Help Animals Thrive

Supporting Villa Chardonnay Horses with Wings Together

Join us in making a difference for animals in need. Your donations help provide shelter, food, and care for our beloved sanctuary residents. Together, we can create a better future for them.

Our Mission Matters

Compassion in Action

We are dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating animals. Your support enables us to continue our vital work, ensuring every animal receives the love and care they deserve at our sanctuary.

For Every $20 donation you enter into a drawing for a 1-hour Reading or Healing your choice. After every 5k earned I will add another Prize to be won! This is for the animals! Winner will be chosen on February 1, 2025.

Sponsor The Animals

Chardonnay

Meet Chardonnay: The Horse Who Started It All

Chardonnay isn’t just any horse—she’s the heart and soul behind Villa Chardonnay. With her striking chardonnay-colored coat and spirited personality, she’s a symbol of resilience and the very reason our sanctuary exists today.

In 2003, at just 2½ years old, Chardonnay faced a heartbreaking fate. An injury had rendered her "unrideable," and in the equine world, that often means one thing: euthanasia. But Monika saw something different in her—a spark, a worth beyond her physical limitations. It was in that moment Monika asked herself, “Is a life truly worthless just because a horse cannot be ridden?”

That question became the foundation of Villa Chardonnay—a sanctuary where every animal, regardless of age or ability, is given love, respect, and a forever home until their final days.

Today, Chardonnay thrives with her feisty spirit and undeniable zest for life. She’s a reminder that every being deserves a chance to live, love, and simply be.

By sponsoring Chardonnay, you’re not just supporting one horse—you’re honoring the mission she inspired and helping us continue to give animals like her a second chance at life.

Meet Koda: A Story of Resilience and Friendship

Koda's journey to Villa Chardonnay began in Michigan, where her life took a heartbreaking turn. Diagnosed with EPM, a neurological condition that made her unable to work, she was deemed "worthless" and faced the cruel fate of slaughter. Thankfully, she found her forever home with us in July 2018, where her life took on a new purpose.

At our previous location in Diamond Valley Lake, Koda preferred the comfort of her spacious paddock, hesitant to explore the larger pastures. But when we moved to Julian, her world opened up. Placed in a big pasture, Koda found her soulmate in Starlight, a beautiful horse who lost one eye. The two became inseparable, forming a bond built on trust and understanding.

These days, Koda and Starlight are often spotted together, happily roaming with the wild mustangs, enjoying the freedom and friendship they've found at our sanctuary.

By sponsoring Koda, you're not just supporting her care; you're honoring her incredible spirit and the second chance she was given to live a life filled with love, companionship, and peace.

Koda

Meet Arthur: The King of the Cattery and Feline Ambassador

Arthur’s story began with a twist of fate. In 2013, as a tiny kitten, he was tragically run over on a highway, leaving his hip crushed and his future uncertain. Facing euthanasia at the shelter, a kind-hearted samaritan stepped in and brought Arthur to Villa Chardonnay, where his journey truly began.

Eleven years later, Arthur isn’t just surviving—he’s thriving. As the proud leader of our feline cattery, Arthur wears his crown with charm and grace. He’s the first to greet every visitor with a friendly “meow” and a twinkle in his eye, ensuring everyone feels welcome in his kingdom. Whether it's a gentle head bump or a soft purr, Arthur knows just how to win hearts.

But Arthur is more than just a greeter—he’s a messenger. An animal communicator confirmed what we’ve always known: Arthur carries a deep wisdom and serves as an advocate for every cat in our care. He’s their voice, their protector, and their charming spokesperson.

By sponsoring Arthur, you’re not only supporting his care—you’re honoring the spirit of a little kitten who defied the odds and grew into a true leader, bringing love, light, and feline magic to all who meet him.

Arthur

Meet Puff Daddy: The Tough Guy with a Tender Heart

Puff Daddy arrived at Villa Chardonnay in 2018, a rugged and fiercely independent feral cat with a heart guarded by years of survival. Alongside nine other cats rescued from an elderly woman, he carried with him a wariness of humans that could only be earned through trust, time, and unwavering love.

For two years, Puff Daddy kept his distance—allowing us to get close, but never quite close enough for a touch. He was a challenge, a mystery, and, in many ways, a symbol of resilience. But here at Villa Chardonnay, we believe every soul, no matter how tough the exterior, deserves love, patience, and a chance to feel safe.

By 2020, something incredible happened. Slowly, cautiously, Puff Daddy began to let his guard down. A gentle scratch here, a quiet moment there—he started to accept love on his own terms.

Today, Puff Daddy reminds us of the power of patience and the beauty of earning an animal's trust. He’s our “difficult student” who proved that love, given consistently and without conditions, always finds a way.

Sponsoring Puff Daddy means standing by the animals who need time, understanding, and a safe space to heal. Because every tough guy deserves a soft place to land.

Puff Daddy

Meet Lulu: The Tiny Lion with a Heart of Gold

Lulu may be small in size, but her spirit is larger than life. Rescued from a rescue in November 2022 after enduring unimaginable cruelty—a burn running down her back—Lulu’s story is one of bravery, determination, and unshakable love.

Despite her painful past, Lulu carries herself with the heart of a lion. She’s not just a companion; she’s Monika’s right hand, always ready for her next big assignment with ears perked and eyes sparkling with purpose. Whether it’s supervising daily tasks or keeping spirits high, Lulu takes her role very seriously.

But don’t let her fierce spirit fool you—Lulu has her quirks. She insists on drinking cold water straight from Monika’s bottled water (never her regular bowl, thank you very much) and prefers her meals fashionably late, as mornings simply aren’t her thing. When it comes to snuggles, Lulu is all in… but only until she’s had her fill. Once recharged with love, she trots off confidently, ready to conquer her next mission.

One of Lulu's favorite pastimes is riding shotgun on the KUBOTA, making her rounds to check on the animals with the wind in her fur and a look of pure determination on her face.

Sponsoring Lulu means celebrating her unbreakable spirit, her loyalty, and her zest for life. Because sometimes, the tiniest souls carry the greatest strength.

Lulu

Meet Bruno: The Gentle Giant with a Heart of Gold

Bruno's story began on a farm where his future was heartbreakingly uncertain. Born blind and struggling with downer calf syndrome, he was just two months old when Monika spotted him during a routine grain purchase. The farmers had already decided his fate—euthanasia. But Monika didn’t hesitate. “Tell me no more,” she said, and just like that, Bruno was on his way to Villa Chardonnay.

The road wasn’t easy. At first, we tried introducing Bruno to a group of donkeys, hoping they’d offer him companionship, but they weren’t accepting of him. So instead, Bruno found comfort with two ducks. Those feathered friends became his first family, helping him navigate his sadness after being separated from his mother.

The memory of that separation still tugs at our hearts. If only Bruno could have understood in that moment that being pulled away was the only way to save his life. Some might say animals don’t feel sadness, but we know better. Bruno mourned. And yet, with time, patience, and the soft quacking of his duck friends, he began to heal.

Today, Bruno has his own paddock with horses as his neighbors, and he’s grown into an impressive, gentle giant who knows his name and absolutely loves being caressed. No longer the tiny calf who could fit snugly in the back of an SUV, Bruno now stands tall and proud—a living reminder of compassion, second chances, and the undeniable truth that every life matters.

By sponsoring Bruno, you’re not just helping a bull—you’re supporting a soul who once faced the darkest fate and now thrives in safety, love, and care.

Bruno

Meet Frijolito: From Tiny Bean to Big Personality

Frijolito, whose name means “Little Bean” in Spanish, may have started as a tiny, fragile kitten, but today, he’s anything but little—except in name! His story began on a heartbreaking note, as he was just one of countless kittens facing euthanasia in an overcrowded shelter. But his story didn’t end there—Villa Chardonnay became his second chance at life, and he’s been making the most of it ever since.

Now grown into a sleek, confident black cat with a zest for life, Frijolito has become the heart and soul of our cattery. If there were a Cat Olympics, he’d be our undisputed champion, proudly representing Villa Chardonnay on the hamster wheel. His athleticism—and let’s be honest, his flair for the dramatic—shine through as he runs with focus, stops for a playful pose, or simply lounges on the wheel like it’s his personal throne.

Frijolito wasn’t just the first cat to conquer the wheel; he’s also inspired a few of his feline friends to give it a try, even if just for a moment. But no one can match his dedication—or his charm.

Whether he’s showing off his agility, begging for a cuddle, or simply catching his breath after a workout, Frijolito captures every heart he meets.

By sponsoring Frijolito, you’re not just supporting his care—you’re honoring the journey of a tiny kitten who beat the odds to become a shining star in our sanctuary.

Frijolito

Villa Chardonnay

Your Donations help to benefit these animals and create a better life!

Contribute to our cause and help us create a safe haven for abandoned and abused animals. Every donation counts and brings us closer to our goal of providing them with a loving home.

You Make a Difference

Donate Below to Enter into the drawing!

Reach out to help our animal sanctuary with your donations.