Introduction
Hello welcome! My name is Leslie. I am the founder/owner of Happy Buddha Animal Rescue and Sanctuary, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. I don't know how far I would have made it without the help of my Husband, Lee. His brain understands business, economics, and numbers. My brain understands animals, feelings, and emotions. So together it works perfectly! I chose the name “Happy Buddha” because Buddhist try to show loving-kindness to all beings, including animals. To all beings!! I have a statue in my home of the Happy Buddha, he always brings a smile to my face. I want love and safety for all the beings who come into my home. I want this rescue to be a happy place and a place of refuge.
I was born into this world loving animals. I can't remember a time I didn't love them. It’s ingrained so deeply I think its just a personality trait. When I was little I wanted to own a zoo, but I didn’t care if people could even see the animals because their enclosures would be so big and amazing!! I owned many pets throughout my life. Dogs, Guinea Pig, snakes, ferret, rats, cats, ducks, chickens, leopard geckos, tortoise, bunny, horse, and at one point I even had a little pet sparrow that I raised that had fallen from its nest at just a day or two old. When I was 21 I spent a few months going to school in a Vet Tech program. During that time though I got married and we moved up to Washington where my Husband was attending WSU. I spent the next 13 years having babies and helping them grow to be kind humans which so far we’re doing pretty good!! We have four kids, three Sons and one Daughter. They all love animals!
Six years ago while living in Arizona for a couple years, we worked with an animal rescue fostering puppies. We fostered close to about 50 in a little over a years time. We managed to only keep one of them. Bruce was from my first foster litter. They came to me at just five weeks old. I also have my big Boerboel girl named Mila. Two indoor kitty sisters named Blossom and Petal. A barn cat named Mau.
My oldest son has a Ball Python, Wayne. A Leopard Gecko, Tw***ie. My second son has two Leopard Geckos, Quincy and Hammy. My daughter has two Guinea Pigs, Chickapig and Juniper. My youngest takes care of our Russian Tortoise, who I actually found walking through our backyard one day, his name is Strawberry. There’s also our house bunny, Arlo. Our flock of chickens. And lastly, and the absolute love of my life, is my beautiful horse Sunny who I was lucky to find and bring into my life last April. So in some ways I guess I did get my zoo! Animals bring me so much pure joy! And helping to rescue them and find homes was so fulfilling, but so exhausting when I still had babies of my own to care for. I knew that once my kids got old enough I wanted to start my own rescue. I realized they were old enough when they all started telling me it was time. They've all proven to me that they are capable to help! And I could actually feel so deeply that it was time. We’ll take it slow for now and focus on each animals that comes our way. I know the Universe will guide me in which animals I’m supposed to take in and help. The sad truth that we in rescue know too well is that you can't save them all. Oh but you want too though and we’ll never stop trying! I’m excited for this adventure. I have a great family supporting me and amazing friends constantly cheering me on! So here's to making the world a kinder place one animal at a time!!
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