A Vacation That Gives Back To Homeless Pets At Nation’s Largest Animal Sanctuary

[Guest guest]

Take in Grand Canyon vistas and donate your kindness to Best Friends

Animal Sanctuary, the country's largest no-kill refuge for abused

and abandoned pets. This unique getaway offers a chance to escape

your hectic schedule and engage your heart while you help homeless

animals and revel in beauty of the Southwest. This is truly a trip

to warm your heart and thrill your senses!

 

Donna Zeigfinger of Green Earth Travel specializes in

environmentally friendly travel with a focus on vegetarianism. She

wanted to organize a one of a kind excursion where people could

share their passion for animal rescue and explore one of the Earth's

most beautiful natural wonders.

 

The five day/four night trip she created starts and ends in Las

Vegas. A van will shuttle clients from McCarran International

Airport to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, located near Kanab,

Utah. After an orientation and tour of the facilities, clients will

assist Best Friends staff with the daily chores and routines that

keep the shelter running and the critters happy. After two days of

compassionate volunteering, participants will join Canyon Rim

Adventures, leaders in north rim exploration since 1984, to begin a

three day, two night guided backcountry adventure.

 

During the Best Friends portion of the trip participants will be

staying on site in Angel Canyon, surrounded by stunning scenery

similar to that found at nearby Zion National Park. Watch the

morning sun wash against the orange and red cliffs, thrill to clear

blue-bird skies, and breathe in the beauty of this inspiring locale.

 

Volunteer duties at Best Friends can include (but is not limited to)

assisting with feeding, grooming, cleaning living areas, and walking

or training those animals looking for adoptive homes. The

facilities at the sanctuary are impressive—there's none of the

sadness that you might expect from an animal refuge. These dogs,

cats, horses, bunnies, and birds all have great homes and loving

companions working with them every day—and they can stay as long as

they want. There's no time limit at Best Friends. Of course, the

goal is to find every pet a forever home—some just take a little

longer to find that perfect match. Working with the animals has

recharged many a soul. Expect to feel the love and renew your sense

of health and happiness.

 

The second half of this vacation starts with a two hour drive from

Kanab, Utah to the incomparable Toroweap Overlook of the Grand

Canyon. After lunch on the edge of the world, your guides will lead

a warm up hike along the slickrock sandstone tableland that marks

this section of the canyon's rim country. The length of the hike

depends on a number of factors, but most groups run around for at

least three hours (roughly four to six miles).

 

Later in the afternoon, after setting up camp away from the rim, the

CRA crew will cook up a four-star dinner, and if you're lucky, they

might even spin a few yarns by the campfire. Beside their high

level of professionalism, their interpretive skills, and their camp

cooking skills, Canyon Rim Adventures prides itself on making life

in the backcountry easy. And they've got a real shower.

 

The next day of the adventure includes the longest hike of the trip—

an all day escape into a beautiful side canyon for a trail lunch and

lots of exploring. Like John Wesley Powell himself, the folks at

Canyon Rim Adventures believe a real connection with this beautiful

landscape can only be forged through physical effort. But don't

worry, there will be plenty of time for breathers. The day is

filled with explanations of the Grand Canyon's geology, history, pre-

history, and ecosystems.

 

The last day starts with camp breakdown, then a drive and short hike

to a spectacular panoramic overlook of the junction of the canyon's

longest side canyon with the main Colorado River corridor. After

lunch on the rim you'll head back out to civilization and a shuttle

ride to Las Vegas.

 

Trip dates-

May 28-June 1 2008

October 8-12 2008

Trip cost includes: Transfers from the airport to Best Friends,

transfers from Best Friends to Canyon Rim, transfers from Canyon Rim

back to the airport.

2 nights, 3 days at Best Friends Sanctuary

2 nights, 3 days with Canyon Rim Adventures

Meals (all vegetarian): 4 breakfasts ( 2 at Best Friends, 2 with

Canyon Rim), 5 lunches ( 2 at Best Friends, 3 with Canyon Rim), 4

dinners ( 2 at Best Friends, 2 with Canyon Rim)

Donation to Best Friends

All camping gear: including tents, cots, pads, sleeping bags, guides

and tours with Canyon Rim

 

Not included: Gratuities for guides, personal items (phone calls,

laundry, alcoholic beverages, or any snacks while at Best Friends

(Canyon Rim Adventures will provide snacks and meals).

 

 

Cottage

Cabin

Single

$1,044.00

$954.00

Double

$909.00

$864.00

Triple $864.00

 

 

About Best Friends Animal Society

" Best Friends Animal Society operates the country's largest

sanctuary for homeless pets and is home, on any given day, to about

1,500 dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, birds and other animals. Best

Friends works globally with animal shelters and rescue groups to

bring about a time when there will be no more homeless pets. Best

Friends advances initiatives nationwide that promote community

approaches to make the world a better place through kindness to

animals, including adoption, spay/neuter, and humane education

programs. " -taken from www.bestfriends.org/aboutus/media

 

About Canyon Rim Adventures, Inc.

Based out of Kanab, Utah, Canyon Rim Adventures has been providing

guided outdoor vacations on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon for 10

years. Their founders have been exploring the area since 1984 and

have an intimate knowledge of trails, history, geology, archaeology,

flora and fauna. Focusing on service, and providing all camping

equipment and prepared gourmet meals, they specialize in sharing the

backcountry of the Grand Canyon with their clients.

www.canyonrimadventures.com

 

If you would like more information about this trip, please call

Donna Zeigfinger, toll free at 1-888-246-8343, or email Donna at

donna

www.vegetariantravel.com