Woman Rescues 100+ Starving Animals in 14 Years

When Karla Trimm found Hazel the Appaloosa in January, the starving horse weighed just 754 pounds, nothing but ribs shivering in a deep freeze. Six months later, Hazel has gained 125 pounds and recently rolled in the sand for the first time, a moment that brought tears to Trimm's eyes.

For 14 years, Trimm has run K-Stone Rescue on her ranch in Lisbon, New York, giving abused and neglected animals a second chance at life. The former corrections lieutenant and police officer now spends her retirement nursing horses, donkeys, and even potbellied pigs back to health.

Her rescue work goes beyond saving lives. She bought a mare named Freedom just three hours before the horse was scheduled for slaughter, then found her a loving home with a 12-year-old girl in Canton who was thrilled to have her own horse.

The ranch provides emergency rescue, medical care, rehabilitation, and adoption services for animals that would otherwise face death or continued suffering. Trimm even built an indoor arena three years ago so the animals can exercise and train year-round.

The Ripple Effect

K-Stone Rescue has become more than an animal sanctuary. It's a community hub that brings volunteers together around a shared mission of compassion.

Trimm's sister Karen Gravelle volunteers almost daily, and she brings a young disabled man to work on the farm as part of his development plan. College student Rylea Kelley, majoring in equine science, trains there to gain hands-on experience while helping animals heal.

The ranch hosts mobile petting zoos at local events and birthday parties to raise funds for animal care. These gatherings let community members meet rescue animals and learn their stories, spreading awareness about animal welfare.

The first two rescues from 2012, a mini-horse named Heidi and a donkey named Dak, still live happily at the ranch today. They've watched dozens of other animals arrive broken and leave whole, ready for loving homes.

Trimm somehow balances rescue work with running K-Stone Tax Service during tax season. She jokes that she'll probably never fully retire, saying with a laugh, "I'll probably die on a horse."