We recently connected with Monica Stevens and have shared our conversation below.

Monica , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

There are so many animal rescues and even farm sanctuaries in our area, but something that differentiates Jameson Humane from the typical animal rescue, human society, or farm sanctuary is that we really focus on programs that serve the community and beyond and their animal companions. For example, we offer:

* Free wellness clinics multiple times a year which include vaccinations, microchips, and pet supplies. Anyone can come – no proof of residence or income is needed.

* A 7-day per week Helpline and email to serve as a resource to anyone in need across the nation. We work to connect folks with the services and resources based on their need.

* Provide a Mobile Veterinary Unit (MVU) program to Lake, Napa, Solano, and Sonoma counties which includes free to low-cost spay/neuter services, vaccinations, microchips, and some specialty surgery services.

* We provide a Pet Pantry to our community and distribute thousands of pounds of pet food per month at local and regional food distribution events.

* We have many more programs for our community including those for senior citizens and a humane education scholarship program for teens called, LEAP!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was born advocating for animals and their welfare – wanting fervently to create a better world for all sentient creatures is at the core of who I am. To accomplish this, the idea of starting a rescue and sanctuary took hold 8 years after I moved from Chicago to Napa Valley in 2006. Napa Valley is both a world-class destination for wine and hospitality and turns out philanthropy! It is a community of animal (and wine) lovers who are do-gooders and want to support their community of humans, animals, and the planet and make it the very best. Being part of the wine industry allows you to be part of this incredible group of people and a movement of kindness, compassion, and philanthropic support that Napa Valley is known for. Being able to harness the love, support, and goodwill of the wine industry has allowed Jameson Humane to accomplish 10 years of incredible programming, results, and IMPACT.

I am proud that this was recently written about my work:

“Already a boundary-pushing influencer in Napa Valley’s wine retail and philanthropic sectors, Stevens continues to break new ground. With Studio 1299A and her involvement in Jameson Humane, she is pioneering a business model that blends personalized, curated wine experiences with a robust sense of social responsibility.”

Wine + Animals + Philanthropy. – there’s no place quite like Napa Valley on Earth and thus Jameson Humane is able to do so much great work for animals, humans, and the planet.

The types of services we provide are for all members of our community who are either guardians of animals and need assistance or are interested in animal advocacy and humane education.

We provide solutions to animal care needs, like veterinary care, re-homing, grooming, and supplies, and we provide humane education and animal advocacy through our website, communications, social media, and programs like Leaders for Ethics, Animals, and the Planet (LEAP) for teens.

We assist those with low income with services like low-cost to free spay/neutering, vaccinations, microchips, and pet food and supplies, including via a grant that provides $100 towards veterinary care; we assist those who may need to find temporary foster care for their animals like those fleeing domestic violence, or those who have passed away and need a soft spot for their animal companion to land while Jameson works to find a new forever home for him/her; we provide thousands of pounds of pet food monthly at regional food distribution events, we assist the Napa County senior community with dog walking and grooming for several senior living centers; and much more, in addition to providing shelter, food, and care to 80+ domestic animals at our Napa-based sanctuary and adoption center.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

My side hustle was once my full-time business, but Jameson Humane, the animal rescue and sanctuary I operate today, wouldn’t be what it is without the former and now, concurrent business. My late husband and I opened a boutique wine retail shop that also acted as a gathering place for local vintners and winemakers. It is truly with their support, since then and currently, that Jameson Humane, can thrive. The wine shop was so widely celebrated, that we were able to turn my dream of an animal rescue and sanctuary into a reality. Even as that happened and eventually the wine shop was sold, I never lost touch with the people who were so central in helping me realize my dream. Jameson holds an annual major, wine auction and fundraiser for the sanctuary which is successful because of the vintners and winemakers who attend and donate their precious wines and experiences all to benefit Jameson. It is imperative to stay in close contact with them and nurture those relationships that mean so much to our community. Even after the wine shop closed, I continued crafting bespoke itineraries for my wine clientele who wanted to visit Napa and these beloved winemakers and vintners. It is through those continued relationships that Jameson is successful and therefore our community and its animals as well. Thankfully, just last year, I was able to open a new wine-tasting salon in St Helena and now those imperative relationships will continue to be cultivated and the connection between Jameson Humane and our wine country and its vintners will remain robust!

Any fun sales or marketing stories?

We went through a very scary and unprecedented time when one of the first deadly wildfires hit our region. We had no procedures or plan in place about what we would do or how to react. We were very much making the rules up as we went – we knew we had to help people and their animals, and we were going to do whatever we could to do that. Crossing literal fire lines to free and temporarily house trapped horses and sheep and returning to burned areas to bring food and water to animals in need, was something we had never experienced before, but we were doing it. The community rallied and dropped off pet food and supplies by the pound full at our local wine shop for us to distribute. The nation rallied behind Napa and sent pet food and supplies and donations our way. Because of that devastating year of wildfire, Jameson Humane emerged as a trusted leader. We began developing community animal response teams and fundraising for them so that they and we could be successful when the next inevitable fire or disaster struck. Our national Helpline was created and put into action so that anyone in need of support or resources could reach out for help. Now, we are ready to activate and have the tools, protocol, and resources necessary for any natural disaster, but we will never forget how it all began.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jamesonhumane.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesonhumane/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesonRescueRanch
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jamesonhumane

Image Credits
Please email maral@jamesonhumane.org with photos that will be used for appropriate photo credit.