Rolling Dog Ranch

[plumtreeblossom]

I've shared this link here before, but there are a lot of new people on my friend list who probably haven't seen it. And for me, it's always worth revisiting.

This is Rolling Dog Ranch, an animal sanctuary in Montana for disabled dogs, cats and horses. A wonderful couple named Steve Smith and Alayne Marker bought the ranch almost 10 years ago in order to devote their lives to helping the kinds of animals who might never have found help anywhere else. Some are blind but otherwise healthy, while others have more severe physical challenges. Some are suitable for adoption to loving homes, while others, particularly those with mobility-related handicaps, call the ranch home for life. All of them are dearly loved, often for the first time in their lives. Dogs roll when they're happy; hence the ranch's name.

On the website you can meet each of the animals and read their stories. There's a blog that shares the day-to-day doings on the ranch. Local volunteers and donations from around the world keep the sanctuary running. That, and a lot of heart. Sometimes when I'm feeling disgusted with humanity, I stop back at the website to remind myself that there are some truly wonderful people in this world.

And lots of rolling dogs.

Comments

[weegoddess.livejournal.com]

This post made me sniffle; I'm reading 'Finding Your Own North Star' again and this ranch sounds like exactly what folks get up to when they follow their hearts.

Thank you for posting this.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Hugs! The site has made me sniffle, too. The first time I stumbled on the site years ago I fully wept, and I've been following it ever since. I wept again when my favorite of their cats, a profoundly disabled little darling named Champagne Bob, passed on from old age. If I ever find myself out that way, I'd love to visit them.

[kalliejenn2.livejournal.com]

rolling dogs make me particularly happy :)

[seaweedgirle.livejournal.com]

Thank you SO MUCH for telling us about this Website and sanctuary!

[scholargipsy.livejournal.com]

Midori-chan, the cat we foster at Animal Rescue Kansai, is crippled in her hind legs. I really enjoyed reading about the RDR, and like you, it helps sustain my faith in people's potential for compassion. I shared the link with Kat; I think she'll like it too.

My mother said to me recently that of all the things she'd inculcated in my sister and me, she was gladdest to see our love of animals. I don't do nearly as much as a lot of people do, but I do think that compassion for animals is one of the best yardsticks of goodness there is.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mattt/]

The temptation to quit my job and go start my own home for disabled animals now is overwhelming. The story is so inspiring. I do envy those who are able to follow their dreams.