by Carolina Buia | Photography by Siena Barefoot

Few were surprised when Meg Weinberger became an animal rights activist. The founder of Rescue Life, a Palm Beach Gardens–based animal rescue and sanctuary, Weinberger’s lifelong bond with animals began early—at just 12 years old, when she rescued two stray horses she found wandering near a construction site in South Florida.

She didn’t make it to school that day, but she did bring home two more animals. Not that the new tenants were a problem for Weinberger’s parents, who at the time had a boarding facility adjacent to their home and a Humane Society start-up operating out of their garage. “From the time that child could walk she loved animals,” says Theoni York, her mother. “But I was the exact same way growing up. We have a long tradition of rescuing all kinds of animals.” And children: Weinberger grew up with two adopted sisters (one who had Down Syndrome), a brother, a sister and many four-legged friends.

Today, Weinberger is the founder of Rescue Life, a veritable Eden—15 acres to be exact—in Palm Beach Gardens. Her two daughters, Zoie and Riley, and husband Eric, all pitch in to care for over 100 animals who have endured abuse, neglect, or surrender. Weinberger’s extended family includes horses, pigs, donkeys, llamas, zebras, alpacas, and over 15 dogs. There is even a Chinese goose, Quackers, who imprinted on Weinberger years ago. “I can’t leave the farm without giving him a hug,” laughs Weinberger.

But Rescue Life’s mission is also to help people. “We have groups come visit us at least four times a month,” says Weinberger. “We aim to teach kids and adults the healing power of the human-animal connection.” Regular visitors include special needs organizations like The Els School, The Dream Ride Foundation, Extraordinary Kids Foundation, and Project Connect (Palm Beach Synagogue). Weinberger and her team also travel to hospitals, schools and assisted living facilities.

Running an organization of this magnitude takes a special kind of fortitude—and sacrifice. “It’s a challenge,” says Weinberger. “More than half of my workouts in the morning revolve around cleaning stalls and helping my senior dogs. My family and I rarely vacation far because of the animals.” And yet, the Weinbergers would have it no other way. “I would not trade my childhood for anything,” says Zoie, 22, Meg’s eldest daughter. “Growing up at Rescue Life has been a blessing. Caring for others has given me confidence, compassion and resilience. ”

Last year, Weinberger pushed her advocacy work onto a larger platform. As a newly elected State House representative, she co-sponsored Dexter’s Law, providing a sentencing multiplier for animal cruelty and creating a database of offenders. This year, she introduced a bill requiring vets and support staff to report animal cruelty. She also carried a bill to create a pilot program for child victims of sexual exploitation, many of whom are foster children. Weinberger, a long-time volunteer with Place of Hope—a non-profit foster care organization—is herself a foster mother.

“Whether at home or in the State Capitol, Megan has made it her mission to uplift the most vulnerable in our society,” says Stacy Walgreen, Rescue Life’s Director of Development. “What she’s built is more than a rescue, it’s a special place to share our love for animals, become educated about the rescue world, give back and do some healing ourselves.”

To make a donation to Rescue Life, visit Rescue-Life.org