At her sanctuary, Jen Sale is fulfilling her mission to protect and heal farmed animals while improving her local community in Temecula.

Patch Community Leaders, Patch Staff

Posted Friday, Oct 6, 2023 at 1:18 pm PT

 

Temecula’s Jen Sale has always been a self-proclaimed “horse kid,” sharing dreams of opening a small horse sanctuary. With a deep love for horses and a profound compassion for all living beings, the former acute care nurse began her rescue journey after moving to Temecula in 2011 — three years later, she received a life-altering distress call about critically ill newborn goat babies left abandoned at a livestock auction. This heart-wrenching call exposed Sale to the harsh realities faced by animals within the food industry, solidifying her mission and driving her to open Sale Ranch Animal Sanctuary.

Today, Sale Ranch Animal Sanctuary is not just a refuge but a beacon of hope for animals born into the food industry, providing them with high-level medical care, comfort and a haven for them to thrive. Sale’s hands-on approach, combined with her medical expertise and exceptional level of care toward all living beings, ensures that every resident at the sanctuary not only survives but thrives. Rain or shine, she works alongside her staff and volunteers to offer high-level medical support to the animals, proving her commitment to the well-being of her farm’s forever residents.

We spoke with Sale about her experience establishing and running a farm animal sanctuary and the impact it has on the local community.

 

Answers have been edited for clarity and length.

Patch: How long have you lived in Temecula, and what made you decide to open a farm animal sanctuary in the area?

Sale: My husband and I moved to Temecula in the spring of 2011 to simplify our lives and live with a greater purpose to serve in our own small way — to share the power of kindness with others. We built our small, off-the-grid homestead and began our regenerative garden and horse rescue.

However, three years in, we received a phone call about newborn goat babies who were left in a pile at a livestock auction to pass on their own. That phone call changed everything.

It broke my heart and sent me on a path to learn about what happens to animals used for food. Learning of the horrific and cruel practices that are too often kept in the dark, I am passionate about elevating their voices. I hope that by educating others about their plight, we can create a kinder world for all, and that’s why we have grown into the farmed animal sanctuary we are today.

Temecula Valley didn’t have a farm animal sanctuary that could offer refuge and high-level medical care to animals in need. We felt there was a pressing need for a non-profit with a highly knowledgeable and compassionate medical team. That inspired me to establish our non-profit, Sale Ranch Animal Sanctuary, to make a difference in the lives of these worthy, innocent individuals.

 

Patch: As a leader in your community, you’ve received numerous awards for your dedicated efforts to healing rescued animals. Can you tell us about any awards or community achievements you’ve won that you are particularly proud of?

Sale: I am humbled by the recognition and genuinely proud of Sale Ranch’s accolades, which highlight our commitment to our mission and community.

• Ruby Award Winner of the Year: We were deeply honored to receive the “Non-Profit Of The Year” award earlier this year from the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce. This award is particularly special to us as it represents the strong support and validation from our own community … It assures us that our work, whether advocation for farmed animals or our regenerative gardening initiatives or our efforts to help provide for the food insecure while reducing our carbon footprint, truly resonates with the people we serve. Nurturing the land we occupy and giving has always been central to our mission, and this recognition confirms the positive impact of our efforts.
• GreatNonProfits Top-Rated Award: This people’s choice award is based on testimonials and stories shared by volunteers, donors and those whose our nonprofit efforts have touched. Being recognized here touches our hearts and inspires us to keep reaching to spread the power of kindness even further.
• 2023 Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid: This seal is a testament to our mission through clear metrics that our operations and initiatives are not only impactful but are also transparent and effective.

All of these awards underscore Sale Ranch’s authenticity as a 501(c)(3) non-profit. They validate our high standards of operation and dedication to fostering a more kind and compassionate world for all, regardless of species.

 

Patch: How has Sale Ranch engaged with the local community? What has been your role in the process and which events or programs have had the greatest impact?

Sale: Sale Ranch has always believed in the power of community and the impact of collectiveness. We’ve been privileged to participate in several community projects that align with our core values — like In the Loop Summer Vegan Market at Vail Ranch HQ, OC Vegfest 23 and Pawsativity in Old Town —, gathering with others interested in the kindness of all beings, regenerative gardening and walking softer on the planet.

Our engagement continues beyond external events. At the ranch, we open our doors to the community, hosting educational tours and events. These are designed to share our mission and allow folks to connect with farmed animals in a context they may not have had previously. Seeing these animals thrive has transformative power, and the bonds formed during these encounters are truly heartwarming.

One segment of our community that we are particularly fond of hosting is foster children and our upcoming Big Brothers partnership. Through the stories of our rescued animals, many of whom have had a tumultuous past but have found love and care at Sale Ranch, we hope to subtly convey messages of hope — a sentiment we hope resonates with these young souls.

I love sharing the mission of the ranch with others, but celebrating bonds formed, exchanging stories and sharing the power of kindness — along with the genuine sense of community that emerges — are truly magical.

 

Patch: How can members of your community get more involved with Sale Ranch Animal Sanctuary?

Sale: I am excited to share more about the resources and opportunities we offer at Sale Ranch. In addition to the educational aspects I mentioned, we pride ourselves on fostering deeper roots in the community.

For those who love hands-on experiences, joining our poop-scooping team offers a unique way to disconnect from life’s demands for a few hours a week to connect, help and spend time with our animal residents.

For those who enjoy event management or digital realms, we have volunteer assist roles in web development, social media and gratitude campaigns.

For those who love to garden and are passionate about learning how to regenerate the soil, and harvest and grow food to feed our animal residents and community, we have garden volunteer opportunities.

Our garden plays a central role in our special season suppers too, which are hosted on-site. The menu is created to celebrate the season’s harvest while gathering and building deeper roots in the community with a plant-based feast prepared by visiting executive chefs in our open-flame outdoor kitchen. It’s an authentic farm-to-table experience.

Our last supper of the year is GraceGiving on November 11 which is a celebration of our rescued turkey residents and our autumn harvest.

In addition to intimate seasonal suppers, we host a spring and autumn Open Ranch — an invitation to our community to immerse themselves in the magic of sanctuary. Visitors can listen to the stories of our animal residents, interact with them and truly experience the essence of the ranch. Autumn Open Ranch is on October 28.

You can keep up with our events by joining our newsletter at www.saleranch.org/join-our-mailing-list and by checking out our Facebook and Instagram, where we share daily glimpses into our work.

 

Patch: What do you love most about being a part of the Temecula community?

Sale: In a world that’s becoming increasingly digital and disconnected, there’s something extraordinary about those real-life moments where we can connect and gather face to face, forging bonds that remind us of both the power of community and kindness.

Witnessing our community members build a connection with the animals and growing clean, fresh produce is lovely. I believe these moments build bridges between species, showing us the need for love, kindness and respect is universal.

In our human and animal community, we are reminded daily of our shared desire to belong, be understood and be cared for. It’s a beautiful reminder that regardless if we have two or four legs, we are all worthy of kindness.

 

Patch: Can you tell us more about Sale Ranch’s regenerative gardening program?

Sale: At the heart of everything we do here at Sale Ranch is a genuine love and commitment to our community, both two- and four-legged.

One initiative I am very proud of is our regenerative gardening program. Not only does this garden nourish our farm animal residents with organic produce, but it also serves a broader community. We make donations to our local food pantry to help assist food-insecure folks and families right here in our community. This dual purpose is providing nourishment for animals and people, a holistic approach to community care.

In our goal to make an even broader impact, we have plans to expand our ranch and gardens. This expansion would enable us to offer CSA box subscriptions for both produce and flowers.

We aim to be an educational hub for folks interested in growing nutrient-dense foods, sustainability and launching farm school — a way to inspire and share first-hand regenerative agriculture practices with others.

Our goal is to continue to forge deeper roots to inspire, foster connections, live sustainably and advocate for kindness for all, regardless of species.