatGeo it is about this place. They are the ones that took possession of Michael Vick’s fighting dogs and trained them for adoption. They have placed many of the dogs already.

Here is a link to their website. www.bestfriends.org

If you are looking for a way to enrichen your life move to Kanab and donate all of your time to this fine cause. You’ll be happy…

I only visited the pet cemetery. There are hundreds of pets buried here. Many with headstones and personal keepsakes. I was touched by the emotion of the place.

Caution, lumps in the throat are possible from here on out.

Painted rocks

There are also hundreds of windchimes thought out the cemetery. When they ring in unison an eerie sound fills the canyon.

I sat in the shade of a gazebo and thought about the pets of my past.

Each gazebo had a water jug and bowl for visiting animals. Being an animal myself, and having run out of water, I had some. Not sick so far. 

After a couple of hours I headed back towards Zion. I stopped at the Thunderbird for a shake (that they don’t make anymore). You can still get the “Ho Made” pies though.

I made it home in time for dinner. I gave my dogs an extra scratch behind the ears.

© 2009 – 2020, Michael Fulcher. All rights reserved.