After Miyoko Schinner, an award-winning chef who started a vegan cheese company, bought a house and barn on 16.5 acres of land in Nicasio, animals in need kept showing up. First came Reggie and Rufus, the two “OGs,” or original goats.
Three potbellied pigs, Aragon, Onyx and Oxy, followed. Then came a cow. Soon, Schinner decided that instead of simply taking in farm creatures referred by animal sanctuaries, she would open her own nonprofit refuge. In 2015, Rancho Compasión was born.
Over the last decade, they have rescued more than 500 animals. Currently, 115 farm animals live at Rancho Compasión, which is neither a ranch nor a petting zoo. All animals at the sanctuary receive lifetime resident status. No matter what unfortunate circumstances they come from and what quirks they bring with them, the animals spend their remaining years in the refuge’s care…