Robin’s Nest Rescue (RNR) in Ramona is a family endeavor, as expressed by its president, Kimber Williams.
As Williams states, “I could not do it alone, and I’m not alone, thank goodness.”
With a childhood foundation in animal rescue, Williams leads the organization with her husband Nicholas Spears, her mother Sue Williams, and ranch and program manager Karin Marsicek.
RNR is a manifestation of Williams’s lifelong aspiration—a desire for a haven in the countryside where she could nurture animals.
After completing her undergraduate studies at Occidental College, Williams pursued law school in San Diego during the early 2000s and subsequently opted to remain in the area.
In 2021, she and her mother acquired the land in Ramona, which was ideally situated near the city and spacious enough for a variety of animals.
Shortly after acquiring the property, Williams crossed paths with Spears.
RNR began its journey on a small scale, beginning with three chihuahuas affectionately called the Three Chimigos: Lily, Alberto, and Julio.
While Alberto and Julio have passed on to their final rest, Lily, the matriarch of the animals, continues to thrive at the age of 16.
Currently, RNR is home to 23 animals across eight different species, which include pigs, a miniature and a standard-sized horse, a miniature donkey, African Sulcata tortoises, sheep, dogs, cats, and alpacas.
Animals arrive at RNR through various means, with one notable case involving a large-scale pig hoarding situation.
Williams explains her reaction to this distressing case: “Hoarding often stems from trauma, mental health struggles, or isolation.”
She notes that such situations usually begin with good intentions, as individuals feel a connection to animals and wish to help.
However, as time progresses, these well-meaning efforts can lead to an unmanageable situation where both people and animals endure suffering.
Williams observes that animal hoarding is more prevalent than many realize, mentioning how owners often neglect to spay or neuter their pets, resulting in overpopulation.
When the situation spirals out of control, owners become ashamed or embarrassed and often feel at a loss for solutions.
RNR’s journey began when a friend, Jordan at Farm Animal Refuge, sought Williams’s help regarding the dire need to rescue over 150 pigs from hazardous conditions.
“I left that day with three pigs—Falkor, Michael, and a sweet little Kune Kune named Meg.
They became the first official residents of Robin’s Nest, and they are still with us today.”
Other rescue stories at RNR are less dramatic but are nonetheless heartwarming.
For instance, 4H or FFA students occasionally decide against sending their ‘meat hogs’ to production due to a change of heart.
Often, these students find that they cannot keep the animals, leading them to reach out to RNR.
Additionally, some animals arrive because their owners miscalculate how large a pet will grow or how much space they will require.
RNR also accepts animals from kill pens and families needing to relocate and unable to take their beloved pets with them.
In one recent case, a local family reached out to RNR needing to rehome four alpacas and a mini-pig named Ayla, who had mistakenly thought she was part of the herd.
Tragically, Ayla passed away young due to a health issue related to breeding practices, but her memory has been carried forward in RNR’s mission.
Sharing their vision with the public is an integral part of RNR’s approach.
Volunteers play a vital role in maintaining the organization, assisting with both ranch and administrative activities.
RNR hosts an AirBnB on-site, allowing guests to glamp in a vintage Airstream trailer.
During their stay, visitors can engage with the animals and participate in feeding.
Day visitors are also welcome to schedule tours to interact with the animals as well.
Williams emphasizes her goal for people to fully enjoy “the benefits of the animal-human bond,” especially for those who have faced hardships.
RNR’s latest initiative involved providing a sanctuary for 20 alpacas that needed to be relocated from the Fresno area due to the loss of their 87-year-old owner, who could no longer care for them.
This owner, known as Thelma, spent decades rescuing aged-out animals from fleece farms and nurturing them on her 60-acre ranch alongside her late partner.
After her partner’s tragic accident, Thelma faced the challenge of managing her property which entered probate due to the absence of a will.
Williams and her team, alongside support from Alpine’s Lions, Tigers and Bears, and three other Southern California ranches, undertook a 400-mile expedition to rescue the alpacas.
The journey was hindered by freezing rain, transforming the drive into a 12-hour ordeal.
Once they arrived, it took approximately four hours to load the alpacas into three trailers, which were marked with “Caution: Alpacas on Board.”
Following this, the long drive back to Ramona commenced, where four of the alpacas will reside at RNR while the others will be shared among the other involved teams.
Each team will care for at least four alpacas to ensure they have the necessary companionship to thrive as herd animals.
Thelma generously provided cherished mementos to the rescue team, including records and equipment, as well as prized fleece processing supplies that she had maintained in excellent condition.
Williams expressed that it means everything to know that they will be cherished and properly cared for.
One of the rescued alpacas, Neptune, arrived at RNR following a traumatic encounter that left him emotionally scarred.
Though he bore physical wounds, Williams mentioned that his psychological trauma was even greater.
Initially hesitant about taking him in, she ultimately could not bear the thought of leaving him behind.
“I didn’t sleep. There’s no way I could leave Neptune behind.
It’s not what we do,” Williams says.
Acknowledging that he would be difficult to rehabilitate, she stated, “When he’s put in with other alpacas, he picks fights because of his past trauma.”
However, he enjoys human interaction and is described as “sweet” by Williams.
While he does have a habit of spitting, which is typical for his species, he engages well with the RNR team.
Currently, he has been gelded to reduce any behavioral issues and is gradually being reintroduced into the herd.
With optimism, Williams holds hope that Neptune will soon reintegrate fully with the others.
image source from：https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2025/apr/17/kimber-williams-brings-alpacas-into-her-nest/
