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10 Animal Sanctuaries Around the World Worth Supporting

8/31/2015

So many sanctuaries around the world are doing some amazing things for animals. Animals who have spent the majority of their lives in testing labs, performing at theme parks or zoos, in factory farms, or just animals who have been permanently injured are now able to live the remainder of their lives comfortably with a sense of freedom. Sanctuaries need the support from visitors, volunteers and anyone willing to donate. When traveling to a new city, visiting a sanctuary is an extremely rewarding way to spend your time.

Here are 10 great sanctuaries around the world.

Boon’s Lott Sanctuary, Thailand

Katherine Connor started Boon’s Lott Sanctuary (BLES), in memory of the baby elephant, Boon Lott, which means “survivor” in Thai. With 500 acres of forested land, the rescued and retired elephants are able to roam and interact freely. Boon’s Lott Sanctuary is passionate about rescuing and protecting Thailand’s elephants from abuse and ultimate extinction. Guests can visit the sanctuary, but BLES believes in keeping guest numbers low so you need to book your visit months in advance! If you choose to visit an elephant sanctuary (or any sanctuary for that matter), make sure the sanctuary is doing what it claims. Many “sanctuaries” in Thailand are tourist traps that exploit the animals by making them perform or give people rides, rather than actually caring for and protecting the animals.

Vervet Monkey Foundation, Tzaneen, South Africa

The Vervet Monkey Foundation is a non-profit organization that focuses on rehabilitation, education and provides sanctuary to over 500 primates. Located in Tzaneen in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, Vervet Monkey Foundation takes in ex-laboratory, injured, abused, orphaned primates or unwanted pets. There are opportunities for volunteers, gap year students, vet nurses and anyone interested or involved in primate conservation.

Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary, Florida, USA

Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary is a non-profit organization that provides permanent care for New World monkeys who have been confiscated by authorities, are ex-pets or are retired from laboratory research. I personally spent a day volunteering at Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary when I attended University of Florida in Gainesville. While it is sad to see these monkeys suffering from physical and mental illnesses, it is rewarding to spend a day helping out.

Not only is Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary devoted to ensuring the best quality of life for the monkeys at their facility, but they are also committed to education and advocacy in the interest of all captive non-human primates. They work with government agencies, other credible animal sanctuaries, qualified individuals and other primate/animal protection organizations to find placement for unwanted monkeys and to fight against the exploitation of captive primates.

The Donkey Sanctuary, UK

The Donkey Sanctuary, founded in 1969 by Dr. Elisabeth Svendsen, is devoted to transforming the quality of life for donkeys, mules and people around the world through increased understanding, support and collaboration. Donkeys and mules are often taken advantage of because of their hardworking nature. The Donkey Sanctuary provides a permanent home and veterinary care to the animals in need. Visitors have the opportunity to meet around 500 of the 3,000 donkeys that are in the care of The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth. There are various other donkey assisted therapy centers located in different cities worth visiting as well. The Sidmouth location is open 365 days a year!

Freedom Hill Sanctuary, Australia

Located in the Adelaide Hills in South Australia, Freedom Hill Sanctuary is the first sanctuary for farmed animals in South Australia. Dedicated to providing a caring home for exploited and neglected farm animals, Freedom Hill wants to change how people view farm animals. They educate and promote cruelty-free living. They also spend a lot of time working on Vegan Online, a website devoted to cruelty free shopping for anyone who cares about animals. Donate, volunteer at Freedom Hill or adopt a hen!

China Bear Rescue Center, China

The China Bear Sanctuary includes 11 bear houses, 15 natural and semi-natural enclosures with two special-care enclosures, along with a fully-equipped veterinary hospital, a public education classroom, a sheltered quarantine area, staff and worker accommodation, an administrative block, an herb garden for growing natural alternatives to bear bile, a staff canteen kitchen, a bear kitchen, a bear cemetery and a macaque enclosure. The first 63 bears arrived at the China Bear Sanctuary in 2000 when the Chinese government gave the rescue center access to an abandoned wildlife sanctuary. The China Bear Rescue Center not only provides a safe haven for rescued bears, but it is also devoted to educating people about the cruelties of bile farming.

Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, Borneo

Founded in 1964, Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary is 43 sq km of protected land at the edge of Kabili Sepilok Forest Reserve. The organization began as a rehabilitation center for orphaned orangutans and houses between 60 to 80 orangutans that roam free in the reserve today. In addition, around 25 young orphaned orangutans are housed in the nurseries. The Sepilok visitor center is open daily to the public.

La Senda Verde Bolivia Wildlife Sanctuary, Bolivia

The Bolivia Wildlife Sanctuary is one of South America’s leading sanctuaries for illegally trafficked wildlife. Located about 100 km from La Paz, the Bolivia Wildlife Sanctuary is now working with the government’s Environmental Ministry. It cares for hundreds of rescued animals, which includes, wild cats, monkeys, exotic birds and endangered spectacled bears. Volunteers are needed and depending on the amount of time and interests of the volunteer, tasks can be tailored to the individual. Volunteering is often very hands on since many of the rescued animals came from the pet trade and will not be capable of being released. Volunteers are asked to stay a minimum of two weeks at La Senda Verde.

Animal Kingdom Foundation, Philippines

The Animal Kingdom Foundation fights against the dog meat trade in the Philippines. The Animal Kingdom has rescued thousands of dogs from slaughter and houses them in their Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. The rescued dogs are readied for adoption. The dogs that do not get adopted are cared for throughout their lives at the center. The Animal Kingdom works to promote an animal-welfare-conscious-society.

Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), California, USA

The Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) has been working to rescue and provide sanctuary for animals that have been victims of the exotic and performing animal trades since 1984. Rescued animals live in natural habitats and are never bred, sold, traded, rented, or forced to perform. PAWS aims to educate people on the problems of breeding wildlife in captivity and animals used in entertainment. Support PAWS by donating, volunteering or adopting an animal.

While these 10 sanctuaries around the world are amazing, there are so many other sanctuaries doing important work as well. Do some research and find sanctuaries to support near where you live or plan a volunteer trip abroad. Many sanctuaries offer guests day tours as well. Stay away from supporting theme parks or animal entertainment shows, as animals are often mistreated and not properly cared for.

Sanctuaries generally have the animals’ best interest in mind and can always use the support from caring individuals!

This article was originally published on elephant journal. You can find it here.

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15 Things My Parents Taught Me That I'll Pass On To My Own Children

8/25/2015

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There are certain things your parents tell you while growing up that always stick with you for one reason or another. Some phrases are the same classic lines that virtually all parents use, while other phrases are your parents own original way of getting their point across. As the oldest of four daughters, I grew up in a pretty big family for this day and age. I was raised in South Florida by my mom and dad. My whole family has always been really close. Like most parents I assume, my parents gave us some advice that always stuck with me. These 15 phrases made an impression on me, and I will be sure to pass them along to my own kids one day.

1. “You can always count on your family.”
Whether we were going off to college, having trouble with a friend, or just feeling low, my mom always made sure we knew that my family was there for us. Family has always been extremely important to my mom, and for that reason, it became important to me. It is nice knowing that no matter what, I always have my family to rely on. I love the relationship I have with my three sisters as well as my parents. My sisters and I tell each other everything, and I tell my parents virtually everything as well (minus a few minor details ;)). When I have a family one day I always want to reassure my own children that they can always count on their family in any situation, no matter if they are home, or living a million miles away.

2. “Don’t do anything stupid!”
I will always remember my dad saying this to me everytime I was going out. It’s the type of phrase you roll your eyes at as you walk out the door. But it is also the type of phrase you think about right before you are going to “do something stupid.” My parents aren’t idiots. They know that having four teenage/twenty something year old daughters means that we are going to go out and party and have a good time. But they also know that overall we are all good kids. They warn us but then let us make our own decisions, making us even more determined not to disappoint them.

3. “Get an education.”
Education has always been my mom’s number one priority. She made sure we knew that school was our job and getting bad grades wasn’t an option. She wanted to feel as if she did everything in her power to make sure we were set up for success. She said it was mandatory for all of her kids to go to college. After college, we could do whatever we wanted. She never wanted to feel as if she didn’t push us to have every possible opportunity within our reach. I’m glad she cared so much.

4. “You are beautiful.”
Beauty is such an important thing in our society. People are always trying to do everything they can to make themselves more “beautiful.” My parents have always told us how beautiful we are. My dad always made sure he told us that we are much more beautiful without makeup on, because there is nothing like natural beauty. Having your parents tell you they think you are beautiful is something that every girl needs to hear growing up. Yes, every parent thinks their own children are perfect, so why not let them know?

5. "It’s nice to be beautiful, but it’s more beautiful to be nice.”
Like I said before, our society values beauty. But my parents made it clear that beauty is not the most important thing. If you happen to have good looks, lucky for you. However, in the end looks don’t really mean much if you are not a good person. I will never forget my dad’s famous words, “it’s nice to be beautiful, but it’s more beautiful to be nice.” Simple as that.

6. “Girls can be a dime a dozen.”
My mom loves saying this one. I am sure it is not easy raising four daughters. My parents always wanted us to respect ourselves. I will never forget sitting at the table during dinner and hearing my mom tell us about why we shouldn’t be promiscuous high school girls. She told us that in the end, guys don’t respect the ones that run around because those girls don’t respect themselves. She set the bar high for us but I am all the better for it.

7. “Check out that lizard!”
Getting out in nature was essential in my dad’s technique in raising us. At the age of 9, my sisters and I were given a kayak. At the age of 12, my sisters and I were given a surfboard. We took tons of family trips to the Everglades, to kayak around Key Biscayne, or to just play frisbee at the park. TV? I barely knew what that was. I spent my free time running around the neighborhood playing manhunt or having water balloon fights. My dad was always pointing out the different wildlife wherever we were. To this day my dad gets disappointed if we can’t name the various kinds of birds in South Florida. As kids, he would take us in the backyard and show us the lizards. He would point out how the male lizard would do his little dance and pop out the weird red thing from his neck to attract the females. It seems like something so small, but there is no doubt I will take the time to show my kids the lizards one day.

8. “Your word is everything.”
If you say something, you better mean it. My parents told us that going back on your word lowers your character. If someone says something, you need to be able to trust that what they say is true. Once you break that trust, no one will believe anything that comes out of your mouth anymore. If you do something wrong, own up to it. In the end, staying true to your word is more respectable than lying or trying to cover up.

9. “Don’t use words like ‘gay’ or ‘retarded’ to say something negative.”
You hear it all the time. People are constantly saying things like “Man, I hated that movie. It was so retarded.” Or “Why don’t you wanna go out tonight? You’re just gonna stay home? That’s so gay!” My parents told us that it doesn’t sound nice to use words like that in a negative way. There happen to be people who are retarded and there happen to be people who are gay and it is not a bad thing. It sounds like you are putting those people down when you use those words negatively, even if that’s not what you mean. I listened to my parents. I don’t use those words and I will make sure my kids don’t say things like that either.

10. “Don’t be cheap and don’t date someone who is cheap.”
It is one thing to be smart with your money, but it is another thing to be cheap. My parents let us know the importance of being generous. Neither one of my parents came from a lot of money. They worked hard for what they have today. But at no point in their lives did my parents think it was okay to be cheap. My mom says that even though my dad didn’t have a lot of money when they started dating, he always treated her. That tells you something about someone’s character. My mom advises all of her daughters to never date a guy who is cheap because if you marry someone who is cheap, money will always be an issue. Be generous and money will come.

11. “The dirtier you are, the more fun you had.”
After a family day of biking, kayaking, snorkeling, or tree climbing, we would always be filled with dirt, seawater, and sand. But it didn’t matter because like my dad always said, “the dirtier you are, the more fun you had.”

12. “Don’t settle.”
My parents let us know that we deserved the best. Whether it came to relationships, jobs, or anything else, my parents always told us not to settle. If I had doubts about the guy I was seeing, my parents would tell me that it’s better to be single than to waste my time dating someone who wasn’t right for me. If I was no longer happy at work, my parents told me maybe it was time to move on to something bigger and better. Of course, there are times that are worth working through, but if something truly is no longer benefitting you, then don’t settle.

13. “Find someone who makes you happy.”
It sounds cliché but being with someone who makes you happy is all that matters. Looks, money, and most other things are not forever. But if you are with someone who is happy and makes you happy, you’ve got everything you need.

14. “Not everyone is as fortunate as you are.”
It is easy to get caught up in your little bubble of a life. That is why it is so important to take a step outside and realize that there are so many things going on that you don’t see on a regular basis. I am lucky to live the life I live, but not everyone is so fortunate. My parents made sure to reinforce the fact that we should appreciate everything we have.

15. “The Universe will provide.”
This is one of my dad’s favorites. Everything works itself out. There is no need to spend your time constantly worrying, because in the end, it will all be okay. Even if one little thing doesn’t happen exactly how you had hoped, in the scheme of things, it won’t even matter. As long as you are being a good person, keeping a positive attitude, and following your heart, then “the universe will provide.”

Originally published by Thought Catalog at www.thoughtcatalog.com

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10 Animal Sanctuaries Around the World Worth Supporting

15 Things My Parents Taught Me That I'll Pass On To My Own Children

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