Dalo Acres was the family ranch in New Mexico where Jon Conklin, the founder of the Dalo Acres Animal Sanctuary, grew up. A place filled with dirt roads, wind-swept fences, and sun-soaked mornings feeding livestock, that land shaped Jon’s early years and his heart for animals. The name itself is a tribute to his parents — Dave and Lois — who poured their love, labor, and values into the land and the family they raised on it. From DA for Dave and LO for Lois, DALO was born.

A Ranch, A Childhood, A Foundation

The original Dalo Acres wasn’t a nonprofit. It wasn’t an organization. It was a way of life.

Nestled in the open skies of New Mexico, the family ranch was a working property — a place where animals were cared for with respect and purpose. There were cattle and chickens, goats and pigs, and always a steady rhythm of feeding, cleaning, healing, and hoping. That rhythm became a heartbeat for Jon — a quiet but powerful lesson in responsibility, resilience, and compassion.

Dave and Lois didn’t preach those values — they lived them. And Jon absorbed every moment: the early morning chores, the long days under the sun, and the quiet evenings where the only sound was the wind rustling through the barn or the soft munch of hay in the stalls.

Those days planted seeds. And years later, those seeds would bloom again in a new place — Cache Valley, Utah.

Dalo Acres Today: A Nonprofit Built on Love and Legacy

Today, Dalo Acres Animal Sanctuary is a nonprofit based in Cache Valley. While it looks a little different than the New Mexico ranch, its soul is the same. It’s a place where animals who’ve been abandoned, mistreated, or forgotten get a second chance.

From pigs and cows to goats and chickens, the sanctuary is home to animals that need healing — and just as importantly, it’s a place where humans can find healing too. There’s something powerful about helping animals recover. It reminds us of our own resilience. Our own ability to grow, recover, and start again.

“Where Animals Heal and Hope Grows”

That’s not just a tagline. It’s a mission statement.

At Dalo Acres, everything we do — every rescue, every feeding, every fence mended — is about restoring hope. Hope for the animals, yes, but also hope for the people who visit, support, or volunteer with us. We believe animals can teach us how to be better humans. Kinder. Gentler. More connected to the world around us.

We don’t operate with fancy budgets or big-city sponsors. We do this with our hands in the dirt, our boots in the field, and our hearts wide open. Just like Jon’s parents taught him.

The Legacy Lives On

When Jon founded Dalo Acres Animal Sanctuary, he wasn’t just honoring his family’s name — he was continuing their story. One of grit. One of grace. One of giving what you have to make a better life for those who can’t ask for it themselves.

And now, Dalo Acres is part of a new community in Cache Valley. We're growing — one rescued animal, one rebuilt shelter, one donation at a time. And every step forward carries the legacy of Dave and Lois with it.

Because Dalo Acres isn’t just where Jon came from.
It’s where healing begins.