Sheila Murphy spent her adult life daydreaming about owning property and having lots of animals to fill the land.  Caught up in the rat race of career and city life, she all but gave up the dream. All of that changed one day when she was on a real estate site and saw a 40 acre property that took her breath away.  After visiting the site she knew this was the place she had been searching for all of her life! She had a little convincing to do with her husband Michael, but in no time he was on board with the move.  Within six months of moving in they had adopted four goats that were either up for consumption or slaughter. Next came the alpacas that needed to be rehomed when their owners moved and left them behind. To protect the goats and alpacas from predators Michael insisted they needed to get some standard size donkeys! Of course when they went to pick up the donkeys there was a lonely French Alpine goat that needed a home so they brought her back to the ranch too!  Luckily in the meantime, Sheila’s dad Joe, (aka Papa Chump – Ranch Hand) got tired of the Chicago weather and decided he’d rather live on the property helping care for the animals.

In April of her second year, Sheila got a call from a friend who knew of someone trying to re-home three of their goats.  When they went to the property to pick up the goats they saw the deplorable conditions all the other animals were living in.  She knew she couldn’t leave the rest of the animals to parish in those conditions. So she decided to take the whole farm home!

That was the official birth of Alma Bonita Animal Rescue.  Sheila, along with Michael, Joe and her sister Sherri are dedicated to ensuring happy and healthy, dignified lives for animals.

With a Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership a Master’s Degree in Education, a Master’s Degree in Supervision and Administration and as a Certified Life Coach, Sheila has always focused her life’s work on giving to those who are most vulnerable in this world. Animals and children have been her passion for as long as she can remember.

Taking her background in education and leadership, Alma Bonita Animal Rescue provides programs that support teaching and learning about animal ownership, responsibility and compassion, as well as supporting the next generation of leaders.