By Nanci Dixon
An RV Travel reader, Karen Gunderman, wrote us about an amazing animal sanctuary located in Kanab, Utah. She wrote, “Have you always longed for a furry companion to write about for RVtravel.com? Visit Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in sunny, beautiful Kanab, Utah, to adopt a forever friend. They offer free tours, a gift shop, rental cabins, a campground, and a delicious cafe overlooking the Red Rock Canyon.”
RV destination and campground for animal lovers
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is the largest sanctuary of its kind in the U.S. The Sanctuary houses up to 1,600 animals on any one day. They offer tours, and a chance to adopt, volunteer, foster animals, sponsor, or donate. It provides temporary and permanent homes to a wide variety of animals.
The Sanctuary even has its own modern campground with 18 full-hookups nestled in the beautiful red rocks. The sites have 30- and 50-amp power pedestals, water and sewer. Note that RVs over 21 feet won’t be able to navigate the curves in the Sanctuary, and RVers will need another vehicle to get around. Rates vary seasonally for non-members from $71 to $81 per night. Yes, pets are welcome! Just keep them on a leash and be aware that there may be other dogs and cats “in training” in the area. For more information on RV sites click here.
Animals that are at the Sanctuary are there for a variety of reasons—they’ve been neglected, abused, abandoned, or because the owners could not keep them anymore. Some, like their pigs, grew too big or were classified as farm animals and outlawed in a particular city.
With an on-site veterinary clinic, they can care for dogs, cats, birds, bunnies, horses, pigs and wild animals, too.
Rehabilitating the wild ones
They also take in wild animals with the intention of healing them and then releasing them back into nature. For those that can’t be released, they provide lifelong sanctuary or opportunity for adoption.
No-kill goal
Community shelters sometimes don’t have the resources or support needed to save all the animals in their care. They hope to end that by 2025.
Check out their beautiful website for more information, to plan a trip or check out their other locations. The website is a heartwarming collection of behind-the-scenes videos like “Dogtown”, “Cat World”, “Horse Haven”, “Marshall’s Piggy Paradise”, “Bunny House”, “Parrot Garden”, and “Wild Friends”. There is even an app to view the Sanctuary virtually.
More options of where to stay
Don’t have an RV or want to leave it at home? They also have cottages, cabins and an off-site hotel in Kanab. Not only can you enjoy the various animals in the Sanctuary but you can invite a dog or cat from the Sanctuary to spend the night with you!
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I have been to the Best Friends sanctuary a few times, it is indeed an amazing place and they do great work, not only there but by running programs and providing assistance to shelters around the country. Definitely pay a visit if you are going through southern Utah.
My sister has supported them financially for years; it is her favorite charity.
Thank you, Karen and Nanci for this interesting article on a wonderful place. 🙂 I will put the title and location where I can retrieve it, but it will be a while before an opportunity to visit arises. We’ll stay nearby and visit by car when it happens; RV #2 is too large to reach the campground. 🙁 Thank you again and safe travels! 🙂
Nanci, thanks for the update.
This place has been on our list to visit for quite some time. While we’ve been to the nearby Grand Canyon South Rim, we came in from the East. The North Rim is still on our list, so perhaps a good match, along with nearby Bryce Canyon NP.
This is a great organization that I am proud to contribute to annually. They are no-kill, and offer the animals a forever home if they cannot be adopted. They have many large events and adoptions at various locations in the US.