caring for animals
helping young students and adults develop character traits courage, patriotism, compassion`
Aimed at our callings
You can help provide compassionate care to animals and teach character traits like courage and compassion to students so this and future generations will care more, abandon less, and use those enlightened improvements to treat people even better.
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- Provide food, shelter, daily handling, medical care…
- Host students, families, groups, classes giving experiences and education to develop courage, compassion, patriotism, cooperation, citizenship.
- Public services to education, animal care givers, law enforcement, policymakers…
- Develop resources for teachers to help them teach character traits (mandated since 1995) and planning for college-career-character.
- Provide training and free online resources for administrators and teachers, plus help them start programs and teach classes.
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Compassion Ranch is a program of 501 (c)(3) nonprofit Life Leaders Institute and Ranch hosted at Triple D Ranch and Farm in Central Alabama.
You can see or print The Animals of Compassion Ranch (incudes photos and info on Animals, Programs, People and how you can participate)
Before we started Compassion Ranch, we served people and animals:
Our Model of Service
Our model of service combines care of animals and working on root causes of animal abuse and abandonment–character, beliefs, habits. We develop and provide educational resources useful in schools and homes plus we provide experiences at the ranch. We care for animals who need our help and they serve purposes inspiring people.
Most animal welfare service groups are rescues or shelters, who find forever homes for animals rescued or surrendered. We support them. We have done that work. Our model focuses on giving animals second chances in sanctuary and an education center to involve them in programs of service to people. The goal is for the Animals of Compassion Ranch to live here for the rest of their lives. People are able to form relationships with them by following them online, visiting to touch, groom, and interact with them, and/or sponsor their boarding.
The ranch is home to 38 animals who eat 10,000+ pounds of food per month. 18 of our guests are equines–horses, ponies, and donkeys. The rest are dogs, cats, goats. Wildlife is protected and they get extra food when donated.
If you desire a particular experience or set of results (learn of animals; build courage, confidence, compassion, patriotism; improve your written plans for life; help someone with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), or want to re-build trust in self and others…) let us know. We may be able to help. Some animal lovers sponsor individual animals, groups of animals, or donate to support priorities.
Founder and Director
Dr. David Dyson, who leads on animal care and programs, earned a doctoral degree in education from Vanderbilt University plus completed management institutes at Harvard University and Carnegie-Mellon University. Earlier academic degrees include Bachelors in Business, Auburn University, and Masters in Management, Birmingham-Southern College. He worked in higher education, then executive and life coach, corporate trainer, and consultant, before adding care of animals to involve in helping people serve and develop.
Calling for care and Character
When animals get abandoned, who does it? Almost always, former students.
Abusers often learn their behavior growing up. If dad thought it was okay to not protect the family dog with fencing and shelter or to shoot a dog because he came into the yard or to “dump” a dog because he became inconvenient, the children may repeat. Tethering dogs on chains usually is learned behavior. So is making animals fight or killing them with guns for entertainment. To change, we have to show and try to inspire improved beliefs and actions.
Character starts at home and school. We can do more supporting teachers to help students learn and experience character traits that lead them to grow up more caring, ethical, and responsible. We provide experiences for parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, and others who learn about and care for animals. People tend to treat other people about the same as they treat animals, especially when no one is looking.
We often add during visits…
- one minute lessons of inspiration on character traits like courage, patriotism, compassion…
- workshops on plans for school and life such as mission and vision, goals and resolutions, or plans for school & college-career-character…
- starting a program with the Pledge of Allegiance, sometimes with a horse bowing to the Flag.
- presentation or ceremony with “riderless” horses.
We develop, publish, and provide resources individuals, parents, and teachers can use personally and in student development–online or printed. Tell Doc your need for a model, concept, or tool…and we will try to help.
Some of his articles and planbooks are accessible to you online: https://www.drdaviddyson.com/journal/ and https://www.drdaviddyson.com/publications/