While we can do a lot for animals, they can also do a lot for us.
The Farm Animal Rescue in West Jordan is home to dozens of farm animals, all given a second chance after being neglected, abandoned, abused or surrendered by their owners who could no longer care for them.
"I went and bought a ranch so I could rescue physically abused horses and kind of grew from there. That's how the farm all started," founder Gil Ma said.
Ma runs the farm himself. While he takes care of these animals, he says it was the animals that took care of him first.
"We all have different ways of coping with trauma,” Ma said. “And for me, going through trauma as a child, instead of becoming what had happened to me and perpetuating the trauma, I found animals were unconditional love."
Ma says animals helped him heal from an abusive childhood.
"I could have animals, and that filled a spot in my heart that was empty," Ma said.
Over the years, the farm has grown into a rescue for not just animals, but people too.
"My mantra has become to make a difference in at least one person's life every day,” Ma said. "So I'll rescue the animals, and they rescue the people.”
Ma shares not only his animals, but his story too, hoping others can find comfort and know they're not alone.
"We all go through tough times,” Ma said. “Not one of us gets out of life without some trauma, and people need to know that it's okay though.”
“There's hope, there's healing, there's love," Ma said.
"I don't plan on retiring,” Ma said. “This is what I want to do, till, you know, I die with my boots on."