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This is Chris Redgrave for Zions Bank Speaking on Business.
Every year millions of pets end up in shelters for reasons including relationship problems, economic challenges or minor behavior problems, so the shelter becomes the final resting place for many of these animals who can't find a new home. This is something Best Friends Animal Society is trying to change with their no-kill animal sanctuary.
One of the reasons they have the relationship-based rehabilitation system is because they refer to the animals as emotional sponges. Their goal at Best Friends is to place these pets in a loving home. However, if there's an animal that's not adoptable, they have a place to live for the rest of their life because of the no-kill policy.
Best Friends has a collection of cabins on site where visitors can stay and spend some time with the animal they're looking at adopting. You can imagine how deep the bond between potential owner and pet becomes when they stay overnight on property.
They created a unique octagon kennel system for their dogs. This is designed to provide more social interaction for the dogs. They've also developed a life care plan for each animal, which was set up following the Michael Vicks fighting pitbulls. This is the first time in history that fighting dogs were not put down. Best Friends was highly successful in rehabbing and adopting these animals to the point where five years later, several families came back to Best Friends for a reunion. Pitbulls are one of the top breeds in wanting to serve their master.
Best Friends Animal Society is very motivated by the fact we put down 17 million animals in the U.S. every year. Thankfully, with 24,000 visitors every year, the sanctuary has an adoption rate of roughly 82 percent.
For Zions Bank, I'm Chris Redgrave, speaking on business.
Best Friends Animal Society 5001 Angel Canyon Rd. Kanab, UT 84741 435-644-2001 www.bestfriends.org
