Soon, I will be lending a hand at the largest no-kill animal sanctuary in the country.
Since visiting Best Friends in Kanab, Utah, this past summer, I have dreamed of spending time there.
Spanning thousands of acres in beautiful Angel Canyon, Best Friends provides second chances to kitties, dogs, pigs, goats, horses, birds, bunnies and more, from all over.
I plan to spend several days offering some hands-on help — while hopefully also squeezing in a good bit of time petting, snuggling and scritchy-scratching all manner of fuzzy snouts.
But you don’t have to travel thousands of miles to make life better for our furry friends.
In fact, you can lend a hand right here – while giving your name (or that of someone you love) to a space that will provide second chances to animals rescued from around these parts.
As an arm of its ongoing campaign to raise $2 million to build a new, modern no-kill shelter – state-of-the-art doesn’t come cheap – Animal Friends of North Central West Virginia is offering a very cool opportunity.
For those who make a qualifying donation, the nonprofit will put your moniker on a range of important places within the new facility – a planned 6,700-square-foot, two-story structure with special amenities for cats and dogs.
The naming opportunities are listed on the website at https://www.animalfriends
wv.org/shelter/ and range from $1,000 to name one of the cat condos – there are 20 available – to $50,000 to put a name on the 291-square-foot lobby.
Barbara Apostolou recently donated $40,000 and in turn had the honor of naming the catio that will be built, while Linda and Scot Anderson snagged a nursery for $2,500. That space will allow pregnant animals to give birth and nurse their babies in a quiet, calm environment.
Other spots up for grabs in the naming department include the food prep room for $10,000, one of five available outdoor dog yards for $3,000 each, and a dog park for $35K.
Then there is the piece de resistance – at least as far as I’m concerned – the Senior Dog Room. This is 100% the spot I would choose, if I had the $5,000 to claim it. It would be christened Pops’ Place, in honor of the first senior dog I adopted, who set me on a path I promise to continue for as long as I live.
Animals ask so little of us, and give so us much back.
They don’t expect you to make a big trip. They don’t care if you have spare cash.
They only want to love us, and be loved in return.
Seems to me, no matter the lengths we go to, it’s still a huge bargain in the end.
Katie Long McDowell is the managing editor and lifestyles columnist for The Dominion Post. Email kmcdowell@dominionpost.com.
