Dogs, horses, and other domestic pets that have not lived fairy tale lives can still find happy endings under the watchful eye of C.C. Beaudette-Wellman, a proverbial animal fairy godmother. The founder of Happy Endings Animal Rescue Sanctuary (H.E.A.R.S.) in Santa Ynez, Beaudette-Wellman has made it her mission to care for domestic cast-offs—animal victims who have suffered abuse, abandonment, or general neglect.
Life is good for animals at the non-profit sanctuary. They benefit from space to exercise and play, nutritious food (even those on special diets), and quality medical care. In addition, those that have come from abusive or neglectful situations are gently rehabilitated so they can find their way to new families and, Beaudette-Wellman hopes, permanent homes.
“We give them unconditional love,” she notes, “help them trust humans again, and have peace knowing that they will be safe for the rest of their lives.”
While Beaudette-Wellman oversees the organization, she relies on a network of volunteers who help with care, feeding, and training of the animals, and with maintenance of the property. She also works closely with county agencies and local veterinarians to ensure the animals’ safety and welfare.
Born and raised in the Santa Ynez Valley, Beaudette-Wellman established Happy Endings in 2007 after more than 30 years as a volunteer for a wildlife rescue organization. Although she has cared for hundreds of wild animals, nursing them back to health or raising their offspring, she founded Happy Endings as a means of providing sanctuary for domestic animals in the Santa Ynez Valley—animals who otherwise would have been euthanized for no other reason than being unwanted.
Beaudette-Wellman, who has been recognized by the local chapter of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for her outstanding work and dedication, isn’t called simply to provide these domestic animals with a safe and loving environment, however. She is also a teacher, educating children and adults on how to properly care for their pets.
Beaudette-Wellman often shares her knowledge and experience with groups that visit the sanctuary, such as a class from the Solvang Summer Recreation program, who, along with their mothers, recently got a lesson on how some of the dogs and horses came to be Happy Endings residents.
More information about Happy Endings, including photos and Beaudette-Wellman’s “wish list” for the animals, can be found at www.happyendingsanimalrescuesanctuary.org.
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