We had the good fortune of connecting with Stephanie Boydston and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephanie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I worked for large National Non-profits like Make-A-Wish and Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation for over 7+ years. During that time frame I was also extremely passionate about animal rescue, and helped to foster over 150+ cats, dogs, guinea pigs, and rabbits with a local nonprofit pet rescue. In 2019 I helped to rescue/foster a litter of 10 pot belly piglets through this rescue, and after a year of fostering the remaining 2 pigs that had still yet to be adopted were then dropped from their rescue program. I quickly realized just how little resources and advocacy there was in the community for PET pigs.. and immediately knew that I needed to do something about it. That’s when Love Life Animal Rescue & Sanctuary Inc was born! A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to providing love, compassion and care to farmed animals in need!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My first job ever was Chuck E. Cheese’s.. (like the actual mouse)! I’ve also worked for Walt Disney World, and even managed restaurants in the Hamptons, NY! The last 7 years, I worked as a professional fundraiser for national nonprofits like Make-A-Wish and Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. I always knew that I wanted to dedicate my life to helping to the biggest impact for the most amount of people! During this time I helped to rescue/foster over 150+ animals with various nonprofit animal rescues in our community; last call neonatal kittens from the local shelters, puppies from the British Virgin Islands, pregnant cats and guinea pigs, even a litter of 10 pot belly piglets! My experience with fostering the piglets was a HUGE eye-opener for me into the world of animal advocacy and veganism– there just wasn’t enough active farm animal rescues, community resources, and/or people willing/able to ADOPT a PET pig. After a year of fostering, the last 2 remaining pigs from that litter who were not yet adopted out, were then dropped from their rescue program with nowhere to go. I knew in that moment that I HAD to protect them, and do everything I could to create a safer world for them and so many other at-risk farmed animals! “Be the change you’d wish to see in the world”. While I was working from home during the COVID-19 Pandemic, I somehow managed to accumulate ~79 rescue animals. Animals whose owners died, leaving them no place to go. Owners who lost their homes or had to downsize, and were no longer able to care for their animals, etc. The local county shelters typically do not accept animals other than cats/dogs.. meaning that when an owner can no longer take care of their FARM animals, they end up in auctions and meat markets. I was soon working over 80-100+ hours a week, just to feed the animals I had rescued– and ended up completely burning myself out! March 2022, I resigned from my Development Manager career at Susan G. Komen.. and decided that it was time for me to start fundraising for myself! June 2022, Love Life Animal Rescue & Sanctuary was born!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Although I am born and raised Long Island, NY, I lived in Southeast Florida/Miami area for nearly a decade! A trip to South Florida would not be complete without eating at my all time FAVORITE vegan restaurant, Love Life Cafe, seeing all of the amazing street art at Wynwood Walls, taking a stroll down Las Olas Blvd, or some much needed retail therapy at Thrift it FWD in Davie, FL!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Love Life Animal Rescue & Sanctuary would not exist without the amazing support and generosity from our friends, family and dedicated followers! Because of the unwavering encouragement we received since inception, our nonprofit is now home to over 60+ animals rescued from cases of abuse, neglect, abandonment, owner surrender and/or slaughter. We are so thankful to be able to work alongside the members of our community to locate and advocate for at-risk farmed animals in need of a safe haven. I’m so thankful to all of my former leaders and mentors for helping to mold me into the woman I am today in my nonprofit career. And I am especially thankful to my partner in love, life AND animal rescue, JUSTIN– who shares in my crazy passion for animal rescue and helps to make our world go round!

Website: www.lovelifeanimalrescue.org

Instagram: www.instagram.com/lovelifeanimalrescue

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/stephanie-boydston

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lovelifeanimalrescue

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