The Mission of Big Heart Ranch…
Big Heart Ranch is Malibu’s beloved nature-based sanctuary, where people and rescued farm animals come together to heal in the heart of nature. Nestled between the ocean and the mountains along the Pacific Coast Highway, Big Heart Ranch opens its gates to all—families, children, and individuals of every background—offering a place of safety, belonging, renewal and transformation.
Something profound happens here when people coping with loss, stress, or uncertainty meet the rescued animals who call this place home. Here, rescued animals who have known hardship become gentle teachers of resilience, hope and strengthen the human spirit. A gentle nudge from a donkey or the warmth of a goat’s presence reminds visitors that healing often begins in the simplest moments of connection. Through connection, touch, and shared stillness, people remember their own strength, kindness, and capacity to heal. Every encounter becomes a reminder that love, care, and presence can mend what feels broken.
We envision a place where the bond between humans, animals, and nature brings healing, connection, a deeper sense of belonging, and life-changing growth; where each person becomes the change they want to see in the world. One where every heart matters.
Our History…
Out of the ashes, Big Heart Ranch continues to rise as a symbol of resilience, compassion, and community healing. For nearly twenty years, our Malibu sanctuary has been a place where people and rescued farm animals come together to heal in the heart of nature. Through our RESCUE • RENEW • RECONNECT programs, we welcome hundreds of children, families, veterans, and community members each year into meaningful experiences that nurture empathy, restore confidence, and strengthen the human spirit.
The ranch has always been a place of hope — a haven for rescued animals who have endured neglect, and for people seeking peace, purpose, and connection. Horses, donkeys, pigs, goats, alpacas, chickens, and ducks each play a role in the circle of healing. Through gentle interaction, mindfulness, and care, visitors learn that strength is found not in perfection, but in perseverance — a lesson mirrored in the very soil, spirit, and community of Big Heart Ranch.
But the years have not been easy. Beginning with the Woolsey Fire in 2018, followed by destructive floods, and later the Franklin and Palisades Fires, Big Heart Ranch has weathered wave after wave of loss. Each disaster left behind broken shelters, collapsed shade structures, damaged fencing, and the remnants of systems that once sustained us. Every time, our community came together — neighbors, volunteers, and friends working side by side to guide more than 80 animals to safety, often through smoke, wind, and floodwaters. When we returned, we found ash where corrals once stood and fences twisted into the earth. Yet even in ruins, the animals and people who call this place home reminded us what endurance truly means.