Rhonda Minardi shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Rhonda, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Lately, I’ve found joy in gardening. There’s something grounding about nurturing life from soil to bloom — it mirrors so much of what we do at the Ranch, creating beauty and belonging one day at a time. It reminds me to slow down and find peace in small beginnings.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Rhonda Minardi, founder of Living Grace Canine Ranch, a Central Texas sanctuary dedicated exclusively to senior dogs. We’re not a traditional rescue or shelter — we’re a community where age is celebrated, dignity is restored, and no one walks alone. Since opening our gates in 2020, we’ve cared for nearly 1,000 senior dogs. Our nonprofit programs emphasize quality of life at every stage — from our Live Long Live Well medical care, to Home Stretch hospice services, to Rural Roadside Rescue, and our Forever Foster program. What makes us unique is that we don’t just save lives, we transform what could have been an ending into new beginnings of hope, health, and belonging. Today, we’re focused on expanding our Forever Foster network and building stronger community partnerships so even more senior dogs can experience safety, family, and love.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
The senior dogs themselves saw me clearly before I could fully see myself. In their quiet resilience and in the way they trusted me with their final chapters, they reflected my purpose. But it was the Lord who opened my eyes through them — showing me that my calling wasn’t only to rescue, but to walk life’s journey beside them. Their trust and His guidance gave me clarity long before I was ready to claim it.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
One of the deepest wounds of my life was experiencing profound loss — both in my personal life and in watching how society so easily discards the most vulnerable, whether people or senior dogs. For a time, those losses felt like empty spaces that could never be filled. Healing came when I surrendered those wounds to the Lord and allowed Him to repurpose them into service. At Living Grace Canine Ranch, every resident’s story of abandonment, neglect, or near-death reminds me that wounds don’t have to be the end of the story. When I see trust restored in a dog’s eyes, I see my own healing mirrored back — proof that brokenness can be transformed into belonging.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies in animal rescue is that senior dogs are ‘unadoptable’ or ‘spent.’ The truth is, they still have years of love, loyalty, and joy to give when given the right environment. Another misconception is that saving a dog simply means pulling them from a shelter. Rescue without restoration is only half the work — without medical care, emotional healing, and long-term commitment, too many dogs circle back into crisis. At Living Grace Canine Ranch, we reject the idea that age or past trauma defines worth. We’ve built a model where seniors don’t just survive — they thrive, and they never face abandonment again.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. How do you know when you’re out of your depth?
I know I’m out of my depth when my own strength isn’t enough and the path forward feels clouded. Instead of pretending to have all the answers, I pause, pray, and lean into the wisdom of others — whether it’s our veterinary team, trusted board members, or volunteers who bring fresh perspective. For me, being ‘out of depth’ isn’t failure, it’s an invitation: to rely on the Lord, to listen more deeply, and to trust the community He’s placed around me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.livinggracecanineranch.org
- Instagram: @livinggracecanineranch
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lgcanineranch
- Youtube: @livinggracecanineranch
Image Credits
Courtesy of Living Grace Canine Ranch
