Volunteering on vacation The joy of combining fun and service

for an outing (which I was surprised to learn involves dropping a trail of almonds for the pig to follow).

BY JENNIFER MERRICK

Workon your vacation? Aren’t they supposed to a relaxing time away from obligations? It may seem counterintuitive, but volunteer work could become the most enjoyable part of your getaway. It was for me when I volunteered at Best Friend Animal Sanctuary on a trip to southern Utah. It was my first time, but many helpers are regulars who spend vacation time at the sanctuary year after year.

Located just outside Kanab, a small town near Zion National Park, this animal rescue shelter has served our four-legged friends since 1984. Volunteer opportunities at this 3,700-acre no-kill facility include socializing animals, dog walking, hosting pet sleepovers, helping with housekeeping, or even taking a pig

At Cat World, volunteer Joyce gave me a nametag and I was greeted with a purring leg rub by Abigail, who had been so covered with sores when she arrived that she was nicknamed Scabigail by her previous shelter. Now healthy, she’s one of the approximately 550 cats in the eleven buildings that make up Cat World. Dogtown, Horse Haven, Parrot Garden, Bunny House, and Marshall’s Piggy Paradise are other areas volunteers can work in.

I spent my morning at Morgaine’s House, the “mild” sick building for felines with special needs. Staff member Annabel, who had volunteered for six months before taking a full-time job, assigned some housekeeping tasks and told me that petting and playing with cats was also encouraged for socialization. I bonded with Noelle, a shy little tabby who took to me, and Mosby, an affectionate feline who followed me as I changed bedding, refilled water, and cleaned.

The three-hour shift flew by, and it was with some reluctance that I said goodbye. At the onsite restaurant, Angel Village Café, I lined up with other volunteers, visitors, and staff. Not only was the fivedollar vegetarian lunch tasty, it came with a phenomenal view of Angel Canyon, which shows off Utah’s famous red rocks, pink-tinged peaks, and the white cliffs in the distance.

After lunch, I hiked the Water Canyon Trail and ran into Janet, a volunteer walking an energetic terrier. She was staying at one of the cottages for a week, her second volunteer vacation at Best Friends, and she’d booked another for six months hence because she likes the combination of beauty, animals, and being away from a stressful job. “After a week here, I’m ready to face my life again,” she said. FY

Jennifer Merrick is an awardwinning freelance writer, photographer, and avid traveler based in Toronto.