The days begin early and run late for Steve Smith and Alayne Marker. They are Montana ranchers in the truest sense. While it is common for ranchers to rise before the sun and finish in darkness, the daily work on this 160 acre sanctuary in the Blackfoot River Valley is anything but common.
In 2000, after leaving their corporate jobs at Boeing in Seattle, this husband and wife team relocated to a favorite vacation spot in Big Sky country. They opened Rolling Dog Ranch Animal Sanctuary on land they had purchased with personal funds two years prior. And before too long, they began welcoming animals to the ranch.
These animals were a bit different. Instead of cattle or bison, Smith and Marker welcomed disabled animals who had lost hope of being adopted from animal shelters a short time later. Their longtime goal had become a reality.
While initial goal was to provide homes for cats and dogs with disabilities, the first animal that Smith and Marker welcomed was a blind horse. And as they learned proper care, Rolling Dog Ranch continued to accept more. Of the 70 animals with disabilities who annually call Rolling Dog Ranch home, over a dozen are horses. Approximately two thirds are blind animals.
A Day in a Special Life
No two days are alike for Smith and Marker as well as their small team of employees and volunteers. “When you get up in the morning, it is hard to know what your day will bring,” explains co-founder, Alayne Marker. “You have to be very flexible but is just a question of getting up and getting out to take care of all the various animals.”
She adds, “We never get a day off but we understood that when we first started. This is a lifestyle; taking care of the animals and doing what we do. It is a seven day a week, twenty four hour a day job. It isn’t something you just go home and leave, it is home, but you know what? We wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Educating the Public About Animals with Disabilities
Steve Smith and Alayne Marker agree that a key goal of the Ranch is to educate people about the various animals and their disabilities. “All of these animals have a zest for life and that is our most important message,” explains co-founder Steve Smith. “People assume that the animals are going to be pathetic, unhappy or miserable and they come out to visit and see these animals close up and they realize that these animals are anything but that. They are all happy and healthy, they love life and they just want to have a chance to live that life.”
They say that there is not a single animal at Rolling Dog who feels sorry for itself; each and every one loves being alive. “That's really the ultimate inspiration for us,” Smith confides. “Despite their disabilities, they want nothing more than a chance to enjoy life. And that's what they get to do here.”
About Rolling Dog Ranch Animal Sanctuary
Rolling Dog Ranch Animal Sanctuary is located in Ovando, Montana. It provides rescue and shelter for animals with disabilities. Rolling Dog Ranch typically accepts blind, deaf, blind-and-deaf and three-legged dogs, cats and horses as well as those with other orthopedic and neurological issues including muscular dystrophy. All animals are at high risk for being euthanized at an animal shelter and the Ranch is a last resort animal sanctuary. According to Rolling Dog Ranch Animal Sanctuary, taking in an animal is a promise of lifelong care.
Rolling Dog provides all medical care as well as shelter, care and everything else needed to give the animal a comfortable home. Rolling Dog Ranch also adopts out approximately ten animals per year to homes that they believe will provide proper care and support. The sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and approximately 85 percent of funding comes from individual contributions.
To learn more, please visit the Rolling Dog Ranch website, blog and their special site dedicated to the care of blind horses.
Check out Disaboom’s video of the Rolling Dog Ranch and meet some of the animals!
Photos courtesy of Rolling Dog Ranch at www.rollingdogranch.org.
