You'll have to head to the middle of nowhere to reach Best Friends. After flying into the closest airport - McCarran International in Las Vegas - you'll need to drive some four hours into the Red Rock region of southern Utah. It'll be worth the effort, though, because Best Friends is the largest no-kill animal sanctuary in the US, and one of the most tourist-friendly: some 20,000 people a year come to spend time at Best Friends, communing with the critters and scooping a little poop.

Over 1500 animals are cared for at Best Friends on any given day, in separate areas known as Dogtown, Catworld, Feathered Friends, Bunny House, and Horse Haven. None is ever euthanized for being ill, or anti-social; if one is considered unadoptable, it's cared for at the sanctuary for the rest of its natural life.

Best Friends offers much more than just a safe haven for abused, neglected, and unwanted animals. They also offer workshops and internships, study programs for vet students, and field trips for schoolchildren.

Best Friends receives virtually no corporate funding, and relies almost entirely on the generosity of its members. Why not become one? For a $25 donation, you'll receive a subscription to Best Friends magazine, so please click on www.bestfriends.com and join today!