Meet Mel Sobolewski | Author, Animal Rescuer and Advocate, Solar Energy Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mel Sobolewski and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mel, how does your business help the community?

My mission has been an ever-expanding journey, deeply rooted in creating a kinder world for all beings – human, animals and our environment alike. This odyssey began during the Woolsey Fire in Malibu, California where an instinctual voice urged me to brave the flames and evacuate as many animals as possible. It was amidst this harrowing experience that I adopted my first horse, Hickory, a survivor whose boarding facility had burned to the ground. Though inexperienced with horses, I made a promise to Hickory – to help horses in need. Since that pivotal promise, I have rescued and rehomed over one hundred animals. My partner and I now steward a small herd of rescued horses and a donkey, providing them with extraordinary lives they deserve.

As a mother, I noticed my daughter’s love for the rescued stories, inspiring me to write “Second Chances Moonlight Mile Ranch” – an award-nominated middle grade fiction book based on real animal rescues. Written in a digestible format, each chapter unveils a new animals journey and second chance. This format allows parents, educators and children to discuss profound themes. I am currently writing the sequel to continue this impactful series.

My work with these animals has not only educated, but profoundly inspired children, parents and individuals to open their hearts and minds to the hardships animals endure. By introducing kinder pathways, I have witnessed transformative shifts in perspective that permeate all areas of life.

Moreover, as someone on the front lines battling California’s catastrophic wildfires, I have been driven to consult agricultural operations, commercial businesses, and residents to switch to solar energy. With the remarkable advancements in this field, we find ourselves at an inflection point – homes and businesses can collectively divest from environmentally devastating fossil fuels and embrace the clean energy revolution. Solar energy provides a path that harmonizes our modern needs with the delicate balance of our planet’s ecosystems. While this shift requires effort, as all great things do, the long-term benefits of a sustainable future renewed by solar power are invaluable.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

The work of animal rescue is not easy – it exposes a violent and neglectful side of humanity that these innocent creatures have suffered. Time and again, I am confronted with animals who have endured unspeakable abuse and near-death conditions before being given a second chance with us. This repeated exposure to such cruelty is incredibly difficult to process emotionally.

However, it is in those darkest moments that I find clarity of purpose. If I am able to help even one animal, it matters tremendously. It matters to that animal that now has a loving home. It matters to my daughter witnessing me model compassion. It matters to me personally, upholding my core values. And it matters to all those people whose spirits are uplifted by these stories of despair transcended into triumph.

Each small decision we make to increase kindness in this world creates ripples of positive change. My work is about harnessing that ripple effect – demonstrating through actions that every act of compassion, no matter how small, holds profound value.

My story is one of relentless hope persevering over cruelty. Of recognizing immense challenges but choosing to lead with a soft heart over hardened cynicism. This outlook extends from rescuing animals to protecting our collective home, Earth through clean, renewable energy.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

In the city:

I have always loved the iconography of the Sunset Strip. Dinner at Chateau Marmont is a must, then head over to Saddle Ranch to ride the mechanical bull, an unspoken right-of-passage, and play a game of pool. Crossroads Kitchen serves exceptional plant-based food and is one of my favorites. Grab a burrito at La Chingona Tacos food truck but check when they’ll be in Topanga on Instagram. While waiting, stop into the Well Refill and Flower Power for beautiful flowers and Tarot. If you don’t want Mexican, cross the street for pizza and records at Endless Color Pizza. I love live music at Hollywood Bowl or Troubadour. Book Soup is a must to purchase my book “Second Chances Moonlight Mile Ranch” and visit Boot Star for western wear. For vintage shopping, hit Melet Mercantile, Hollywood Vintage, American Rag Cie, Surfing Cowboys, and the Rose Bowl Flea.

In Nature:

A day with my horses feeding, mucking and grooming, followed by a packed lunch in a pick up truck. If I don’t make sandwiches, I’d pick up from Bay City Subs. Schedule a mushroom foraging tour with Farr & Wild in Topanga. Brando Farr takes small groups on fun, educational hikes. Last time we found delicious Chanterelles. A beach walk in Malibu with the dogs, then lunch at Malibu Mutts and a smoothie from Sun-life Organics.

In the Desert:

Reserve a room at Pioneertown Motel and walk to Pappy and Harriet’s for live music- it is a great vibe no matter the band. Grab food at Red Dog Saloon and La Copine. Hike Joshua Tree National Park. If the Sky Village Swap Meet is open, check out Dakota Bobs for vintage western. In Morongo Valley, we love Cactus Mart to get plants and succulents to bring home.

Driving North:

Stop at the Seal Rookery in Carpinteria on the drive to Los Alamos. Stay at Skyview Motel, have dinner/lunch at Bell’s, breakfast at Bob’s Well Bread, shopping at Sisters. The second night, dine at Mattie’s Tavern or Pico.

Keep driving north to Carmel, stopping at Morro Bay to see sea otters playing and get some saltwater-taffy. Keep driving north and you will hit Elephant Seal Beach. Observing nature is unreal and a highlight. In Carmel, we stay at the dog-friendly Hotel Carmel. There we get our morning coffee at Carmel Bakery and lunch or dinner at La Bicyclette Restaurant. From Carmel take a day trip to Big Sur, and hike Point Lobos National Park (no dogs), The Herman Miller Library in the forest is incredible. One of my most favorite places in California. Lunch at Big Sur Bakery or Deetjen’s.

If near Paso Robles, stop at Vreamery and order the Altruistic Artichoke sandwich. Paso has great vintage, local businesses and dog-friendly vineyards like Sculpterra where we walk the vineyards and grab a bottle of Heroe wine which is dedicated to the wine industry workers.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

Firstly, there’s Kathie Giorgio from AllWriters Workplace & Workshop in Wisconsin. Kathie is my esteemed editor, and we engage in weekly meetings where I am accountable for submitting new pages. This unwavering commitment, showing up every Friday at 9am, is the very reason why my first book was published in under two years, and why my second book remains on schedule for a 2024 publishing date. Kathie’s guidance and our structured approach have been invaluable in maintaining momentum and discipline required to bring these literary ideas to fruition.

Secondly, I owe a profound debt of gratitude to my parents, Barbara and John, who have been steadfast champions of every ambitious idea I’ve ever conceived. And there have been many. With their unyielding support, they’ve always encouraged me to “take a shot at it.” My father, a lifelong basketball enthusiast, has imparted timeless wisdom that resonates deeply: “You miss one hundred percent of the shots you don’t take.” Now those weren’t his words, but they have become a reminder that true success lies in the courage to try, and that failure is merely a temporary detour on the path to success. My parent’s belief in me has been a constant source of inspiration, reminding me that the only way to truly fail is to never try at all.

Website: www.moonlightmileranch.com

Instagram: @melsobo

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissasobolewski/