Best Friends Animal Society celebrates 30 years of saving lives


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KANAB — From dogs and cats to rabbits and other animals, the Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab has been saving lives for 30 years.

Back when it all began, its founders weren’t so sure how long it would last.

"It was on a wing and a prayer, literally," said Francis Battista, one of the Best Friends co-founders. "A lot of folks thought we were a bunch of nuts because we were a bunch of dudes from somewhere.”

The group's mission is to save all the animals and eliminate the practice of killing animals in shelters just because they’re not adopted.

"Back then our philosophy was really on the fringe," Battista said. "We were regarded as odd balls and sort of misfits because we felt animals should not be being killed in shelters."

But, the group kept going — and saving animals.

Eventually, its base in Kanab grew to 1,700 animals. Last year, 569 dogs were brought to Best Friends, and 566 were adopted.

A total of 395 cats arrived, and 318 of them were eventually placed in loving homes.

For all the positive stories of animals being adopted, though, a lot of times they arrive at the shelter with stories of neglect and abuse, which break Battista's heart.

"Often they come here and they're in pretty bad shape,” she said.

Ray was one of them. When the pit bull arrived at Best Friends, he was national news.

"We took 22 of the most challenging Michael Vick dogs and renamed them the Vicktory dogs,” Battista said. “Those dogs, along with the animals we saved from Hurricane Katrina, kind of helped put us on the map.”

Today, Ray is doing great. He found a loving home and can't stop wagging his tail. He's an example of what this place is: a chance.

"Even a dog that has been so poorly treated and that's bred to be bad, and all of that kind of stuff, it can be a cupcake,” Battista said.

Best Friends is working to make Utah a no-kill shelter state by 2019.

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