Exotic and domestic vacations with a 'purr'pose

For those looking for a volunteering vacation experiences within the U.S., and more specifically, with domestic animals such as cats, dogs, birds, horses and even pot bellied pigs, there are many wonderful accessible opportunities in all parts of the country.

One of the best known American volunteer vacation destinations is Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, playing host to more than 12,000 volunteers of all ages per year.

This 33,000-acre ranch is home to over 1,500 assorted domestic animals that have been brought from all over the country, mostly from shelters that don't have the resources to rehabilitate them and where they would otherwise be destroyed. Here, they are cared for and nurtured and socialized until they are ready to be adopted into loving permanent homes. Those that have been badly traumatized through ill treatment or that are old, crippled or chronically ill, find a permanent home at this tranquil Eden.

The Sanctuary has reasonably priced on-site accommodation, and there’s plenty more in the nearby town of Kanab.

“We try to tailor the volunteer experience around what people are looking for,” says Kalene Craddock the organization’s volunteer manager. “People can opt to spend time with our dogs or cats. There are also opportunities to work with birds and rabbits, horses, goats and pot bellied pigs.

“The work can be something simple such as walking a dog or a goat or doing some cleaning and poop scooping. Some people come and volunteer whatever special maintenance or service skills they have such as lawyers opting to assist with legal tasks.”

Family volunteer vacationers John Guske, 13 of Lake Geneva Wis., Tom Statz and Tina Yapelli of San Diego, Calif., Thomas Guske, 9, Maggie Guske, 11, of Lake Geneva Wis., with their grandparents Elaine Statz and Chuck Statz of Elkhorn, Wis. The dogs Tie, Flower and Sundance are available for adoption from Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah.

Volunteer vacationers Tina Yapelli, a professor of art and director of the University Art Gallery at San Diego State University and her husband Tom Statz, an electrical engineer in San Diego, have been coming regularly since 2002. This past Christmas and New Year, their group totaled 11 family members including their nine-year-old nephew Thomas Guske of Lake Geneva, Wis., whose biggest thrill was being able to bring different dogs back to their cabin each night for a sleep over.

“Personally, I love working with the dogs,” says Yapelli. “Needless to say we have adopted two from the Sanctuary that initially came back with us to our cabin for sleepovers.”

According to Craddock, mornings at the Sanctuary are reserved for chores when volunteers pitch in with tasks such as cleaning and grooming, and the afternoons are for reading to the cats, playing with the bunnies and taking puppies to socialization classes. Visitors can take pets for outings into the town or on hiking expeditions.

“Just giving any animals some extra love and attention is huge and makes our job easier in finding them wonderful permanent homes,” says Craddock.

As for Yapelli and her clan, they are already planning their next trip, while some of the kids are even talking about getting jobs at the Sanctuary when they are older.

“It’s such a wonderful way for our family to get to spend time together,” she says. “Personally, I consider each trip food for my soul.”

Sandy Robins is an award-winning pet lifestyle writer. She is the recent recipient of the Humane Society of the United States' Pets for Life Award. Her work appears in many national and international publications.

MORE FROM FAMILY

Family Section Front

Kids lead the way looking back on 2009   Tallying the costs of traveling with little ones Pet policies of top hotel chains Christmas trains from coast to coast Top four ways to enjoy the Bahamas as a family Dad to baby: Happy 1st birthday, world traveler Taking the kids this holiday season Best hotel kids’ programs Taking the kids to Yosemite National Park Stress-free Thanksgiving getaways Family Section Front   Add Family headlines to your news reader: