Photographer, Documentary Journalist Alexandra Buxbaum is the Edge of Humanity Magazine contributor of this documentary photography. From the project ‘A Place to Call Home – Animal Sanctuaries in Arizona’. To see Alexandra’s body of work, click on any image.

A Place to Call Home revolves around 8 Arizona animal sanctuaries and their positive contributions to animal, environmental and community welfare. These organizations support a variety of domesticated and wild animals in the state and include sanctuaries from small independent groups to large well-funded associations.

This photo feature is as much about the animals who have wound up in a sanctuary – their backstories of exploitation and habitat loss – as it is about the caretakers who are dedicated to helping these animals live as naturally as possibly in the world we share.

Each of the sanctuaries in the group of 8 provides their own unique perspective, focus or specialty, and each supports different types of animals such as pigs, raptors, farm animals, horses, factory farm rescues. Plus, native wildlife that includes owls, wild cats, coyotes, skunk, javelina and many others.

As sanctuaries heavily rely on volunteer help with the day-to-day tasks, these images touch upon the selfless service these special individuals and organizations have chosen to dedicate themselves, their time and their hearts.

This is a very special group of people who believe dearly in this cause and want to do everything they can to help these animals that were victims of abuse, neglect, exploitation, habitat loss, or were destined to be slaughtered. They have heard the call to action, the call for help, and they’ve answered that call with their dedication and their service.

A Place to Call Home also addresses this fundamental question…do we as human beings have the unfettered, unrestricted right and authority over all other creatures on this planet and to control, manage and destroy habitats – and even the lives of everything in the path of our wants and needs?

Lamuella Animal Sanctuary
Lamuella Animal Sanctuary is an ethical, vegan sanctuary located in Peoria, Arizona that was founded in 2019, every animal residing there was rescued from some type of exploitation or abuse. Founded in 2019, the sanctuary name is derived from The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy book series where Lamuella is an idyllic planet and home “to the Perfectly Normal Beasts.” Owners and founders Megan and Phil started with the two potbellied pigs they adopted, when approached by a friend of Megan’s father about taking a goat that was part of an FFA program that was finished and would then be sent to slaughter Megan decided “why don’t we just become a sanctuary?” Lamuella provides rescue, rehabilitation, and enrichment to all that live there.