Kim Sturla | Building a Sanctuary That Inspires Change
Kim Sturla | Building a Sanctuary That Inspires Change
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In this episode of the Top Dog Podcast, Kim Sturla, President and Co-Founder of Animal Place, shares the remarkable story behind one of the country’s longest-running farm animal sanctuaries. After spending decades advocating for animals, Kim has dedicated her life to rescuing farm animals while helping people better understand the connection between compassion, education, and everyday choices.
Kim’s journey into farm animal advocacy began with Zelda, a young pig rescued after being found as a stray. Caring for Zelda helped Kim realize there was no meaningful difference between the dogs she loved and the farm animals society often overlooks—a realization that forever changed the direction of her life.
“There was nothing different between Zelda and my dogs.”
One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is that rescue alone isn’t enough. While Animal Place has saved thousands of animals over the years, Kim believes lasting change comes from helping people understand why animals deserve compassion in the first place.
“Education was as important as saving lives.”
From sanctuary tours and vegan cooking classes to museum exhibits and immersive educational experiences, Animal Place encourages visitors to see farm animals as individuals while empowering them to make informed, compassionate choices.
“It doesn’t do squat for the animals to feel bad for them.”
Rather than relying on guilt or shame, Kim focuses on positive experiences that inspire people to take action. Whether it’s meeting rescued animals, participating in educational programs, or simply reflecting on their own values, she believes meaningful change happens when compassion turns into action.
“You have to do something with that compassion.”
Throughout the conversation, Kim also reflects on the realities of leading a nonprofit for nearly four decades. She shares lessons about perseverance, servant leadership, celebrating small victories, and reminding teams that everyone is working toward the same mission.
“Everybody’s there for the exact same reason.”
At its core, this episode is about living with purpose and recognizing that every person has the ability to make a difference. Whether through advocacy, volunteering, education, or everyday choices, Kim believes everyone has a role to play in creating a more compassionate world.
“Put your compassion into action.”
This message is especially important for Dooberteers, volunteers, animal advocates, and anyone looking to make a meaningful impact. Every act of kindness, every conversation, and every decision has the power to create a better future for animals.
If you’re passionate about helping animals, join the Doobert community where volunteers, fosters, transporters, and organizations work together to save lives every day. Visit Doobert.com to get involved.
And don’t forget to subscribe to the Top Dog Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode.
Do you know any Top Dogs we should interview? We’re always looking for amazing people in animal welfare to feature on the podcast. Send us an email at tdp@doobert.com.