Living Free has taken animal rescue to a level unmatched. The way they care for the animals and put the animals first in everything they do is great. Bedrooms with beds, outdoor area at night, and daytime runs allow the dogs to be dogs and enjoy life. The cats have indoor and outdoor areas where they can play, sleep, or hide giving them the opportunity to just relax until their new family arrives.
We adopted Sophie from Living Free in October of 2013. She is now 15 years old and is doing GREAT!!! She is a beautiful Westie Mix and our cats just love her. She is so well behaved and we were so lucky that she came that way. Thank you Living Free for rescuing her and placing her in our forever home!!
I visited Living Free after hearing about them at a local mall that they have a store in. They had the most adorable and friendly cat that was up for adoption. All the animals look like they are well taken care of. Friendly volunteers and workers.
My relationship with Living Free began in August 2018. I knew that I wanted to adopt a dog and I knew I wanted a Chihuahua. I sat in a little yard at Living Free, right outside of their small dog kennel. They were going to let a few Chihuahuas at a time for me to get to know them. Once the kennel door opened, a beautiful girl named Pebbles ran out and jumped in my lap and claimed me as her Dad! It took 30 seconds.
Pebbles quickly grew into my best friend and she and I are basically inseparable. Wherever I go, Pebbles comes along. She is a loving, caring, sweet girl who loves interacting with other people sharing her loving vibes. Pebbles has been trained and accredited as an AKC Canine Good Citizen. She went through further training and testing to become a therapy dog and we volunteer together with children and the elderly who can benefit the from animal therapy.
My connection to Living Free has continued over the years. Their mission of rescuing dogs (and cats) of imminent death from kill shelters is very important to me. Not only does Living Free save the lives of animals, it provides them the most unique life of truly living free across their 155 acres of their sanctuary.
Living Free has also begun a new program on using horses as a way to help Veterans transition from military life to civilian life.
Their mission, the staff, and the heroic efforts to save the lives of animals is truly unique. My passion and interest in Living Free never waned and I stayed close to the organization. I'm proud to say that I'm now a member of the Living Free Board of Directors so I can help even a little bit to help the organization grow to help more animals and more people grow and thrive.
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Living Free Animal Sanctuary is a special place doing great work in support of animals, horses and veterans. Thank you!
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Twenty-two years ago when I moved to the desert, I looked for an animal rescue to volunteer at and help. I found Living Free. Every time I went there it was like being on vacation. I was really impressed with the catteries. I loved that the cats could roam around, and I could sit and pet them and get to know their unique personalities. It is the best way to find a cat to adopt. Years later, Living Free is even better. They have a store front at the mall that helps them not only adopt out pets but also get good publicity. They continue to find ways to improve.
Living Free cares about their animals. Dogs are trained to make them better, more adoptable animals. The cats don't all hide when a stranger comes into their area because they are cared for and loved. This is the most outstanding animal rescue run by people who really care.
I started volunteering at Living Free in 1981, soon after it opened, just walking and bathing dogs and cuddling cats. After several years break I returned to help in the Visitors Center, greeting visitors and doing data entry of volunteer hours and visitors. To this day I still do data entry but from home.
All that to say I really do know this wonderful sanctuary, the ongoing commitment of Staff and volunteers to maintain a healthy, comfortable and comforting place for animals that have faced trauma, mistreatment or homelessness. How scared animals are given time and love to gain confidence and acceptance of human caring.
My cat and dog both came from Living Free, both rescued from the same shelter.
Every penny donated is wisely used to support the programs of Living Free Animal Sanctuary. Money well invested.
Pam Fitchett
Hey everyone ,it's been awhile.My name is David kay, a former voluteer for Living Free.I volunteered on a weekly basis for nearly 4 years . My time at Living Free meant a great deal to me .I kept the dogs yards cleaned and their pens washed down and made sure the dogs bowls were cleaned and filled with fresh water ...But my favorite part was spending time with the dogs and walking them to the dog park and let them run free for awhile. I loved those dogs and they loved me! When Covid hit I had to quit my volunteer work ,I'm sad to say I haven't been able to return ....I want to say I saw Living Free help so many beautiful dogs find their forever home .Living Free is fantastic Non profit and I encourage everybody to contribute in any way you can. I will never forget my time at Living Free and the great people
I met there and the wonderful four legged friends I keep in my heart. ...David Kay
Living Free is a wonderful organization whose heart is with giving those in need a second chance. A beautiful setting in the mountains with cool breezes in the summer. And they do free reserved tours on Saturdays to see the adoptable cats and dogs, plus the mustangs of War Horse Creek!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Living Free Sanctuary (LFS). I adopted my beautiful and loving fur babies, Angel and Valentina, from LFS. If you've never visited LFS, I strongly recommend you schedule a tour. It truly is a Sanctuary. Photo: Valentina on the left and Angel on the right
My son and I visited the Living Free Animal Sanctuary this afternoon! What a truly amazing and joyful experience. We were warmly greeted by Scott and Jill who took us on a truly memorable tour. All of the animals were happy, healthy and the facility is so clean and beautifully maintained. All of the animals have names and you can tell they are loved and taken care of. All all the animal homes have large outdoor and indoor space complete with misters and heaters. We were able to pet a beautiful horse named Emmy and a donkey named Donald. I am a cat lover so the visit to the cattery was my favorite. We got to love and play with kittens and cats. Such perfect indoor and protected outdoor space for the kitties. No attention to detail is spared in taking care of all of the animals. The staff is the best. We will visit often and help support this magical place.
Living Free Sanctuary is a blessing! An incredible organization with dedicated volunteers who truly are making a difference for animals every day. So many animals have received loving care & placed in forever homes. I absolutely love seeing the animal profiles for those available for adoption.
Living Free provides a warm and loving refuge for dogs, cats and horses in a spectacular setting. Animals at other shelters are given a second chance. This includes many older animals who can live out their lives in a beautiful setting with the comforts of home and the beautiful outdoors.
I adopted a sweet puppy from Living Free 4 years ago. It was a very good experience. The staff were great. They love what they do. I was referred by one of their volunteers. I highly recommend this Organization.
My pup JoJo, not Beanz
Love this rescue and the great work they do even in these trying times to save previous lives. Please consider rescuing from them and financially supporting them.
Been associate with Living Free and the wonderful loving work they do for the animals.. If I was a dog, I would lve to be there.
What an amazing place! We ran across Living Free while coming home from a weekend getaway. I had been very seriously thinking of adding a dog to our family & my husband encouraged me to stop. I’m so thankful I did. We found the perfect dog for us. Edgar & the entire staff were so helpful, thoughtful, loving to their animals and protective of them. Their number one concern was what was best for the dogs and cats & finding the right forever home for each one. I will forever be thankful for Living Free. I can’t recommend highly enough!
We have adopted 3 babies from Living Free. The love the staff and volunteers have for the animals is beautiful. I can see that my donations go to the animals and the grounds. Great stewardship!!
We adopted our sweet dog, Happy from Living Free Animal Sanctuary. They are amazing! We were so pleased with everything from start to finish. He is a perfect fit for our family. They really care about all the animals and it shows in the beautiful sanctuary they created. We would love to go back and volunteer someday soon.
Living Free is an amazing place. The location alone draws you in and makes you feel that these animals truly live free. From the large outdoor dog runs to the spacious catios, the animals have tons of space and are clearly well-loved. Living Free also has a wonderful program using rescued mustangs for veterans called War Horse Creek.
Living Free Animal Sanctuary is an excellent non-profit organization that provides wonderful care for the dogs and cats they rescue from kill facilities. They also now have a program which uses horses to assist Veterans. I gladly donate monthly and prior to Covid pandemic was pleased to volunteer in the Cattery so I have seen first hand what a well run organization and how truly caring the people are there.
We toured the facility, starting some time back, and were so amazed at the level of love and care these rescued animals receive. Kennels are immaculate. The cat houses always puts a smile on our faces. When our beloved dogs passed, we donated a kennel, etc. to them. We were so impressed that we donate funds on a monthly basis. Our eldest granddaughter adopted a snuggle pup from them❣️
LF is a terrific organization. The Mountain Center location is absolutely beautiful and the facilities are clean, orderly, and humane. All the rescues given the best care possible and treated with kindness and compassion. Their staff is dedicated, well-trained, informative, and eager to answer questions. I would highly recommend visiting Living Free if you are looking to adopt a rescue.
M Lee
Living Free is a unique animal sanctuary in the mountains. My husband and I were fortunate enough to tour their facilities. We were very impressed. We especially enjoyed visiting the cattery and meeting some of the cats. Whenever we are ready to adopt again, we plan on coming back to Living Free.
I’ve been a supporter of Living Free for well over 30 years. I visited it many years ago and was so impressed that I wanted to donate to them, as I lived too far out of town to be a regular volunteer. I did get to volunteer once there, and loved it. Living Free is a wonderful organization.
My wife and I went to Living Free Sept 2018 for our third anniversary. We just happened by, to check it out. We were looking for a kitty. We found and adopted our Bagel. I have to tell you they were so great, we have the best cat ever. He is loving, gives kisses, loves his big brother Frankee. Bagel has learned to fetch, catch his toys, and he brings them back to me. Bagel always laugh smile at things he does. Working from home for the last 16 months, Bagel has been by my side, on my laptop, chewed 3 head set wire's and one keyboard wire. He truly puts a smile on our face. I do believe the first 3 months after he was born at Living Free they gave him the best care, along with his 6 brothers and sisters. Those first 3 months there is why he is so lovable, sweet, funny and we love him so much. I wish we could of taken one of his brothers or sisters, but we live in condo that only let's you have one pet.
Thank you for all you do, we will be back!!!
Adopted my sweet Toph in March of this year. Living Free is a wonderful organization and I would highly recommend them. The employees are kind and knowledgeable and treat the animals with love.
I have long supported Living Free and their work to save animals. I have my own animal welfare non-profit and have worked with them during animal adoption events, and even to help animals when the wildfires impacted their sanctuary. During my experience, the team at Living Free has the purest truest love for animals and wonderful intentions in their work. I have witnessed them go above and beyond, far before the duty of their jobs. Living Free to me is one of the most genuine rescues in Southern California, with good honest life-saving work for animals.
-Bianca Rae
Living Free Is a great place to visit and adopt a pet. I adopted my cat from Living Free 5 years ago. She is one of the best Kitties I have ever had. She is definitely made my life more interesting and she is very affectionate.
We were fortunate to have a tour of Living Free recently and found the staff to be very dedicated, friendly and helpful. All of the animals were very well cared for and their living areas as well as the entire property was immaculate.
I have visited Living Free several times and have been impressed with the caring and friendly staff. Last year I attended a meeting about War Horse Creek, an equine-based program for veterans sponsored by Living Free. It was educational, moving, and I came away with a little more understanding and much respect for veterans struggling with PTSD.
I am a Georgia resident and have visited many times. It is a very spiritual place, much less the important work that is being done there. I find it remarkable that all the animals were rescued with hard work in the calamitous fires last year. Living Free also helps human animals with its wounded warrior/Mustang national gift. Americans are coming out of Idyllwild as new people. The whole program is an American treasure. I attach an image of a Marine pal I have introduced to the charity leadership who is now helping as well. God bless all of you for extraordinary, difficult, wonderful work.
Living Free has been a sanctuary for animals needing a second chance for over 40 years. I am proud of the work the staff and volunteers do to help animals discover love and companionship and ultimately a forever home they crave. If an animal is never adopted they live their life in all the safety and love we can give them. A truly special place.
We adopted Freddie (former Living Free name was ‘Ringo’) in March of 2018. Though he was a little ‘rough around the edges’ when we first brought him home, he has become our loyal companion, amigo, son and devotee. He provides entertainment, joy, friendship and love daily. Our adoration for him is matched only with his for us.
Living Free gave us the opportunity of Freddie. They were and still are supportive of their gift, Freddie, to us. We are forever grateful.
Pete and Suzy Capparelli
The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man. I believe that. Although I never had the chance to meet her I’d like to think that Emily Jo Beard felt the same when in 1980 she founded Living Free Animal Sanctuary.
I’ve been a volunteer for two years. The one thing I have noticed is that every employee, volunteer and the facilitators of War Horse Creek the Equine-Assisted Reintegration Training for Veterans Program share one thing. That thing is a deep love and care for this place. People and places that are deeply loved and cared for endure. For 40 years Living Free has endured. Most recently it has endured the 2018 Cranston Fire that had the entire sanctuary evacuated, the 2019 Valentine Day flood that completely closed one of the roads up to the sanctuary. This is a good place where good work is done 365 days a year. I too have a deep love and care for this place. I’ve had people fall in love with Living Free after giving them a single tour of the facility. Many have come back to adopt our wonderful very deserving animals.
Living Free is a nonprofit. We rely on donations from good people like you to help fund general operations, medical needs for our animals, keeping tummies big and small full and happy and the many other diverse needs that arise in the day to day operations.
The motto on our logo is “Saving Humanity One Animal At A Time” I can think of no better time than now to help our animals save humanity. I thank you very much for all donations and the animals do too like Hawkeye the gentled wild mustang, Donald the donkey, Taylor Swift the cat and Barnaby the dog and all of the other sweet gentle souls that rely on all of us to care for them.
As a regular volunteer for the past two years, I have continually been impressed with the extraordinary care and attention that the staff give to the animals in the sanctuary, and the many extra steps they take to help every pet find a good home. Every pet is carefully assessed and given training and socialization as needed. The staff members are knowledgable and dedicated. Living Free is truly a sanctuary.
Staff and Volunteers have a heart of gold. From rescuing pets when their time is up at a shelter to caring for their medical needs, giving sanctuary and helping cats and dogs finding loving forever home, they do the work they love. And it makes a difference in each and every life they save. Keep up the great work!
My 70th birthday weekend was spent in Idyllwild and an important part of the celebration was to visit Living Free. For starters, when I walked into the office, the kitties greeted me (or not!!) from their various spots of choice. Immediate smile on my face. The human staff gave me a warm welcome. I was driven around and checked out the clean, spacious, comfortable and warm kennels. The dogs have so much area to play in until their forever family finds them, I was moving away from CA and couldn't adopt another furry friend but fond memories remain of this awesome sanctuary that does so much for the animals. Thank you for helping all of them know that love is alive and well at Living Free.
I love this place! I volunteer with a different rescue and we needed help spaying and neutering a litter of stray puppies and their mom. At the time Living Free was hosting a spay/neuter clinic and it was the only place in the area where we could get this done in a timely and affordable manner. Everyone there was just absolutely great every step of the way. While we were there we toured the facility and met many of their adoptable animals. We were very impressed with the whole organization and highly recommend this place
A few years ago I decided to adopt a dog, and found Living Free online. I loved that they rescued animals and kept them for life, if necessary - truly saving lives. So I drove the 4 hours to the sanctuary and visited all the dogs. The staff were amazing and patient. After a few hours meeting all the prospective adoptees, one of them adopted me. Her name was Spirit, she was 11 and had lived almost her entire life at Living Free. They loved her like family, but Spirit was intent on belonging to me and frankly, it was love at first sight. She and all her medication came home with me a couple of weeks later. I had the privilege of living with Spirit for three years before she passed away. Living Free will always be a part of my life, not only because of the beautiful gift they gave me in Spirit, but because of all they do for every animal they rescue. They love and care for them as their own, and nurture and encourage them to flourish. I know of no better organization.
Could not be happier with our new to is rescue Buddy. He is a wonderful dog and the process of making him ours was a great experience. They do such good works for our furry friends
Living Free offers such a sanctuary for their animals. None of the animals are in cages. The dogs have nice runs to roam and play. They come inside to sleep. They have misters when it’s warm and heat when it’s cold. The runs are cleaned and santitized daily. The caters is a haven for cats they have access to outside where it is enclosed do they are safe and beds inside and all sorts of places to climb. The staff take pride in their jobs and love their animals. It is a very special place unlike any place I have ever seen.
Living Free Animal Sanctuary in Mountain Center California is an amazing place. We rescue our dogs and cats from high kill shelters. We work with them and socialize them to make them more adoptable. None of our animals are in cages. A beautiful place to visit and adopt.
We are also rescuing wild mustangs from the BLM.
I have been a volunteer at Living Free for several years and I am continually impressed with the care and service provided to the dogs and cats that are rescued by this organization. The facilities are excellent, and the full time staff are OUTSTANDING. This organization truly makes a difference.
What a wonderful mission and location. Living Free is an integral part of our community and deserves special praise for the amazing work it does helping and saving animals. An incredible facility that warrants our continued support.
We adopted two Siamese cats from Living Free. The first one came home with us right away, but the second boy had a persistent runny nose, and they didn't want to release him until he was 100% better. It took a while for that upper respiratory thing to clear up, but I appreciated the extra care and attention they gave our Kimba. They genuinely care about every animal. I highly recommend them.
3 years ago, my fiancé and I were looking for a companion for our older dog. What better of an idea than to stop at Living Free on our way back from a mountain resort over the Thanksgiving weekend! The people who work there were so nice and we were impressed at how comfortable all the animals seemed to be and in such a beautiful environment! We found our fun loving beagle named "Rebel" and were excited to bring him home. We thank all the people who work there as we saw first hand how their hearts are so in to caring for these animals! We highly recommend this beautiful sanctuary to anyone looking for a furry friend.
I absolutely love what this sanctuary is doing for the community and the many in need animals. The staff is beyond friendly and knowledgeable. If you haven’t checked the place out you need to do so!!!! Check out the cattery right meow!
I moved to Mountain Center, CA in early March with my fiancé and our dog. We knew we wanted to get another dog, but we were waiting to find the right fit. We were amazed to find the most spectacular animal sanctuary 2 mins down the road from us. We adopted a wonderful dog from them and we also volunteer for them. They are an amazing group.
This place is amazing. Living Free is on 154 of the most beautiful aces. Horses in the fields, dogs being walked and kitties in the cattery waiting for a visitor so they can curl up in a lap to give a purr of contentment. The animals in this place are very well taken care of. Dogs are walked to enclosed park where they can play in a pond or just chase a ball. Cats all play together and have enclosed patios with many things to climb and play with. This is a very peaceful place. Once you come to visit you will just want to stay.
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I visited living free 2 years ago and was so impressed on how well the animals where cared for. None of the animals are in cages. The dogs have huge runs with things to climb or sleep on, in or under. In the summer they have misters that come on to mist the dogs down when out in the runs. At night they are in doors where they have fans for the summer and a heater for the winter months. The runs and indoor sleeping areas are extremely clean. The cattery is very impressive as well. The cats have access to indoor and outdoors via an enclosed patio with places to climb and just be a cat. Again all areas of Living Free are extremely clean. When I retired last May, I became a volunteer and love it.
We were lucky to find a really great dog from this sanctuary who is now a part of our family. The staff at Living Free were extremely kind and patient and answered all our questions. The property itself is also breathtaking!
If you're coming up "the hill", consider stopping by this place for a tour or to see all the happy animals.
My first visit to Living Free was many years ago. I felt like there was magic. After losing 3 cats, I visited Living Free to help heal from the loss. The compassion from the entire staff was amazing. I was then blessed with the opportunity to volunteer and discovered it was more magical than I ever imagined. Though Living Free suffered as a result of the Cranston Fire July 2018 then the subsequent flooding Valentine's Day 2019, they have remained steadfast in their mission to save as many animals as possible and guarantee that once they enter the sanctuary, the life of each animal is treated as sacred. I am thankful for the opportunity to be associated with Living Free and know that they will continue to live by the mission of "saving humanity one animal at a time."
Living Free is a magical place! The volunteers are amazing and all the animals are so well known and loved. They have all been saved from dire situations and are able to live their life in dignity, whether that is at a forever home with a new family or with their Living Free family at the sanctuary. When you visit the sanctuary, you can go through the wonderful mountain town of Idyllwild, and Living Free itself is beautiful...right in the San Jacinto mountains. I am so grateful Living Free exists!
I went up to Living Free to visit a Friend from High School I had not seen in 40 years who volunteered up there. Little did I know how my heart would be changed with this visit. She gave us a tour and I was so amazed how well cared for all the animals were. Not to mention the stunning beauty of the Living Free. Moving fast forward I am now a volunteer for special events. The Staff and volunteers at Living Free are the finest with such love and compassion for the animals. The dogs have runs outside to play in and heat in the winter and misters in the summer. I encourage my friends to and go visit Living Free for the Day it is beautiful and will touch your heart like it did mine.
My husband and I were going to Idyllwild for a getaway weekend 4 years ago and drove by the sign just before the turn off on 74 to 243 that said Living Free and wondered what it was. When we got to Idyllwild we inquired, and as soon as we found out what it was, we immediately turned around and visited and took the tour. We were hooked and have been ever since, joining the ranks of volunteers. This is an amazing Sanctuary, located in Mountain Center, California on acres and acres providing a safe environment for those dogs and cats that have been pulled from the high kill shelters in Riverside County, CA - evaluated and vetted and worked with to become adoptable. The more that are adopted - and the adoption rates have increased more and more over the years, the more can be saved. And, if the dogs and cats are not adopted, they live the rest of their lives in wonderful accommodations - dogs have their own bedrooms, patios, and dog runs - never in cages - and the cats have an amazing house to live in but can stay in or go outside in the most fabulous CATIO you can imagine! This amazing Sanctuary is run by just a handful of the most dedicated staff, and complimented by much needed volunteers - we joined those ranks immediately 4 years ago. Please spread the word about Living Free, who has now expanded their mission to include wild horses, burros and will be implementing equine therapy for Veterans. If you cannot volunteer, or adopt - please consider donating to help the Sanctuary continue with their very special and important work! Plan a visit to this wonderful place in the very near future - and you will be hooked too!
Living Free pulls animals from high kill shelters. They then work with them until their forever homes are found...whether that be a day, a month, a year or however long it takes. Living Free does not give up on the dogs and cats in need.
Friends drove 3.5 hours one way to see Living Free and "maybe" adopt a dog. They adopted two! These dogs each came to Living Free from different sources and left as best friends. During this adoption, Living Free mentioned they could use some collars...so another great non profit helping animals answered the call. See video. Good people all the way around.
My family and I discovered Living Free Animal Sanctuary a few years ago when we attended their Annual Howl & Yowl Music Festival. We were completely blown away! The level of thoughtful kindness extended to the public was overshadowed only by the attention shown to the animals who are fortunate enough to call this their (temporary) home. The grounds and facilities are impeccably maintained, nestled within a breath-taking mountainous landscape. Living Free sets the gold standard for no-kill shelters, providing a world where the wildest of spirits are encouraged to roam free. -Tracy, Dan & Zoe Gruber
I first discovered Living Free Animal Sanctuary a few years back and was immediately taken with the place. The animals are well cared for and the volunteers are fully engaged and committed to these very lucky animals. There's nothing better than watching the exchange between them. I'll be visiting again when the time comes to adopt a new pet.
There is a warmth of goodwill and caring that touches your soul when you visit Living Free. I've been involved for over three years and I tell everyone who visits, Living Free is my serenity. We save lives each and every day for animals that need sanctuary. It is a joy when we know we make a difference in pets lives and I truly feel that they know it and appreciate us.
Each year the number of volunteers who give their valuable time and hearts grows and the hours they give increases. We have 135 volunteers who gave over 12,000 volunteer hours in 2017. As one volunteer recently commented, "When I started as a volunteer I thought I would give occasional hours once a month and because I enjoy Living Free and what we do here so much I'm here several times a week."
Over a year ago I read an article about Living Free in a local magazine and it touched my heart. I soon discovered first hand what a beautiful, serene, loving, therapeutic space it is for both animals and humans. I spend as much time as I can volunteering at Living Free. The facility is wonderful and the people involved are truly amazing. It is a very special place.
I started volunteering at Living Free 4 years ago when I decided I had the time to do something for my community and for the animals. I had heard of Living Free before and had visited there once and realized that this was the place to be because of their no-kill philosophy and because they rescue as many dogs and cats as they can that are on the euthanasia list at some of the local kill shelters. Not only are the dogs and cats not in cages and given great veterinary care, but the staff members know each animal individually and have the ability to match the right animal with the right adopter. And being in the beautiful surroundings is so peaceful that it really nourishes the soul. It's a wonderful place to visit, adopt your fur baby, or volunteer.
This Sanctuary has been around since the 1980s and yet it’s only been in the last few years that it has come into full bloom.
They are rescuing and finding homes for more dogs and cats than ever before. They are starting an amazing new program on the property called War Horse Creek: Equine-Assisted Therapy for Veterans. And Living Free is now carrying out the vision that its founder, Emily Jo Beard, had in mind — to create a safe haven where abused, neglected and abandoned animals could go to find their forever homes or live out their lives in peace and dignity.
Thanks to the incredible staff, the intrepid volunteers and the new leadership, it’s a magical place.
I have been associated with Living Free Animal Sanctuary for 10 years. I cannot say enough about the tremendous staff and volunteers that make this sanctuary a second chance for the dogs and cats that are rescued. Their great care, love and devotion to these animals is what makes this sanctuary a great success. It is an honor to be a part of Living Free Animal Sanctuary.
I visited Living Free six years ago and fell in love. Although it is a three-hour round trip drive for me, I make the trek twice a week. I have tried other animal rescues closer to home, but although they may do a terrific job (thank you all), they can't compare to the atmosphere at Living Free. It's on 154 acres in the beautiful San Jacinto Mountains, and the animals are not caged. These animals are rescued from shelter euthanasia, and if they don't get adopted, they live with us forever. What's not to love? From walking dogs, helping feed, cleaning, petting kitties, working the visitor center, giving tours, helping groom, doing maintenance work, working fundraisers and adoption events, and helping out at the low-cost public spay/neuter clinic, I have loved every minute.
We also have horses and burros on the property as we have launched War Horse Creek, an equine-assisted therapy program for veterans with PTSD. We are very excited about the program and can't wait for it to get fully underway.
We have a very small staff, so with 154 acres and 200 animals, we need all the help we can get! The staff is remarkable. The cattery staff knows the name and personality of every one of the 120 cats. The kennel staff (including our resident dog whisperer) works wonders with our 45-50 dogs, many who come to us with emotional issues. Staff and volunteers work with them until they overcome their issues and become highly adoptable. Our equine manager is a bona fide cowboy! I have also made amazing friends, both staff and volunteers, who all have a shared love for animals.
Although I have fallen in love with hundreds of animals, one little dog in particular stole my heart. Stills was born at Living Free (along with his brothers Crosby and Nash) and was adopted. But at a very young age, he developed diabetes and his adopters returned him. I adopted him three years ago and cannot even imagine my life without him. He has had many, many health issues, but he has overcome them all. He is loved by staff, volunteers, friends, vets, and vet techs. He is my world.
No matter where you live in Southern California, we encourage people to visit living free to soak in the beautiful scenery and give some lovin' to our precious dogs and cats and visit the horses and donkeys. Then take the 10-minute drive to beautiful Idyllwild for lunch and shopping. Make a day of it!
Volunteering at Living Free feeds my soul. I encourage you to check us out!