Testimonial from a workshop participant

I was at this last Sanctuary workshop and want to thank you again for all the time and effort you and everyone else put into making it such an awesome experience! I haven't stopped raving about it yet to everyone I see.
A few years ago I attended a weekend workshop on How to Start a Sanctuary in another state. Although it is a beautiful sanctuary and they do wonderful things for the animals, I didn't feel that I learned very much on all that is involved in actually starting a sanctuary. There was a lot of focus on negativity, such as animal abuse and getting animal abusers prosecuted, etc. They were very negative about animal control officers and I have to admit we have a wonderful animal control officer here in Roseburg, who attends all of our humane society meetings even on his days off and who goes out of his way to help people and animals both and to get the abusers prosecuted. Anyway, it was less than I had hoped for at that workshop. In contrast, my experience at Best Friends far exceeded my hopes and expectations and all of it done in a positive, uplifting and humerous way. We all know about the sad, negative aspects of animal abuse and neglect and are all doing what we can to stop it, but there is so much more involved in starting and operating a successful sanctuary. I can't even express how impressed I was with the whole experience and how sad and yet peaceful I felt driving away from B. F. One thing, along with everything else, that struck me as I drove away was the feeling that it really isn't only about the animals. After my week there I felt a change of heart towards people as well and was determined to make more of an effort to treat people in a kinder way, more patient and accepting and less judgemental. So, thank all of you also for that. You are all such a blessing! I am still hoping to start a sanctuary here in Roseburg . So I will continue in that direction and hope it all comes together some day. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart! Peace to the animals and all living things, Karleen