Saving humanity
one animal at a time.
Living Free's story
Living Free Animal Sanctuary was founded in 1980 by Emily Jo Beard—a woman with a vision, a heart full of compassion, and a promise:
To protect the innocent. To provide refuge. To bless our fellow creatures.
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What began with just ten dogs and five cats has grown into a sanctuary of life and hope. Today, nearly 150 animals call Living Free home. They are the living legacy of Emily Jo’s dream—a dream that continues to unfold every day.
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We are proudly no-kill. We do not take animals from the public. Instead, we rescue dogs and cats who are scheduled to be euthanized in overcrowded shelters—animals with no more time, no more options, and nowhere else to go. At Living Free, they are safe. They are seen. And they are loved.
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Some will find forever homes. Others will live out their days here, surrounded by nature, respected for who they are, and cared for deeply every step of the way.
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Living Free was built on a promise—and that promise remains unbroken.
Every life deserves a second chance.
This land's history
The land that is now home to Living Free Animal Sanctuary has a history as rich as it is enduring. Hundreds of years ago, the Cahuilla Indians used these 155 acres in the San Jacinto Mountains as a summer refuge, escaping the desert heat to gather food, water, and resources. Their presence remains etched into the landscape through bedrock mortars and petroglyphs that can still be found across the property today.
In the late 1800s, the government began selling the land as homesteads. The Crain family purchased 160 acres for just twenty-five cents an acre, establishing one of the earliest settlements here. By 1899, the property had changed hands to John Keen and his wife, who developed it into Keen Camp, a rustic resort for the wealthy. The camp featured a swimming pool, tennis court, and cabins. The building that now serves as Living Free’s Administrative Office and Visitor Center was once the camp’s General Store.
Later, the Keens sold the property to their friends, the Walkers. In 1943, tragedy struck when a fire swept through the grounds, destroying nearly everything except the Visitor Center building, along with the original stone wall and the path leading up to Tahquitz Lodge.
In the years that followed, the land found new purpose as a YWCA camp, where the current Admin Office/Visitor Center served as the camp’s mess hall.
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Finally, in 1980, the property was purchased by Emily Jo Beard, who saw in it the perfect setting for her vision of Living Free Animal Sanctuary. From sacred Indigenous ground to homesteads, rustic resorts, and summer camps, this land has always been a place of refuge, resilience, and renewal—a legacy that continues today in its role as a sanctuary for animals.
1920s photo of a movie set. This film, The Squaw Man, was regarded as one of the first feature length films that changed the way Hollywood created films.
A pool used by Tahquitz Lodge and the YWCA.
The erection of the first Living Free flag in 1980.
1920s photo of a movie set. This film, The Squaw Man, was regarded as one of the first feature length films that changed the way Hollywood created films.