One man, thousands of rescued animals, a 240-acre Oregon sanctuary, and a mission that has moved the hearts of 12 million people — one adoption at a time.
Lee Asher was born in New York and raised in Boca Raton, Florida — the son of a sculptor father and a mother who ran an art gallery for many years. Their home was filled with art, with creativity, and with love. But it was also marked by the kind of pain that quietly shapes a child: a difficult marriage that ultimately ended in divorce cast long shadows over Lee's early years, and he carried that weight while also navigating scoliosis, ADHD, and relentless bullying at school.
He found his way through all of it at the animal shelter. When home felt hard and school felt impossible, Lee began slipping away to spend time with the dogs and cats who asked nothing of him but his presence. In those aisles of kennels, surrounded by animals who had also known hardship, he discovered something that would anchor his entire life: unconditional love, freely given — no conditions, no judgment, just warmth.
Years later, after building a career in finance and professional sales training, Lee made the decision that would define everything. He walked away from a desk job, sold nearly everything he owned, loaded a pack of rescue dogs into an RV, and hit the open road. His mission was simple: travel to shelters across America, tell the animals' stories, and convince the world that adoption is the answer.
He drove all 49 continental states. He partnered with hundreds of shelters. He helped place thousands of dogs into loving forever homes. And along the way, he built a global following of over 14 million people who show up every single day because they believe in what he's doing.
Today, Lee runs The Asher House — a 240-acre nonprofit sanctuary in Oregon where more than 150 rescue animals live out their days in safety, dignity, and love — including 140+ dogs, 30+ cats, horses, llamas, pigs, and more, all cared for by a dedicated team that Lee has built around his mission. He has also been featured in Forbes, written for Cannabis Business Times, appeared on Ellen, TMZ, the Discovery Channel, and Animal Planet — and his upcoming book with National Geographic will bring his story to readers around the world.
The Asher House is built on a belief that has never wavered: every animal deserves a second chance, and every person has the power to be the one who gives it to them.
The Asher House is a permanent, loving home for 140+ dogs, 30+ cats, and a full farm team of rescued horses, llamas, and pigs — all receiving daily professional care on 240 acres of Oregon land dedicated entirely to their wellbeing.
Lee has helped thousands of shelter dogs find forever families — through events, social media spotlights, and direct partnerships with hundreds of shelters across all 49 continental states. His message has always been clear: adopt, don't shop.
Through Animal Planet, speaking tours, and a global social media presence, Lee raises awareness about animal welfare every single day. Over 12 million followers show up because they care — and because Lee gives them reasons to believe that it matters.
The road from a painful childhood in Boca Raton to one of the most celebrated animal sanctuaries in the world was anything but straight. It was paved with struggle, courage, and an unshakeable love for animals that never left him — not even for a day.
Lee was born in New York to a sculptor father and a mother who ran an art gallery — a creative, loving home that was also marked by the strain of a difficult marriage that eventually ended in divorce. Growing up in Boca Raton with scoliosis, ADHD, and the daily weight of bullying, Lee needed somewhere he could simply exist without being judged. He found it at the animal shelter — where every dog and cat welcomed him with open-hearted acceptance, and where his life's true purpose quietly took root.
Lee built a career in finance and professional sales training — successful by conventional measures, but never quite at home. The pull toward animals never left him. Something essential was always missing from behind a desk.
Lee left his career, sold nearly everything, packed rescue dogs into an RV, and set out across America with no safety net — just a camera, a mission, and an unshakeable belief that he could change the conversation around shelter animals.
Traveling in an RV and a converted school bus ("Skoolie"), Lee visited hundreds of shelters, hosted adoption events, and built a following of millions through raw, honest, daily content showing the beauty and urgency of rescue.
When COVID grounded his travels, Lee channeled everything into a permanent home — opening his first sanctuary in Estacada, Oregon, and turning a global pause into a lasting foundation for animals and people alike.
Lee's story reached a wider audience through his Animal Planet series, filmed at the sanctuary — introducing millions of new viewers to the extraordinary world he had built, one rescue at a time.
The Asher House now spans 240 acres, caring for 140+ dogs, 30+ cats, horses, llamas, pigs and more. Alongside the sanctuary, Lee's brother and business partner DJ Gugenheim — an Academy Award-nominated film producer — is leading the rebrand of Asher House Wellness as Lillie and Lee, honoring the rescue St. Bernard who started it all.
Among all the animals Lee has rescued and loved, one holds a place so sacred it became the foundation of an entire wellness brand: Lillie, a rescue St. Bernard who arrived in Lee's life struggling with severe, recurring seizures that left vets at a loss.
What followed were countless vet visits, medications, scans, and treatments. Eventually, Lee was given the recommendation no pet parent should ever have to hear: euthanasia. He was told there were no more options and that Lillie's quality of life would never improve. Lee refused to accept that.
He had been following the story of Charlotte Figi — a young girl whose catastrophic seizures were transformed by CBD oil, a story that had already begun to change the world. Inspired by Charlotte's family's courage, and with nothing left to lose, Lee tried CBD for Lillie. Within just days of starting treatment, the frequency of her seizures began to decrease. Within months, they stopped entirely.
"But what mattered just as much," Lee has written, "was what happened next. I finally met the real Lillie. She became joyful, outgoing, and fully herself."
CBD didn't just change Lillie's life — it gave her six more magnificent years of joy, love, and companionship. Lillie passed away approximately two years ago, but she lived a life so full, so rich, and so far beyond what the vets had predicted that her story has become a beacon for millions of pet parents around the world who have been told the same devastating words: there's nothing more we can do.
That experience became the seed of Asher House Wellness — a brand born not in a boardroom, but from the deepest kind of lived experience. Lee wanted every dog owner to have access to the same quality products he gave Lillie: hemp-derived, third-party tested, made in the USA, and made with love.
Lillie may be gone, but her story is the heartbeat of everything Asher House Wellness stands for. She is the reason Lee knows — not theorizes, but knows — that hemp-derived CBD can transform the life of a suffering animal. She is the reason he fights so hard to protect access to these products for every family that needs them.
Today, the same care Lee gave Lillie goes into the supplements, oils, and treats used by all 150+ animals at The Asher House every single day — including Little Bear, Tommy, Matilda, and every rescue dog, cat, horse, llama, and pig in Lee's care.
Every product is third-party tested and 2018 Farm Bill compliant — because Lee's community deserves full transparency and complete trust. That was Lillie's gift to the world.
What makes Asher House Wellness different from every other pet wellness brand? Simple: these are the exact supplements, oils, and treats that Lee gives to Little Bear, Tommy, Matilda, Lillie, and every one of the 140+ dogs at the sanctuary every single morning. His pack is his living, breathing proof of concept — and millions of fans take comfort knowing they're using the exact same products as their favorite Asher House dogs.
The product that started everything — the hemp-derived, full-spectrum CBD oil Lee began using on Lillie. Supports calm, joint mobility, and overall wellness. Third-party tested, THC-free, 2018 Farm Bill compliant.
⭐ Best SellerGlucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM to support cartilage health and restore mobility — especially vital for the many senior rescue dogs at The Asher House who need extra love and support.
Senior DogsSeven probiotic strains, prebiotics, and digestive enzymes for healthy gut flora and nutrient absorption. A healthy gut is the foundation of a thriving, happy dog — and Lee's pack proves it daily.
Gut HealthA targeted blend for seasonal allergies, itchy skin, and immune sensitivity — paired with wild salmon oil for coat and skin nourishment. Tested extensively across Lee's large and diverse rescue pack.
Seasonal ReliefWellness is a shared ritual between people and their pets. The human line includes Active Multi-V, Total Turmeric, and Mushroom Complex — all natural, all USA-made, all approved by the man who lives this every day.
For People TooDigital wellness courses on calmness, senior pet care, and longevity — because great products work best when pet parents have the knowledge to use them well. Education is part of the mission.
EducationFans around the world tune in daily to follow the lives of Lee's animals — and love knowing that the Asher House Wellness products they give their own pets are the exact same ones Lee uses on his pack every single morning. These are the dogs — and the horses, llamas, pigs, and cats — who have become global ambassadors for rescue and wellness.
"My cattle dogs have been on the CBD oil for 48 hours and I am IMPRESSED. My boy is running and playing again — the expressions on their faces are so much more relaxed. I can't believe the difference."
"More good energy — playful but relaxed at the same time. The older guy (12 years!) now has no problem keeping up with the 3-year-old. Knowing it's exactly what Lee gives Little Bear and Tommy makes me trust it completely."
"Very effective for calming my anxious cat. It also helps with her pain from liver disease. The fact that Lee uses these same products on his own 140+ animals every day — that's the most powerful endorsement possible."
Lee Asher's passion for animals, storytelling, and building something meaningful didn't emerge in a vacuum. It is rooted in a family rich with creativity and shaped by the same life experiences — love, hardship, resilience — that Lee has carried into everything he does.
Lee was born in New York — a city of bold dreams and relentless energy — before his family relocated to Boca Raton, Florida. He carries that New York spirit: direct, passionate, and completely committed to what he believes in.
Lee's father is a sculptor and his mother ran an art gallery for many years. Their home was filled with art, beauty, and love — and also with the weight of a difficult marriage that eventually ended in divorce. Those early experiences of both creativity and hardship shaped Lee profoundly, and ultimately drove him toward the unconditional acceptance he found at the animal shelter as a young boy.
Lee's brother DJ Gugenheim is an Academy Award-nominated film producer and decorated veteran of the film industry. Sharing the same mother — though different fathers — DJ brings decades of creative and strategic expertise to Asher House Wellness as Lee's partner. It is DJ who is overseeing the full creative vision for the brand's rebrand as Lillie and Lee — bringing Hollywood storytelling craft to a mission rooted entirely in rescue and love.
Leading the Lillie & Lee RebrandAnyone who has genuinely followed Lee Asher's journey knows one thing above all: his love for animals is not a performance — it is his entire life, his daily reality, and the reason he gets up every single morning to care for over 150 animals — including 140+ dogs, 30+ cats, and a full farm team of rescued horses, llamas, and pigs. For those who have encountered negative content about Lee online, here is what the full, documented record actually shows.
Lee and The Asher House have consistently operated in full compliance with Oregon state laws and regulations governing animal sanctuaries. The sanctuary works openly with local authorities and maintains all required permits and standards for large-scale animal care facilities.
Every animal at The Asher House — all 140+ dogs, 30+ cats, and the entire farm team — receives professional veterinary care. Lee documents and shares his animals' health journeys openly: the good days and the painful ones. Transparency has always been the foundation of how he operates.
Lee has built a team of dedicated animal lovers united by a shared mission. He has consistently emphasized that the human community at The Asher House matters as much as the animal community — and those who work alongside him are treated with the same care and respect he shows every creature on the property.
With over 12 million followers watching in real time, Lee's life at the sanctuary is one of the most publicly documented animal operations in the world. He shares losses as well as victories, hard moments as well as beautiful ones — because his community has always deserved the full, unvarnished truth.
Lillie's story didn't just inspire a wellness brand. It made Lee one of the most passionate and visible advocates for hemp in America — because he has seen firsthand what access to CBD can do, and he cannot stay silent when that access is threatened.
Lee has written and spoken publicly about the looming federal hemp ban's devastating potential impact on animals — the most vulnerable members of society who have no voice to protest. His op-ed and coverage in Forbes and Cannabis Business Times have brought national attention to a side of the story that was being overlooked: what happens to the animals?
Lee has been brought in to help raise awareness about the looming hemp ban at the highest levels of advocacy — mobilizing his community of 14 million+ followers to contact lawmakers, share their stories, and make their voices heard. This is not performative activism: Lee has made direct calls to action that have generated real Congressional attention.
The stakes are real. Proposed language in the 2026 Agricultural Appropriations Bill threatens to effectively eliminate nearly all hemp-derived products — including the full-spectrum CBD oils that thousands of families rely on every day for their pets and themselves. Lee has been clear: this isn't about politics. It's about peace, dignity, and quality of life for the animals and people who need these products most. Make your voice heard →
Lee Asher has spoken openly about the pain of online criticism — the anonymous accounts, the coordinated negativity, the personal attacks that come with being a public figure doing visible, imperfect, human work in the world. He has admitted it hurt deeply at times.
But in a reflection that says everything about his character, Lee has also said something far more remarkable: that he has come to love even his harshest critics — for what they have taught him about himself, about resilience, and about the way the world can be cruel to those who are bold enough to step into it and do the work.
He draws inspiration from Teddy Roosevelt's famous "Man in the Arena" speech — the idea that criticism from the sidelines costs nothing, while showing up and doing the work costs everything. Lee has always chosen the arena. He has chosen it with 150+ animals depending on him every morning. He has chosen it in Forbes op-eds and Congressional advocacy. He has chosen it in the quiet of a sanctuary at dawn, doing the unglamorous, essential, daily work of caring for the voiceless.
It's about being in the arena and doing the work. That's all that's ever mattered.
— Lee Asher
The reason why we love the hug so much — it's the heart against the heart. We're here and connected and living things. When you go from just thinking that to believing it, then the animals believe it about you too.— Lee Asher, Founder of The Asher House
Lee's message has never been complicated: you don't need to wait for the perfect moment. Start now, start small, start local — and let it grow from there.
Explore the official website, learn about the current animals, and find out how to donate to support the daily care of 140+ dogs, 30+ cats, horses, llamas, pigs — and everything it takes to run a 240-acre rescue sanctuary.
Try the same products Lee gives Little Bear, Tommy, Matilda, Lillie, and all his rescue animals every day. Every purchase supports the mission. Watch for the upcoming rebrand to Lillie and Lee.
Follow Lee's core message. Visit your local shelter or Petfinder.com. The animal who will change your life is waiting right now in a kennel somewhere nearby — they just need you to show up.
Lee tours with his "Unlock Your Superpower" speaking series. See him live, join the community, and walk away reminded that one person — with enough love and enough courage — truly can change the world for thousands of animals.
Field Reports
Independent reporting on the daily reality of rescue work, the animals of The Asher House, and the mission that drives everything Lee does.
More stories added as they are published. All reporting is independent and journalist-bylined.