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Farm Animals Get New Lease on Life at West Marin Sanctuary
Pacific Sun, October 14, 2025
After Miyoko Schinner, an award-winning chef who started a vegan cheese company, bought a house and barn on 16.5 acres of land in Nicasio, animals in need kept showing up. First came Reggie and Rufus, the two “OGs,” or original goats.
Three potbellied pigs, Aragon, Onyx and Oxy, followed. Then came a cow. Soon, Schinner decided that instead of simply taking in farm creatures referred by animal sanctuaries, she would open her own nonprofit refuge. In 2015, Rancho Compasión was born.
Over the last decade, they have rescued more than 500 animals. Currently, 115 farm animals live at Rancho Compasión, which is neither a ranch nor a petting zoo. All animals at the sanctuary receive lifetime resident status. No matter what unfortunate circumstances they come from and what quirks they bring with them, the animals spend their remaining years in the refuge’s care.
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Miyoko Schinner shares vegan dairy recipes in new cookbook
Marin Independent Journal, September 9, 2025
Beyond the kitchen, Schinner founded Rancho Compasión, a nonprofit farm-animal sanctuary in Nicasio that’s home to more than 100 animals and hosts youth education programs.
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Animal Rescue Services in Marin and the Bay Area
Marin Magazine, January 1, 2024
Whether you’re looking to help an animal in need or to adopt a new pet of your own, discover local pet businesses and organizations that help animals thrive.
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Meet Fred the Tap-Dancing Turkey
National Geographic, Nov 17, 2023
Discover the enchanting world of Fred Astaire, the tap-dancing turkey at Rancho Compasión, an animal sanctuary in California. Rescued from a Thanksgiving fate, Fred's colorful displays and playful antics redefine our understanding of animal emotions. This short documentary invites you into the sanctuary, challenging preconceptions and highlighting the shared bonds between humans and our feathered companions.
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Award-Winning Filmmakers to Present Ground-Breaking Documentaries at West Coast’s Leading Plant-Based Film and Food Festival
Marin Magazine, August 1, 2022
“The Mindful Eating Film Festival is an annual gathering bringing together changemakers, celebrities, and the public to raise funds and address the issues surrounding food and animal agricultural systems. The event will make an expanded return for its third year to the Marin Center and Fairgrounds on August 6th and 7th for a weekend of film screenings, plant-based tastings, and exclusive conversations with filmmakers and celebrities.“
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Piedmonter makes pitch for plant-based food
piedmont exedra, August 3, 2022
“Our mission goes way beyond this to educate about the animals we normally dismiss as food and what they experience in the factory farms. We are part of a much larger movement to educate the public on the enormous negative impacts from animal agriculture, which is a leading cause of climate change, deforestation, and extinction of species.”
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The ‘Queen of Vegan Cheese’ is trying to change the way we eat to save the planet
The Hill, December 10, 2021
“Miyoko Schinner is not subtle about her plans to change the dairy industry. A vegetarian since age 12 and a vegan for more than 30 years, Schinner has been working tirelessly for decades to change people’s perceptions about animals and the foods we derive from them. In 2014 she launched Miyoko’s Creamery, a mission-driven vegan cheese and butter company based in Northern California that has exploded in popularity in the past few years, as consumers have become more conscious of the environmental impact of their food consumption.”
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Rescued Farm Animals Find Loving Home at Rancho Compasión
NBCLA, March 12, 2021
Welcome to Rancho Compasión Sanctuary, a.k.a. heaven on Earth for rescued farm animals. Here you’ll find all kinds of rescues—who come from situations like neglect, abuse, abandonment, and exploitation—living together in harmony under the loving care of mother-and-daughter duo Miyoko and Camellia Schinner. Watch as Malou gets a tour of their beautiful ranch and get to meet their resident tap-dancing turkey, Fred Astaire!
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Famous Ducks at Oakland's Lake Merritt Find New Home
NBC Bay Area, Jan 4, 2021
Two domestic ducks that were likely dumped at Oakland’s Lake Merritt by a careless pet owner have found a new home at Rancho Compasion in Nicasio, CA thanks to a mother-daughter duo that saved them. Melissa Colorado reports.
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This teen saved her cow from being slaughtered
mercy for animals, Aug 14, 2018
Heartwarming video captures a Future Farmers of America (FFA) student surrendering her beloved project steer to animal sanctuary, Rancho Compasion, in Nicasio, CA.