This is the largest no-kill animal sanctuary in the country. They have other locations throughout the USA in New York, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Houston, and Atlanta, but Kanab is their headquarters. Not only is it huge, over 3,700 acres and they have over 1500 animals to care for each day, but, they can change your life as well. Volunteering at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is a bucket list item for many of our guests.

Everyday folks from all over the country (and the world) volunteer at Best Friends. And you can too. There are two shifts every day of the year, shift times are 8:15-11:30 a.m. and 1:15-4:00 p.m. You need to sign up early though as each animal area has a maximum number of volunteers it can accommodate during each shift.

What Will I Find There?

Two shifts every day in seven different animal areas; Cat World, Bunny House, Parrot Garden, Dogtown, Piggy Paradise, Horse Haven, and Wild Friends. Opportunities in each of these categories are limited so it is highly recommended that you sign up and schedule your shifts as far in advance as possible!

A nice bonus is the two places to eat at the sanctuary. The Canyon Grill it is open during the summer months but their $5 vegetarian buffet it is served year-round daily from 11:30 AM to 1 PM.

When you arrive at the sanctuary you will have a 10-minute check-in at their Welcome Center. You will be provided with a name badge, your schedule and anything else you need to know to make your volunteer time the best that it can be!

What To Wear

They do ask that all volunteers wear closed toed shoes, even slip-on clog type shoes must have a heel strap. You could be climbing a ladder or walking animals and they are concerned about everyone’s safety. They also strongly recommend long pants when working with the horses or pigs (but please, not the same ones you have worn around horses and sheep at home).