I posted something on this over in media, but I thought maybe here might be better.
Does anyone else watch? I love this show, and am just dying to go out there and volunteer with them. I find it odd they are located in the part of Utah that has so many polygamists. It just seems peculiar. But it's also in the "Golden Circle" of southwest National Parks, so that would be the other big deal about going there.
Has anyone here ever been to Dogtown itself? The scenery is just spectacular, but the animals are even more fantastic.
I've watched 2 episodes. I never know when it is on or I'd watch it more often. I saw the one where they were rehabilitating the Michael Vick dogs.
CF Scorpio Wrote:I've watched 2 episodes. I never know when it is on or I'd watch it more often. I saw the one where they were rehabilitating the Michael Vick dogs.
I saw that one, too. In my area it's Friday night at ten, but it repeats throughout the week at odd times on NatGeo.
This is the third season, I've been watching it since the beginning because I've been donating to Best Friends for about 8 years now and it's a thrill to see a show about a part of the sanctuary, especially since I love dogs more than anything.
Little Aristotle, the terrier mix who arrived with severe mange and no hair, I followed his story on their Guardian Angels blog last year as it was happening. It took ages for them to figure out what was wrong with him in real time, I cried every time they updated his post, he's so sweet. After a few months there was adopted by a couple who have adopted several dogs over the years, many of them from Best Friends, many of them with medical problems. The couple also posted a couple of updates about how he's doing with them, he's pretty okay now, except for his eyes, he needs drops each day, and he's as happy as can be. He got toys and shirts sent to him from around the world thanks to the Guardian Angels blog.
I think I'll join that after we get home from our Great Plains Trip. BJ is afraid we'll adopt something if we go out there, but that doesn't mean we won't go!
Haven't been but have seriously looked at internships, housing, jobs etc. there.
I was volunteering for a writing project for them, but it was not very organized so it never took off.
I highly recommend checking out their site:
http://www.bestfriends.org/ and becoming a member for as little as $25.
kirby Wrote:Haven't been but have seriously looked at internships, housing, jobs etc. there.
I was volunteering for a writing project for them, but it was not very organized so it never took off.
I highly recommend checking out their site: http://www.bestfriends.org/ and becoming a member for as little as $25.
Thanks. That's what we plan to do when we get home.
When you were checking things out, did you hear if polygamy is a big deal in the area, by any chance?
I haven't seen the show (no cable) but I've read the book. Last Christmas I got my three nieces presents from the Best Friends store and also bought them the book. Apparently the presents were a real hit - they have a rescue dog and over the summer they fostered a pregnant dog who had 9 puppies, so they are real fans of animal rescue.
If you have young relatives you buy gifts for, I highly recommend their store.
They are known as the Grand Fromage, so to speak, in the shelter world. Everyone aspires to be like them!
eslbee, From what I could gather from online research Kanab is slightly more liberal-minded. Many of the residents work for Best Friends and are not originally from the area, so they are generally less conservative. BUT, Kanab town government, like much of Utah, is run by conservative Christians. Not all Mormons are polygamists and that is NOT the dominant feeling there, but the conservative Christian movement is.
Also, I have known several Mormons and non-Mormons from Utah. Polygamists are the red-headed step-children of the area.
I would love to work there and would pack up in a second if I were single, but I don't think I'd be happy there too long. It's very isolated and I think being surrounded by uber-conservatives would be too much for me. I can barely tolerate Texas! There are also no jobs that DH would be a fit for, so it's just not going to work for us long-term. I did look at the internships last year, but they are unpaid and I don't have enough money to take an unpaid internship, pay for room and board, transportation and lose my job here.
Thanks, kirby. I asked becasue hey! we're gay and we make no effort to hide it. Just wondering if staying in Kanab was going to be a problem, but probably not. I'd like to stay at Best Friends, and I know we can, but chances are we'll want to go swim after a day at the shelter.
Now, if there are handy streams and swimmin' holes, we don't need a pool!
Ahh, I see.
I did find that the mayor of Kanab issued some BS about a "Natural Family"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanab,_Utah
yet another reason DH and I wouldn't feel comfortable living there. It's difficult enough to live in Texas.
Kanab does look like a beautiful place to visit though, you'll have to keep us posted and post lots and lots of pictures if you go!
I love that show, it's heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.
kirby Wrote:Ahh, I see.
I did find that the mayor of Kanab issued some BS about a "Natural Family" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanab,_Utah
yet another reason DH and I wouldn't feel comfortable living there. It's difficult enough to live in Texas.
Kanab does look like a beautiful place to visit though, you'll have to keep us posted and post lots and lots of pictures if you go!
Hmmm . . . . it's those nutty quiver-full people again. Well, I guess if we were ever going to live there, we'd better live on the Arizona side of the border. Not that we intend any such thing.
If we go, it'll be next spring, and of course i'll keep you all informed, right up to where they try to run us out of town on a rail in tar and feathers. After that, it would be anyone's guess.
ETA: WonderWoman, I know; sometimes they die, but at least no one is hurting them anymore. It's easier to watch than
Animal Cops, but I can't resist those, either.