SAVING LIVES, HEALING SOULS
Saving Grace Angels 🕊️
This page is dedicated to the precious souls who came to us for refuge, lived a loved and safe life with us and then have crossed over.
Each day, our doors open to the silent cries of those who have suffered immensely. Their eyes tell stories of neglect, abandonment, and abuse, yet within those same eyes, we see a glimmer of hope.
Most of the animals that come to us are broken – emotionally, physically – most are both.
We welcome these animals into our care, providing them with a haven where they can begin to mend their broken spirits. Our team works tirelessly to rehabilitate them, offering medical treatment, nutritious food, and gentle hands to soothe their fears. We witness their transformations, however small, and cherish the moments they begin to trust again.
Each one of these precious souls has a unique story, and we honor each narrative by offering individual care and attention. The journey toward healing is a gradual process, filled with challenges and triumphs. We celebrate their progress, from the tentative steps of trust to the joyful moments of play and interaction. Our commitment to these animals is unwavering, driven by the belief that every creature deserves a chance to experience love, compassion and respect.
Although we cannot physically heal each one, we fully believe that they do experience (many for the first time) and embrace the love, affection and respect that they deserve.
The beautiful souls on this page have left their marks of courage and love on all they touched.
Frances Marie
Frankie brought so much personality to the sanctuary. She loved belly rubs, kisses, and spending time with her husband, Beans. The two of them were inseparable, almost always by each other’s side, sharing their days together.
You never quite knew what you were going to get with Frankie. She was strong-willed, protective, and full of character, especially when it came to her man. That was part of what made her so special.
She had a presence that filled the space around her. The sanctuary feels quieter without her here, and her absence is deeply felt.
We are so grateful for everyone who loved Frankie, cared for her, and honored the bond she shared with Beans.
Frankie left her body January 16, 2026.
Grace
Grace came to us in September of 2012. She was saved by a wonderful rescue organization (along with her son) from a not-so-good situation. The rescue was able to find someone to adopt her son but not her. The rescue contacted us to see if we would be willing to take a 20-year-old donkey. We were thrilled.
From her very first day here, Grace showed herself to be a force of nature.
She was strong, kind, and gentle. She was also very playful yet kept her donkey brothers in line.
She was Kathy’s rock during Kathy’s experience with cancer.
Grace was often the one people were drawn to who were suffering emotional issues or distress. She was an amazing therapist.
She also gave the best kisses. If you have experienced a ‘Gracie smoosh’ you know what we mean.
The sanctuary seems so empty without her here. But we know her spirit will live on in all of us and we trust we will be together again.
Grace left her body November 19, 2025. She was 32 years old.
Gus
After our beloved mini donkey Grace left last November, Gus lost his will to continue. She was his partner, his security.
He came to us after being rescued from the severe brutality of being a practice roping target for rodeos. He was so fearful of people (especially men). Grace showed him safety and love.
With her and the love and safety he was eventually able to feel from us, became ... better. He was always tentative but once in a while, he was playful. We loved to see that side of him.
But after losing Grace, he was a shell. He disconnected from everyone. We tried but we just couldn't get him through the loss.
This last weekend, he colicked and despite all efforts, he just did not have the fight to get through it.
But now, he is with his beloved Grace.
Gus left his body April 22, 2026.
Sebastian
Sebastian was the alpaca with the darkest fur. Though he typically stayed close to his brothers, you could sometimes bribe him into saying hello with a few alpaca treats.When it was hot, the alpacas enjoyed hose baths that cooled them down while giving them that dreamy wet hair look.
Sebastian left his body on May 4, 2026, and will always be deeply loved and remembered.
Wuzbear
Wuzbear was the sanctuary's shortest alpaca. His name is Wuzbear, well, because his name wuz Bear. "Bear" alone was just too common of a name, and so Erich decided to make this more unique...by adding a "wuz" before it.
Wuzbear left his body December 30, 2025.
Apollo
Apollo was the tallest of the sanctuary's three alpacas. Shy but cute, you could usually find him lounging under (and eating from) one of the sanctuary's pepper trees.
If you were elsewhere at the sanctuary and glanced over at the alpaca enclosure, you would discover Apollo soulfully watching the work being done around him.
Inquisitive and with deep brown eyes, his calm demeanor was incredibly memorable and soothing.
Apollo left his body Jan. 31, 2025.
Harriet
Harriet (aka Harriet Z Schneiderman). She was a force to be reckoned with. She had an attitude like no other.
She was released to us because her owner no longer had any ‘use’ for her. We have no idea how old she was but we believe she was not young.
When she came to us she would have nothing to do with anyone, except with the sheep (Flossie) with whom she came.
With patient love and attention, Harriet finally came around.
Harriet left her body Aug 12, 2019.
Niblet
Niblet was a gentle, loving guy whose goal in life was to just get a good back rub. But he was always up for a snack! He used to love to sit up on the hill, in one of the many holes he helped dig, and just oversee the sanctuary.
He was really interesting when it came to any kind of photo or video shoot in the goat enclosure. Arthur and Batman would be right there in front of the camera, but Niblet seemed more interested in being behind the scenes. He would hang out with the director or camera person, overseeing the action.
His personality was bigger than life and his soulfulness enveloped everyone around him. We know that everyone in rescue understands what we are going through right now
Niblet left his body Oct 8, 2019.
Cookie
Coming soon...
Cookie left his body Mar 25, 2015.
Harley
Coming soon...
Harley left his body Oct 12, 2016.
Newton
Newton was a leased show horse for many years until his owners decided he was too old and wasn't useful to them anymore. Newton was scheduled to be put down until Saving Grace stepped in to give him a forever home.
When Newton first came to the sanctuary, he was scared and unsure of his new surroundings. After a few weeks, he bonded with Kathy, the founder, so much that he expected her love and attention with each mealtime.
Newton left his body Feb 24, 2019.
Isabella
Isabella spent much of her life being passed from owner to owner, used as a pony for children to learn to ride. By the time she arrived at Saving Grace, she was already in her twenties and had endured years without the consistent care, comfort, and stability every animal deserves. She came from a reportedly heartbreaking situation where the living conditions were so severe that authorities, including Animal Control, had reportedly become involved.
When Isabella arrived, it was clear she had gone far too long without proper veterinary and farrier care. Not long after, we learned the devastating news that Isabella had cancer. Though we knew her time with us would be limited, we were determined to make sure she would never again be neglected or forgotten.
At Saving Grace, Isabella finally experienced what it meant to be safe, cared for, and deeply loved. This became her final home, her Saving Grace, where she was treated with the dignity, compassion, and gentleness she had deserved all along.
Isabella left her body May 26, 2015.
Steve
Steve, or Lil' Stevie, joined the sanctuary on April 8, 2015 at just two days old after his mother rejected him and tried to kill him. After surviving emergency surgery just hours after being born, Stevie was bottle fed here at Saving Grace until he was old enough to move into his permanent shelter. As you can see, his early troubles didn't stunt his growth. Stevie was one of our more playful animals and a really loving guy.
Steve left his body Jan 12, 2023.
Daphne & Debbie
Daphne arrived at Saving Grace around Thanksgiving 2018 after a factory farm rescue. At just 7 months old, she was meant to be slaughtered the next day. Genetically engineered to grow unnaturally large, she endured painful mutilations and cramped conditions from birth.
Rescued with two other turkeys, Daphne was put on a careful diet to ease the strain on her legs. She battled bumblefoot twice—once requiring surgery—and remained on pain medication, yet still seemed to thrive. Through it all, Daphne was gentle, loving, and deeply bonded with Kathy, quickly becoming “Kathy’s girl.”
Daphne left her body Jan 10, 2021.
Debbie left her body April 18, 2026.
Tony
Tony, AKA Lawrence Actonious Belvedere III, the sanctuary's spunky little black bunny. Tony came to Saving Grace from a high-kill shelter in the Antelope Valley. Thousands of bunnies have ended up in dangerous situations like Tony's each year.
Tony spent his days hanging out with the silky chickens and his bunny friend, Louisa.
Tony left his body Jun 18, 2022.
Louisa
Louisa was one of the sweetest animals you could ever meet (that was, if she wasn’t feeling too shy for visitors).
During the hot days of summer, Louisa and her bunny friend Tony spent their time in their underground bunny hutch, which stayed a cool 75 degrees, even when it was triple digits up above.
Louisa left her body Apr 17, 2020.
Betty White
Betty was always so cute. Whenever Kathy would go into the aviary, Betty would come running over to her, sit up, and put her little front paws together. Kathy liked to think Betty was running to greet her, but actually, it was probably that she wanted snacks.
But whatever the reason, Betty was adorable.
Although you were only here for just under six months, you made a huge impact on us little girl.
Betty left her body Dec 12, 2020.
Peter
Peter left his body Aug 4, 2017.
Lucky
Lucky was rescued by a courageous volunteer from a local slaughterhouse. Lucky had a distinct feature among the roosters here at Saving Grace: his upper beak had been trimmed. This painful procedure was done to keep him from pecking the other chickens he was confined with at the slaughterhouse. It was just one of the many cruel things that the agricultural industry did to animals in the name of convenience.
With those dark days behind him, Lucky preferred to spend his days hanging out with his goat pals. He could often be found lounging with Winston or challenging Niblet to a head-butting contest (Niblet always let him win).
Lucky left his body Mar 5, 2025.
LaVerne arrived to the sanctuary with her other silkie sisters Patty, Maxene, and Olive in 2014.
Laverne
Maxene
Maxene was the second half of the dynamic duo of our white rescued Japanese Silkie chickens. Like her bestie, Maxene loved to be held. You couldn’t imagine just how soft this special chicken was. We knew she looked soft…but until you felt how light and small she was, you wouldn’t truly know what we knew at the bottom of our hearts: Maxene was part cotton ball.
Maxene left her body Jun 3, 2020.
Patty
Patty was one of our white rescued Japanese Silkie chickens. She was almost always found beside her right-hand gal, Maxene. And although these girls acted as chickens typically do, they looked a lot more like cotton balls with 80's style perm hair do's. Patty also loved to be held and cuddled.
Pom Pom left her body Nov 19, 2022.
Olive
Olive left his body Jan 13, 2015.
Emmy
Emmy had so much personality packed into her tiny little body.
Emmy left her body Jul 20, 2022.
Miss Rosemary, Thelma Lou, & Juanita
These three lovely ladies were rescued on November 5, 2020.
Thelma Lou left her body May 24, 2024.
Helga & Flower
Don’t be fooled by the names, Helga and Flower were two of the three male roosters here at the sanctuary. Rescued by a group of local volunteers, they were taken from a slaughterhouse with just minutes to spare. After a brief stint in a fabulous Hollywood apartment, they made it to the sanctuary just in time for Thanksgiving in 2017.
Despite being caged in a slaughterhouse for much of their young lives, Helga and Flower became two of the most lovable, social roosters you could ever meet. When visitors came to the sanctuary, they never passed up the chance to get a “lap dance.” Sit with them in their pen and they would climb right up for some attention.
Helga and Flower left their body Oct. 18, 2018
Minnie & Daisy
Minnie and Daisy were Japanese silkies. All of the silkies came from a breeder who was not able to care for them. Saving Grace stepped in to give them all loving homes, and they spent their days squawking and pecking from the comfort of their penthouse!
Daisy wasn’t one of our more ‘snuggly’ residents, but she certainly had a loving side. She was quite the Miss Independent and with her big personality, you certainly knew when she was around. Daisy left her body Mar 6, 2022.
Minnie She wasn't big on being held. But if on the rare occasion you were lucky enough to hold her, she would just snuggle in and sometimes carry on a full conversation with you. Minnie left her body Nov 22, 2020.
Beatriz
She came to us after being rescued from a parking garage in LA. It took a little while, but she eventually settled in as one of the flock. She developed a BFF relationship with Jen and the two always hung out. This picture [left] is from when they were in their ‘brooding phase’ and the two of them were inseparable. Several times a day we had to physically remove them from the hutch just so they could get some exercise! Eventually the phase ended, and they went back to doing normal chicken things.
Beatriz left her body Mar 7, 2023.
Elliott
Elliott came to Saving Grace in early March after being rescued at a rest stop, likely from a transport truck bound for slaughter. He arrived with what turned out to be a spinal injury and spent a month in quarantine under veterinary care.
Though his health went up and down, Elliott received constant love and attention. Kathy cared for him daily - helping him eat, drink, and move - while Laura provided aqua therapy, physical therapy, special snacks, and even built him a wheelchair with Erich.
Perhaps Elliott’s purpose was to remind us how much love can live in the smallest package. Once he shared that gift, his mission was complete.
Elliott left his body April 17, 2025.
Olaf
Olaf left his body Aug 12, 2024.
Sylvester
Sylvester left his body Dec 30, 2020.
Jenn
Jenn left her body January 11, 2026.
Katie
Katie left her body December 26, 2025.