Las Vegas' First Animal Sanctuary Will Be Here Soon
An Animal Rights Article from All-Creatures.org

FROM

Paul Graham, Las Vegas Informer
February 2014

If we begin to regard animals of any kind in this way, it should become very difficult for us to imagine this animal as food or some type of other product of some sort. It should be that we would no more want that to happen to them than we would to any human in the same way.

Las Vegas is going have this opportunity very soon when V Animal's Sanctuary opens on the last weekend of March. This 5-acre facility in the southeast part of Las Vegas will be the first sanctuary of its kind here in Las Vegas. It will give people an opportunity to get close to and learn about the variety of animals that will be rescued and find a safe haven there to live.

“Look into their eyes and tell them ‘I’m sorry, you have to die, but I need to eat.’ Look into their eyes and tell them, ‘I know there is an abundance of plant-based foods I could eat, but I would still rather eat you.’ Look into their eyes and tell them, ‘I know I don’t NEED to eat you, but I am going to pay someone else to murder you anyway.’ Look into their yes and tell them, ‘I’m sorry you lived a short, enslaved, abused, and tortured life, but I don’t’ care because I am selfish.’ Look into their eyes and tell them ‘I love my cat/dog, but your life doesn’t matter much.’ Go ahead and take a look in their eyes and tell them that.”
– Jenn V Keller-Lowe

Las Vegas sanctuary Paul Graham
V Animal's Sanctuary

There is something that happens when you are close enough to an animal and look into their eyes. You make eye contact with them and make a connection. It doesn’t take long to realize that you are looking into the eyes of someone, not just some thing. A living, breathing, feeling, caring, sentient being. There is a good chance that they are wondering about you as much as you are wondering about them. Come back in a day or two or a week and they will probably remember you. Watch them for a while and we will notice not only their intelligence, but the grace in which they endeavor to live their lives. The basic kindness that they possess. If we begin to regard animals of any kind in this way, it should become very difficult for us to imagine this animal as food or some type of other product of some sort. It should be that we would no more want that to happen to them than we would to any human in the same way.

Because of where some people live, it is not always easy to have these type of encounters with animals in this way. It is difficult to imagine animals in their natural settings because we rarely see them as such. EIther they are on display in some kind of zoo or show or they are in some kind of production facility where they are being grown and prepared to be food or some type of other product. Because they are in these unnatural settings, we will rarely see animals the way we should see them because they are usually scared, confused, hurting, and sometimes even angry. If we put them in a place that they feel safe and are taken care of, a place where they know that they are free to live and enjoy their lives to the best that they can, we will see the fullness of the beauty of their natures. It is truly a wonder to behold when you do.

Las Vegas is going have this opportunity very soon when V Animal's Sanctuary opens on the last weekend of March. This 5-acre facility in the southeast part of Las Vegas will be the first sanctuary of its kind here in Las Vegas. It will give people an opportunity to get close to and learn about the variety of animals that will be rescued and find a safe haven there to live. The animals will be taken care of and people will be given the opportunity to learn about them, support them, and understand the nature of the wonderful creatures a little bit better. It will not be a place of death, but a place of life, happiness, and education. People, young and old, will be able to come and look into the eyes of the various farm animals, call them by name, and know that what is happening here is the way that it is supposed to be.

The sanctuary will open on Saturday, March 29 and the animals are already beginning to arrive. There is still so much work to be done and volunteers have literally been toiling every day to get it ready for the arrival of more animals and the opening.

This is going to be such a wonderful place to meet not only the animals, but so many terrific and compassionate volunteers and staff that will make this V Animal Sanctuary a very special place in this city. It will become a destination point for many that will come to visit Las Vegas and a place for locals to come individually or as a family to visit, work, and enjoy.

There is going to be a large community garden. There will eventually be a small events center. It is also going to be a model for other sanctuaries like this to open up all over. There are more scheduled group work days coming up this next weekend February 8 and 9 and everyone is invited to come and help out and see the wonderful work that is being done. Donations will be gladly accepted. For more information on The V Animal's Sanctuary, you can go to http://www.vanimalsanctuary.org .

Come and look into the eyes of animal and tell that they are safe and that we are going to work at liberating the rest of them in this generation to come. Shift is happening, and it is happening here in Las Vegas.

Paul Graham was born and raised in Northern California and has lived in Las Vegas since 2004. He is a top wedding officiate, a green Realtor and writer. He has a daily vegan food blog, Eating Vegan in Vegas which is 365 days and 365 vegan meals in Las Vegas.

Paul’s e-book, Eating Vegan in Vegas: If It Can Happen Here, It Can Happen Anywhere is now available at www.sullivanstpress.com. 

Return to Animal Rights Articles