About | History
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HHS soon after
purchase
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Laura & Forrest
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Sheba traveling in early
days
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HISTORY | STAFF | DIRECTORS | ADVISORY | TRIBUTE | FINANCIALS
The property is named Andy’s Ranch in his
honor. And thankfully his friends have helped Healing HEART Sanctuary
throughout its rough beginning fulfilling Andy’s vision and
dream by supporting HHS in a variety of ways.
Healing HEART Sanctuary (HHS) is all about building,
growing, and maintaining a community committed to healing. This
community includes at the sanctuary as well as in a virtual fashion
using its big picture view to assist other groups with program
development, networking, etc.
Origins
Hence, it’s appropriate that the
roots of HHS comes from three friends having individual views
of an animal sanctuary and then coming together to bring the
vision into reality.
In the late 1990’s, Andy
Stallman, Dawn Ferry, and now Executive
Director Laura Bradshaw, talked
about starting an animal sanctuary. But alas, as these things
go, the concept sat unfounded for a few years.
Then a series of life circumstances occurred over an extended
period of time; but collectively they started the ball rolling.
A documentary was viewed by Andy and Dawn about a small farm
which may have to close due to economic issues. In October 2002,
Laura had her legs knocked out from under her when her husband
died suddenly. It was clear that this was a time for change in
Laura’s life.
As a result of these situations, three friends
came together again and reignited their shared vision.
At the suggestion of now Board
Member Linda Bradshaw, Laura attended the Best Friends
Animal Society’s “How
to Start An Animal Sanctuary” workshop.
So off to Utah Laura went with Andy and Dawn joining her soon
after to spend some time volunteering while Laura was in the
workshop. In addition to receiving a practical education on the
realities of running a sanctuary; it was there that Laura fell
in love with an injured sheep named Sheba. The
three friends hadn’t previously discussed the
specifics of the types of animals that would live at the sanctuary.
But through Sheba’s relationship with Laura (Sheba really
could be considered the fourth founder), the three friends came
to realize that they also shared the vision of a sanctuary for
all types of animals from companion animals to farm animals to
exotics.
Laura brought Sheba back to Los Angeles with her. And in trying
to help Sheba physically get back on her feet, Sheba helped Laura get
back on her feet emotionally. And Healing HEART Sanctuary literally
came to life.
As Executive Director, Laura would combine her love for animals
with her passion for traditional and alternative medicine and
then bring in children (her other big love) who are challenged
for whatever reason to all help each other metaphorically get
back on their feet. Dawn would assist as a Board Member bringing
her own skills to the development
of Healing HEART Sanctuary. Andy would bring his love of animals
and most importantly, his keen business knowledge and expertise.
He was to initially fund the organization while making sure it
had a strong structural and administrative base as it grew.
It was determined that the sanctuary would physically be located
in Kanab, Utah as Laura and Best
Friends had developed a solid symbiotic
relationship.
Sadly, Andy would
never get to see the fruits of the seed he had planted, passing
away unexpectedly on a business trip in Europe in August of 2003;
the day before the closing of escrow on the property. The property
is named Andy’s
Ranch in his honor and thankfully his friends have helped Healing
HEART Sanctuary throughout its rough beginning fulfilling Andy’s
vision and dream.
Evolving
In the intervening years while the sanctuary began to develop,
Executive Director Laura Bradshaw began
outreach to children-focused organizations. She became a way
station for foster children in the Kanab and outlying areas.
Just as Laura was getting back on her own feet after undergoing
the double loss of her husband and then ten months later losing
her dear friend Andy, Hurricane
Katrina hit, and Laura stepped in to fill an important need
in the larger animal community.
In August 2005, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and Rita,
Healing HEART Sanctuary stepped up to the plate and began to
run all Reunion Transportation for Best Friends Animal Society,
reuniting pets with their families, all across the country. Over
the course of the six months following Katrina, managed all transportation for approximately
1,000 animals with the assistance of temporary staff.
Best Friends continued their response activities for many months
and into 2007 which is when now Board
Member Laurel Ley developed
and managed a transportation system for Best Friends for their
Celebration Station facility. Laurel developed the transportation
system and managed all transportation for approximately 2,000 animals to various approved groups across the country; and all
in 9 weeks time.
It was during this time that Laura Bradshaw and Laurel Ley met
and collaborated on their differing transportation needs on behalf
of Best Friends. Over time, both discovered that they shared
a larger vision for the impact Healing HEART Sanctuary could
make in the animal world. Both had developed extensive grassroots
contacts with rescue groups and shelters across the country,
and found that there was a great need for programs and education
related to animals with disabilities and how they positively
affect people.
Growing
While the time supporting Katrina relief
efforts may seem like a departure from the core mission of Healing HEART Sanctuary, in essence the activities
furthered HHS’ reach
and impact of getting animals and people back on their feet.
Laurel was invited onto the Board which included Laura, Linda
Bradshaw, Dawn Ferry, and Heather
Bryer.
A new Board President, Richard
Bradshaw, was brought on board due to his significant experience
in non-profit board leadership.
Concurrent with this, Board Member Laurel Ley had been asked
by PetSmart Charities® to work with them on creating their
Emergency
Relief Waggin’® program as well as training, managing,
and staffing volunteers to deploy into disaster zones, where
350 companion animals or more are affected, as well as managing
and overseeing a trailer of needed supplies. Due to its compatibilities,
the program was brought under Healing HEART Sanctuary’s
flag as just another way to help animals and their families get
back on their feet.
Since 2008, the focus of the Executive Director and the Board
has to been completely understand and itemize what is needed
to run the sanctuary as is; and into the future, define what
is needed to provide time for Executive Director Laura Bradshaw
to lead the growth of the organization. We’ve explored
gaps within the animal community and specifically as it relates
to animals with disabilities. And we’ve begun development
on a number of programs which
are designed to further awareness and services to animals with
disabilities.
Today and Moving Forward
Healing HEART Sanctuary has helped hundreds of animals from
dogs and cats, horses and cows, sheep and goats, rabbits and
birds.
HHS offers many forms of treatment and therapy for injured and /or disabled animals. Healing HEART Sanctuary
has also worked with the Utah Department of Child and Family
Services, the Southwest Center (Utah’s Mental Health Division),
and various private at-risk teen facilities in the area.
On a daily basis, our vision is to help animals and people get
back on their feet whether that’s at the
sanctuary, through our outreach services,
or our outreach
programs.
We offer a number of ways to donate to
support the sanctuary’s work including a monthly members donation
club named “Andy’s Friends”in
honor of Founder Andy Stallman.
Sign up to make a monthly donation of $10 or more, and let your
heart sing.
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