Jim Kyle is a former soldier, cop, teacher, principal, and school superintendent. He founded the Home at Last Sanctuary with his wife of 50 years, Donna Kyle, also a former teacher. Jim and Donna met and married while attending Cal-Poly at Pomona, which has a culture of "service before self" that they have strived to embody their whole lives. After Donna recovered from cancer and Jim recovered from a life-threatening auto accident, they decided to celebrate by getting a mule, as they were eager to bring equines back into their lives. Jim had spent his childhood summers on his uncle's vast cattle ranch, where he began riding at age five. Donna got her first horse at age 11 and took great… delight in riding off at sun-up and returning home at sunset.When Maybelle, a mule, arrived at their place, she had Jessie another mule, and Sweet, a Kiger mustang, with her. Six weeks later, Breeze Bay came to live with them. More critters were soon to follow. In six months they had taken in 17 horses in need and the Home at Last Sanctuary was born.