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KINDNESS RANCH ANIMAL SANCTUARY

Press & Media Kit

Last updated: [12/2025]

Media Contact

Primary Media Contact
 Name: John Ramer, Executive Director
 Email: john@kindnessranch.org Phone: 307-735-4177
Website: https://kindnessranch.org
 Location: Hartville,, Wyoming

For urgent, same-day media requests, please include “MEDIA REQUEST” in your subject line and provide your deadline.

Boilerplate (Short Description)

Kindness Ranch Animal Sanctuary is a [501(c)(3)] nonprofit sanctuary in rural Wyoming dedicated to providing safe, loving homes for animals retired from research, breeding programs, and other specialized uses. They are the nation’s largest sanctuary focused on former research animals, Kindness Ranch welcomes dogs, cats, pigs, horses, cows, sheep, goats, llamas, and other species, offering them a second chance at a life defined by compassion instead of utility. Through adoptions, long-term sanctuary care, and community outreach, Kindness Ranch helps animals transition “from labs to laps” while maintaining a neutral, collaborative stance with the research community.

Organizational Overview (Extended)

Kindness Ranch Animal Sanctuary, founded by David Groobman, is a unique animal sanctuary located on approximately 1100 acres of open fields near Guernsey, Wyoming. The sanctuary exists to care for animals who have completed their roles in research, breeding, and other specialized programs and now need a safe landing place.

Our residents include:

  • Beagles retired from research environments

  • Cats retired from laboratory or institutional settings

  • Horses, many of whom come from hormone production and related industries

  • Pigs, goats, sheep, llamas, cows, and other farmed species

Kindness Ranch focuses on a collaborative, non-adversarial approach. We do not campaign against research facilities; instead, we partner with veterinarians, institutions, and other organizations that seek humane options for animals once their work is done. This quiet, trust-based approach has allowed us to help place and care for animals from a wide range of programs, including high-profile efforts such as the nationwide placement of nearly 4,000 dogs from the Envigo case.

In addition to adoption and long-term sanctuary care, Kindness Ranch offers on-site experiences such as yurt rentals, a campground, tours, and educational visits that allow guests to connect directly with the animals their support makes possible. Every stay helps fund the daily care, medical support, nutrition, enrichment, and rehabilitation that our residents require.

Mission, Vision, and Values

Mission
 To provide lifelong care, rehabilitation, and placement opportunities for animals retired from research and specialized programs, while fostering compassion, education, and community support for their ongoing well-being.

Vision
 A world where every animal who has participated in research or specialized use is given a dignified, compassionate next chapter, one defined by safety, respect, and genuine human connection.

Core Values

  • Compassion over convenience: We prioritize the welfare of each animal, even when it requires additional time, resources, or creativity.

  • Collaboration, not confrontation: We maintain a neutral stance on animal research and focus on building trust with institutions to create more pathways to sanctuary and adoption.

  • Excellence in care: We strive to exceed USDA Animal Care standards and embrace fear-free, force-free handling techniques.

  • Transparency: We are committed to clear financial reporting, open communication with donors and partners, and honest storytelling about the animals in our care.

  • Community: We believe in the power of adopters, donors, volunteers, visitors, and partner organizations to change what is possible for these animals.

Fast Facts

These are meant to be quick-reference points for journalists. Please adjust numbers/dates to be accurate:

  • Founded: 2007

  • Location: Hartville, Wyoming

  • Acreage: Over [1,000+] acres of mixed prairie and range land

  • Focus: Animals retired from research facilities, breeding programs, and specialized industries

  • Species Served: Dogs, cats, horses, pigs, llamas, goats, sheep, cows, and others

  • Animals Helped to Date: More than 2500

  • Adoptions & Placements: Over 250 adoptions annually on average

  • Long-Term Residents: Over 50 life long animals in our barns and pastures

  • Key Programs:

    • Animal adoption and rehabilitation

    • Long-term sanctuary care for non-adoptable residents

    • “Kindness Caretaker” annual sponsorships for long-term residents

    • Volunteer program (on-site roles)

    • Yurt and campground stays that support sanctuary operations

    • Educational tours and sanctuary visits

Story Angles

  1. From Labs to Laps:
     The journey of beagles and other animals from highly controlled research environments to family couches and ranch pastures.

  2. Second Acts for Research Animals:
     How a neutral, non-adversarial sanctuary model is quietly opening doors with research institutions and industry partners.

  3. Life after Hormone Production (Horses):
     The transformation of horses from hormone production or specialized breeding into cherished, lifelong residents.

  4. Beyond Beagles: The Other Faces of Research:
     The pigs, cats, cows, and smaller species that rarely make headlines but need sanctuary just as urgently.

  5. A Sanctuary You Can Sleep In:
     Yurt rentals and campground stays that let guests awaken to the sounds of rescued animals while directly funding their care.

  6. Community-Enabled Victories:
     How donors, volunteers, and adopters across the country have helped animals transition out of research—highlighting specific success stories.

  7. The Envigo Legacy:
     Kindness Ranch’s role in helping place nearly 4,000 dogs nationally following the Envigo case, and what that response revealed about public support for former research animals.

Leadership Bio – John Ramer, Executive Director

John Ramer is the Executive Director of Kindness Ranch Animal Sanctuary in Wyoming, the nation’s largest sanctuary dedicated to animals retired from research and specialized programs. Under his leadership, Kindness Ranch has expanded its capacity to welcome more dogs, cats, horses, pigs, goats, sheep, llamas, and cows from across the United States, with a focus on collaborative, neutral relationships with research facilities and industry partners.

John has helped oversee large-scale rescue and placement efforts, including Kindness Ranch’s pivotal role in coordinating the placement of nearly 4,000 dogs from the Envigo case nationwide. He is an advocate for practical, empathetic solutions that prioritize animal welfare while recognizing the complex realities of research and industry.

At Kindness Ranch, John’s work centers on three pillars: world-class animal care, long-term organizational sustainability, and building a compassionate community of adopters, donors, volunteers, and partners dedicated to giving these animals a true second chapter.


Sample Quotes

From John Ramer, Executive Director

  • “Our goal isn’t to debate how animals got here. Our job is to make sure that once their work is done, they have a safe place to land and a chance to simply be animals again.”

  • “When a beagle who has never touched grass finally runs across a pasture, you see exactly why sanctuaries like Kindness Ranch exist.”

  • “We’ve built Kindness Ranch on collaboration, not confrontation. By working quietly and respectfully with institutions, we can open more doors for animals to leave research settings and enter loving homes or lifelong sanctuary.”

Visiting, Filming & Photography Guidelines (Media On-Site)

  • Scheduling: All visits, filming, and photography sessions must be scheduled in advance through our media contact.

  • Animal Welfare First: Interviews and filming will be structured to minimize stress for the animals. Certain areas or animals may be off-limits depending on health, behavior, or quarantine status.

  • Confidentiality: In some cases, we may limit or decline photography that could identify specific research institutions, facilities, or individual staff especially where confidentiality agreements are in place.

  • Safety Rules: Closed-toe shoes are required; additional safety instructions will be provided on site. Interactions with animals are supervised and may be limited for safety and welfare reasons.

  • Weather & Rural Conditions: Kindness Ranch is located in a rural setting; weather, road conditions, and seasonality can affect access and filming locations. We will work with media teams to plan accordingly.

Brand Assets & Credit

Pre-Approved images, logo and video for download

  • High-resolution logos (full color, one-color, and reversed)

  • Approved photos of:

    • Sanctuary landscape and facilities

    • Animal residents (dogs, cats, horses, pigs, etc.)

    • Adoptions and family portraits (On Social Media)

    • Staff and volunteers in action

  • B-roll video clips (drone footage)

Credit Line Suggestion:
 “Photos and video courtesy of Kindness Ranch Animal Sanctuary.”

Online Presence