About Us

Thao’s adult dream wasn't about luxury cars or expensive houses; it was a vision of llamas gracing her yard. In 2011, when Thao and her husband, Vince, ventured into the countryside, their initial foray into animal care was uncharted territory. Guided by extensive reading and valuable advice, they began welcoming a diverse range of animals.

Balancing careers as a 911 Dispatcher and a Deputy, the couple invested their overtime hours and personal funds to establish a sanctuary. By 2016, Lucky Ones Ranch, officially a non-profit, housed over 80 animals, including dogs, horses, donkeys, sheep, and turkeys.

Recognizing the joy in their friends' eyes during visits, Thao and Vince realized they had created something extraordinary—a haven where visitors of all ages, including military, law enforcement, and special needs families, could share memorable interactions with the sanctuary animals.

What began as a childhood dream had evolved into a mission. Lucky Ones Ranch extends beyond animal rescue, providing assistance to people with their animals and engaging in community initiatives like pet therapy and animal education.

Believe there is good in the world

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Believe there is good in the world 〰️

What We Do

Welcome to The Lucky Ones Ranch, a non-profit animal sanctuary nestled in Vacaville, California. Established in 2016 by Thao and Vince, a dedicated husband-and-wife duo, our sanctuary thrives with the support of an incredible team of volunteers.

At Lucky Ones Ranch, we offer a forever home to animals that have faced neglect, abuse, or found themselves unwanted. Our diverse family includes six horses, two donkeys, one mule, two cattle, three llamas, two goats, ten sheep, 23 pot-bellied pigs, one guinea pig, 16 dogs, five cats, six rabbits, two tortoises, and a variety of feathered friends.

Beyond providing a safe haven, Lucky Ones Ranch is a special and enjoyable venue for both kids and adults, offering a unique and up-close interaction with our rescued animals. We conduct tours and organize special seasonal events to support our ongoing expenses, including a monthly hay bill of $1200, veterinary medical care, feed for various animals, as well as routine animal maintenance such as pig trimming, horse hoof care by a farrier, dog grooming, and more. Caring for over 100 animals is no small feat, and your generous support enables us to meet the needs of our rescued animals and continue our mission.

Our Mission

Connect

Provide a unique venue where kids, adults, families of military veterans and law enforcement can come together and have a therapeutic experience with our rescued animals.

Educate

Educate the public about the humane and ethical care of animals with the goal of teaching respect and compassion for all living things.

Rebuilding After the Wildfires

On August 19, 2020, the Lucky Ones Ranch was burned to the ground by the LNU Lightning Complex Fire. Our piece of ‘heaven on earth’, the beloved forever home to many previously neglected / unwanted / ‘damaged’ animals was gone. It’s a hard reality, but it was our reality. Please watch news segment below and see more ways how you can help.

Meet the Team

In 2016, Thao and Vince founded the Lucky Ones Ranch non-profit animal sanctuary. Throughout the years, they have put together a team of dedicated volunteers who have helped keep the ranch thriving and growing!

Learn more

FAQs

GENERAL

Lucky Ones Ranch serves as both a sanctuary for animals and a private residence. If you are attending a scheduled event, have arranged a visit, or purchased tickets through Eventbrite, the address and directions will be provided to you via email. All visits must be pre-arranged and are scheduled by appointment only.
Kindly refrain from visiting the property without a prior appointment.
If you would like our mailing address, please feel free to email us at info@luckyonesranch.com, and we will be happy to provide you with the necessary information.
Yes, our tax ID is 30-0889961.

EVENTS, TOURS AND VISITS

We do not operate with regular open hours. Our sanctuary is accessible only during scheduled events, parties, or tours that you have registered for or been invited to attend.
Certainly, we do bring animals for educational purposes within our local community. Kindly email us at info@luckyonesranch.com with the location of your school, along with details regarding the age range of your students and the size of the class.
Regrettably, our animals are not available for rental purposes for events.

DONATIONS

Thank you for considering us!
If you're interested in contributing items, please check our Amazon wish list. For items that cannot be delivered by Amazon, kindly email us at info@luckyonesranch.com to make suitable arrangements.
Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
To cancel your monthly donation, you can do so directly through PayPal. Simply log in to your PayPal account, navigate to the recurring payments section, and cancel the donation from there.
As all transactions are handled through PayPal, we're unable to modify donation amounts directly. We’ve learned that it’s easiest to cancel the current donation and set up a new monthly donation with the desired amount.

VOLUNTEERS

Volunteering is open to individuals aged 18 and up due to safety precautions. Our ranch environment can be unpredictable, requiring volunteers to focus on tasks with the animals while having to work varying weather conditions, including extreme heat and storms.
For the safety and welfare of our sanctuary animals, we will only be contacting those applicants that we feel would be best for us and our animals. To learn more about volunteer requirements and how to apply, click here.
We do accept group volunteers if it aligns with our needs and capacities. If your group has any special skills they would like to share, or want to help us with special projects, please complete the application to see how your team can help us here.

ANIMALS

Our capacity is currently full, and we are unable to accept any additional animals at this time. However, feel free to reach out to us for guidance and resources to assist with rehoming.