Like most college students, I have been blessed with long winter breaks. However, instead of spending the entire time binge-watching Netflix, although it was very tempting, nine others and I flew out to Utah for a week and dedicated ourselves to service. Each year our college, Saint Michael's, sets up both domestic and international service trips through our MOVE (Mobilization of Volunteer Efforts) department. These trips are very competitive, due to the fact that nearly 70 percent of our study body population participates in MOVE in some way at least once. Being chosen for this opportunity has changed my life.
Now, you might be wondering why ten people decided to fly to Utah to volunteer. Utah just so happens to be the home of the nation's largest no-kill animal sanctuary, Best Friends, which houses nearly 1,700 animals. Here, we learned a great deal about animals, their caregivers, and ourselves. We had the chance to sit in on informative presentations by inspiring intellectuals, but also to work hand-in-hand with many animals in need.
We were able to work with nearly every animal department that the sanctuary has. By doing so, we learned how many of the "domestic" pets that people keep are not meant to be domesticated animals. Parrots, like many other birds, are among the wild animals that caught and put in domestic situations. Many people do not realize how much effort needs to be put in to take care of these magical birds, many of which can live up to 80 years.
We then ventured off to DogWorld, the dog section of the sanctuary, where we played with puppies, walked older dogs, and scooped a lot of poop, which seemed to be a reoccurring theme throughout the trip. We had the opportunity to sit in on a presentation of the horrors of puppy mills by Dr. Frank McMillian, where he informed us about the awful things that these animals have to go through. Remember to always adopt and never shop when looking for an animal companion! Most pet stores sell puppies that come from puppy mills and buying from them will just continue to perpetuate the mills. Instead, adopt or buy from a small breeder.
Our next stop was Horse Haven and Piggy Paradise, where we continued to scoop up poop, but we also bonded with the horses, pigs, and goats who lived there. It was there that we learned the ugly truth about the adorable new fad of teacup pigs, who are bred as early as possible and starved to stunt their growth. Once bought, these pigs have to continue to be starved in order to keep their size. As disturbing as this is, many people don’t realize this and end up giving them up for adoption once they grow to their true full size.
We also ventured off to CatWorld, my personal favorite part of the trip. We socialized with many cats, including those with special needs. Seeing the special needs cats living happily along with the healthy cats was truly eye opening. These cats aren’t much different than the others, they just need more attention and care. We sat in on a presentation about TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return), which keeps feral cats from mating and from being killed. To learn how you can help this cause, visit the Best Friends website to learn what you can do in your area.
Spending the week in Kanab, Utah went much faster than I had originally thought. I truly believe that it was the best week of my life so far. We had the amazing opportunity to work with animals and the inspiring people who work with them on a daily basis. I encourage you to give up part of your vacations and commit to service, whether it's through your school's programs or by yourself. If animals aren’t your forte, then I challenge you to see how you can help those in need in your area. Committing to service is liberating and you can learn so much about yourself and those who you work with.
