Best Friends ‘vacation’ is best ever

By SANDY LONG

NARROWSBURG, NY — Vacations take many forms, but most often, they are times when we treat ourselves to something special—exotic locations, fine dining, lots of leisure time and a focus on fun. For The River Reporter’s production manager Connie Kern, who recently spent her vacation volunteering for a week-long stint at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in southern Utah, the concept of vacation changed and deepened in a way that has touched her life forever.

“It seemed like the perfect point in my life to do something meaningful,” said Kern, who traveled to the no-kill sanctuary that cares for nearly 2,000 dogs, cats, horses, birds and other animals, such as potbellied pigs. But Kern isn’t looking for compliments or praise. “It was purely selfish, because I love animals,” she said.

Established in the early 1980s at Angel Canyon by a group of animal lovers determined to rescue unadoptable animals from shelters where their luck was about to run out, Best Friends has become the model no-kill sanctuary, encompassing 33,000 acres, and supported by a nationwide network of 8,000 volunteers like Kern.

According to its co-founder Francis Battista, those volunteers will dedicate more than 152,000 hours working with staff or representing Best Friends at events in 34 states.

Kern first learned about the sanctuary’s work through watching the popular “Dog Town” television show, which features heart-wrenching stories of the animals and caregivers who work miracles together at the sanctuary. She called to book a cabin at Best Friends and lucked into a slot created by a cancellation.

Once there, she toured the facilities and signed up for sessions walking dogs, cleaning cat rooms and doing her best to spread affection to as many of the furry residents as possible. Instead of lying on a sun-kissed beach somewhere, she spent days mopping up floors, washing down walls, scrubbing blankets, scouring bowls, scooping poop and feeding the troops.

Asked what the worst part was, however, Kern said, “Thinking about the circumstances of how the animals got there, what they suffered. That broke my heart.”

The other hard part was returning an animal to its cage after spending the night with it in her cabin for a “sleepover.” She remembers Reuben, a chubby older pitbull mix who relished his time relaxing with Kern so much that he refused to get off the bed to go back. And Licorice, the handsome one-eyed feline with “the most adorable little mewl.” And the “super shy, super fearful, yet super beautiful” dog Dandy, who hardly moved a muscle once she hit the bed. “I think she was counting every minute until she was back in her run,” recalls Kern.

She’ll never forget the special animals like Pokey, official greeter at the Kitty Motel, who determinedly drags himself across the floor with his forelegs in spite of paralyzed hind legs. Or Scoots, so-named for his habit of scooting up to folks for affection, despite two amputated hind legs. And she’ll remember the special caregivers who make it possible for the animals to live out the rest of their lives there or until they find their forever homes.

Kern is most grateful for having had the opportunity to make a difference in the animals’ lives, even if for a limited time. “There are so many animals out there that need our help,” she said. “They still have a lot of love to give someone. After all they’ve been through, they still are so trusting.”

She’s determined to carry on with what she learned at Best Friends back here at home. That’s how she ended up at Pets Alive, a no-kill shelter located in Middletown, NY, walking dogs and “loving on” many cats for five hours on a recent weekend.

“They say loving on the animals is one of the most important things a volunteer can do,” explained Kern. “Even if you come and fall asleep with a cat on your lap, that’s volunteering. It helps to socialize the animals.”

Having experienced what she did at Best Friends, Kern said she wishes people would take more responsibility for their pets. “Have them neutered and spayed,” she asserted. “Don’t give them up for stupid reasons. Work through the problems. People can help themselves. Animals can’t.”

For most of us, the end of a vacation means memories of special moments or experiences that fade over time. For Kern, the unusual vacation she chose has opened up a new set of possibilities which have only just begun at Pets Alive.

“It’s a win-win for all. I get to be with lots of different dogs and cats, do a little good, and appease some of my selfishness,” she laughed. “I feel like I have a cause now; whether it’s selfish or doing good, it’s something I want to keep doing.”

Visit www.riverreporter.com/issues/09-11-12/bestfriends.pdf to read Kern’s personal account of her experience at Best Friends. Learn more about Best Friends Animal Sanctuary at bestfriends.org or Pets Alive at petsalive.com.