Ex-Media VP Rescues 250 Donkeys After Seeing One TikTok

Ron King spent 2020 the same way many of us did: wondering what comes next. The former Senior Vice President at Time Inc. had left his corner office the year before, searching for purpose. Then a TikTok video changed everything.

The video showed a woman in tears, pleading for help to save donkeys from kill pen auctions. These gentle animals, deemed no longer useful, were being slaughtered for collagen. King couldn't shake what he saw.

Timing made all the difference. A friend had just asked King for help selling a property meant to become an animal sanctuary. King made a bold decision: he'd buy it himself and fill it with donkeys.

In 2021, King rescued three donkeys and opened Oscar's Place, a 75-acre nonprofit sanctuary in Hopeland, California. He had zero experience caring for animals. Today, 250 donkeys call the sanctuary home, cared for by 21 full-time employees.

His days start at 4 a.m., but not with the donkeys. King spends his early mornings on spreadsheets, budgets, and admin work. "It's shocking how similar this is to running seven magazines," he says. "I'm a company guy. I just happen to be in Carhartt and not Gucci."

Once the sun rises at 7 a.m., King switches gears. He facilitates surgeries, introduces new donkeys to the herd, and prepares animals for adoption. The work is physically demanding with 700-pound animals that kick, push, and occasionally slam him against trailers.

That's why King works out five days a week at 4 p.m. sharp. He does strength training three times weekly and Pilates twice, focusing on functional fitness. "I've never been injured," he says. "I think that's because of my strength."

The emotional weight of the work requires rest too. Every 40 days, King leaves the property for four days. He books his tickets at the start of each year and never cancels, no matter what crisis emerges.

Why This Inspires

King's story isn't about escaping corporate life. It's about finding what makes you feel alive. He traded corner offices for muddy boots, but kept the spreadsheets and early mornings. The difference? Now he measures success in donkeys saved, not quarterly earnings.

ABC's new documentary series "Donkey King" features that original TikTok video in every episode's opening credits. King hopes it will bring attention to both the sanctuary and the plight of unwanted donkeys. His advice for others searching for purpose is simple: make a list of times you felt true joy, find the pattern, and do more of that.

From a chance scroll on TikTok to saving 250 lives, King proves it's never too late to rewrite your story.