Sharing Is Year Round at Hope Ranch Rescue Facility (Reprinted from Malibu Surfside News)

Sharing Is Year Round at Hope Ranch Rescue Facility

(Reprinted from Malibu Surfside News, December 31, 2009 Issue) 

THERAPY—Malibuite Trish Van Devere leads Ariel who sits astride a horse also named Ariel around the ring at the Hope Ranch Animal Rescue. Nancy Rosenquist

For the past two years, Hope Ranch Animal Rescue has kept a  low profile nestled behind the Fire Camp on Mulholland Highway. Lori Morris, founder and owner of the 80-acre facility has not found it necessary to advertise her rescue group, the people just keep showing up via word of mouth. Donkeys, Emus, Llamas, birds of all kinds and a mismatched menagerie of horses, young and old, currently reside on the ranch. Hope Ranch fulfills a childhood dream for Morris who has been rescuing and placing animals for most of her life. She now has the time and space to really make a difference.

But Morris has chosen to not stop at just animal rescue. The ranch, a work in progress, is now being offered as a gathering place for groups to experience the connections that can be made between humans and animals. “This is more than just a sanctuary,” says Morris. “It’s an opportunity of offering the calmness of this place through the support of our animal rescue. I want to open [my] doors to others and [create] a mushroom effect.”

This said, Morris recently hosted participants in a Disabled Veterans group who came for the ‘calm’ of the day and a multitude of animal hugs. Morris’ philosophy is simple: “We want to give people a hands on, nice natural feeling. Animals are nurturing. They teach you a lot.”

On Dec. 23, the Friendship Circle, a group of children with special needs, made what Morris hopes will become a yearly visit to Hope Ranch. According to Mariam RavNoy, Program Director, “It costs three times as much to take care of special needs children [in a camp setting]. We have a team of teenage volunteers from throughout the Los Angeles Jewish community who give their time during Winter Camp. Lori is so generous. [Hope Ranch] is therapeutic for the kids, they are really able to connect with the animals here.”

In this time of financial upheaval, as more and more animals are given away and disposed of by their “caring” humans, Morris has not lost sight of what really pulls us through in dire times, “I like to do nice things, that’s what you’re supposed to do in life…give back.”

For more information about Hope Ranch Animal Rescue call 310-457-0213.

BY NANCY ROSENQUIST