Fifth Grade
Worksheets
Best Friends Animal Society
Throughout history there have been homeless animals. Many animals find their way to animal shelters. Once at the shelter, some are adopted. Some are very sick or old. They do not get adopted. Instead, these animals are sometimes put to sleep. In the 1980s, about seventeen million dogs and cats were put to sleep in shelters each year. Today, that number is much less because of places like Best Friends Animal Society.
Best Friends began in the 1970s. It started in Arizona. It was a place for "unadoptable" animals to go. It was known as the sanctuary. The founders gave those animals the care they needed. They found homes for them. Some did not find homes. Those animals stayed at the sanctuary until they passed away. Best Friends' goal is for there to be "No More Homeless Pets."
Today the sanctuary is at Angel Canyon in Utah. Animals arrive from all over the U.S. and abroad. About two thousand dogs, cats, and other animals call it home. The animals get the special care that they need. Experts take care of the animals. Veterinarians, trainers, and caregivers care for the animals. Many animals only need to spend a few weeks there. Good homes are then found for them. Some are not adopted. They spend the rest of their lives at the sanctuary.
