From 2002 until 2004, the facility was privately funded and operated by Mr. Andy Parent, Founder of Big Sky Ranch Animal Sanctuary. During this time, Andy discovered that not only cats and dogs would desperately be in need of an alternative, but so would larger farm animals that didn’t always fit into regular rescue protocols. And so it began – animal after animal would arrive, either announced by their former owners or, unannounced and abandoned, left behind to fend for themselves. During the care and attention these animals would receive, Andy not only discovered characteristics of abuse in many different forms – but also that many of these animals were simply misunderstood. Andy understood that something had to be done for these animals or animal welfare in general. The sights and conditions of some of these animals were too devastating for anyone to ignore.