Finding Sanctuary

Walt Whitman wrote, “I think I could turn and live with the animals," and I do -- every chance I get: not just the animals with whom I live but the animals who have been given refuge at sanctuaries. Sanctuaries are sacred places - after all, the word comes from the Latin word sanctus, which means "holy." They provide solace, safety, and lifelong care for animals who have been neglected, abused, and abandoned. They are places where animals heal and people transform. They are where individuals are given names - not numbers -- and who serve as ambassadors for their species. They are places of freedom, hope, and healing - whether they serve farmed animals, wild animals, "exotic" animals, or domestic animals. Join me on a visit to some of my favorite sanctuaries in the United States and across the globe.