Our Origin Story
A dream years in the making — built on generations of grit, rescue, resilience, and the quiet healing only animals can offer.
A Dream Years in the Making
It Started Long Before Me
Hi, I'm Kimber Williams, and Robin's Nest Rescue is the realization of a dream I carried in my heart for many years.
But the truth is, this story didn't really begin with me.
It began generations ago — with resilient ranch women, horses, hard land, and a family legacy rooted in grit, compassion, and second chances.
The little girl in the old family photograph is my grandmother. Her grandparents were among the first settlers to farm the harsh plains of West Texas — a life that demanded grit, resilience, hard work, and deep respect for both land and animals.
Every generation since my great-great-grandparents has farmed that same land in Texas, and our family still does to this day.
So, I come by my love of farm and ranch life honestly.
Another treasured family photo shows my great-grandmother riding side saddle in 1956 at the age of 70. She passed away when I was only two, but through the stories my grandmother and mother told me, I feel like I knew her — strong, spirited, full of grit, character, and heart.
And then there's my mother, Dr. Sue.
A horsewoman. An animal lover. A force of nature in her own right.
She has been one of the most inspiring people in my life — not just because of her love for animals, but because of the example she set for what courage, reinvention, and purpose look like. Later in life, she returned to school, earned her doctorate, and went on to become a sociology and criminology professor at Kansas State University, conducting fascinating and meaningful research on prisons, justice systems, and even serial killers.
But for all of her accomplishments, what I know her most as is my mother — my biggest cheerleader, fiercest supporter, and now my partner in building this dream.
Robin's Nest may have become my vision, but it was built on the shoulders of generations of strong women who came before me.
The earliest teachers
It Started with Love
As a little girl, I was always trying to rescue something. At five years old, it was a baby sparrow I named Tweety. Soon after came Doc, my beloved Quarter Horse, who became far more than a horse — he was my safe place, my confidant, and one of my earliest teachers in trust, resilience, and unconditional love.
Long before I understood trauma or healing, animals were quietly teaching me both.
That truth stayed with me for life.
Where the dream took its first step
The Three Chimigos
In 2010, what would eventually become Robin's Nest took its first real step with a trip to the San Diego Humane Society.
That's where I met Lily — a tiny tan Chihuahua mix who practically leapt into my heart. The connection was instant.
Later came Alberto, a little blonde boy with a heartbreaking story of abuse, and Julio, a tiny black Chihuahua with a limp and an outsized spirit.
Together, they became our beloved Three Chimigos.
Like the iconic Three Amigos, they became heroes to our family, our friends, and even thousands of college students who came to know them while accompanying my mother, Dr. Sue ("Nana"), in her teaching work.
But they were more than adored companions.
They became symbols of resilience, unconditional love, loyalty, and the extraordinary generosity animals offer — even after hardship.
The soul of Robin's Nest owes much to these three little dogs.
2014
Naming the Dream
By 2014, the dream had taken enough shape that I gave it a name: Robin's Nest.
Because my middle name is Robin, the name felt deeply personal — but it also represented everything I hoped to create:
- A place of shelter.
- Safety.
- Belonging.
- Home.
Even though the ranch didn't yet exist, the dream did.
I believed in it enough to put it out into the universe — commissioning a graphic designer to create the very first Robin's Nest logo and giving life to a vision I hoped to build someday.
But life has a way of making someday feel far away.
Law school. First marriage. Starting my own business. A growing career. Responsibilities. Timing.
And for years, the dream waited.
2020 and beyond
The Leap of Faith
Then came the pandemic.
Like so many people, the stillness of quarantine created space for reflection that everyday life rarely allows.
I found myself asking difficult questions:
What really matters?
What kind of legacy do I want to leave?
Why had I become so disconnected from the things that made me feel most
alive?
The answer kept bringing me back to the same place: animals, nature, healing, connection, and purpose.
And the truth became impossible to ignore:
Life is short. There is never going to be a perfect time.
If I was ever going to stop dreaming and actually build Robin's Nest, it had to be now.
My mother, Dr. Sue, and I had long shared a deep love of animals and a belief in resilience, healing, and second chances. Together, we decided to take the leap.
When we found our five-acre property in Ramona — a former pig rescue — it wasn't polished.
But it was full of possibility.
We saw sanctuary. Second chances. A place where vulnerable animals could feel safe.
And maybe, though we didn't fully realize it yet, a place where people could heal too.
And then came our first sanctuary residents.
Three little pigs — Falkor, Michael, and Meg — rescued from a legendary hoarding case through Farm Animal Refuge.
I had originally gone to bring home the bonded pair, Falkor and Michael.
But then Meg captured my heart.
So naturally… I came home with three.
Soon after came Phinneas, a miniature horse, and Donkey, a miniature donkey, both saved from kill pens through Little Hooves.
Suddenly, the dream wasn't just an idea anymore.
It had names. Snouts. Hooves. Personalities. Stories.
Robin's Nest was real.
The village
Built by Family, Fueled by Community
Dreams like this don't happen alone.
My mother, Dr. Sue, has been my co-founder, partner, and an extraordinary force behind Robin's Nest from day one.
My husband, Nick, has been one of Robin's Nest's greatest champions — supporting the vision, the uncertainty, and the leap of faith required to bring it to life. And with him came two incredible young boys, Xavier and Apollo, whose energy, curiosity, and growing love for the animals remind me every day why creating places of connection, compassion, and healing matters so much.
And then came the village.
- Friends.
- Volunteers.
- Neighbors.
- Donors.
- Community partners.
- Animal lovers.
Robin's Nest has always been built by love.
An unexpected discovery
When the Mission Grew
At first, Robin's Nest was about rescue.
Saving animals. Creating sanctuary. Offering second chances.
But something unexpected happened.
When people came to the ranch, they changed.
Guarded children opened up.
Stressed adults softened.
Stories surfaced.
Laughter returned.
Connection happened.
Again and again, I witnessed the same quiet magic animals had given me my entire life.
Healing.
Not because of a formal program.
Simply because animals have an extraordinary ability to meet us exactly where we are.
And once I saw that happening — not just for me, but for others — I knew I couldn't keep it to myself.
A program born organically
Side by Side
That's how Side by Side was born.
Not from a strategic plan — but organically, through community, connection, and lived experience.
One visit became another.
One conversation became an invitation.
One invitation became a partnership.
Today, Robin's Nest creates space for justice-impacted youth, veterans, first responders, trauma survivors, exonerees, and others navigating difficult chapters to experience the healing power of animals, nature, and connection.
Because the mission became bigger than rescue.
Healing goes both ways.
Where the story keeps going
We Rescue Them. They Save Us.
Robin's Nest Rescue is more than an animal sanctuary.
It is a place where second chances are real.
Where healing happens quietly.
Where animals and humans alike are seen for more than their scars.
Every animal here has a story.
So do the people who walk through our gates.
And somehow, side by side, healing happens.
That is Robin's Nest.
And we're just getting started.
We rescue them. They save us.
Come meet the animals behind the story
The best way to experience Robin's Nest is in person. Book a Farm Tour to meet the animals, hear their stories, and see the sanctuary that grew from this dream.
Book a Farm Tour