I was very restless in that house of my friends in Olot, Spain. The day marked to enter the sanctuary was August 22, although without an exact time. I wanted to get there early to make the most of every minute. As I ate breakfast and talked, my left leg jumped anxiously, eager to hear the magic words: “we’re going to leave and we’ll leave you at the sanctuary.”
It seemed impossible, but now I am here: “Gaia” Foundation-Sanctuary. “Dreams do come true”, I told myself when I arrived at the place located in Camprodón, Gerona, Spain. After many procedures, I was finally able to participate as a volunteer for 21 days in a place that I knew from Cuba, through Facebook. And I think the same platform returned the favor, because they accepted my request from the other side of the world.
After a video call interview and them reviewing my profile, they accepted me on their show. And I arrived. And I wanted to cry with joy. And I cried, also of sadness before some other farewell from among the living. There are more than 500 animals, some terminally ill, others disabled and most in perfect physical and mental health. As the founder of my dog shelter in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba, I was especially interested in seeing how others do it in other parts of the world, in terms of organization, operation and collaboration. That’s why I came too.
The arrival
Everyone knew that a Cuban woman was arriving at the sanctuary that day, and they also knew my name. Those hugs and welcoming smiles from those people who live by and for the animals were just as I imagined them.
It was just lowering the backpack and letting myself be carried away by the Siscu to see the places of the sanctuary where I was going to do whatever it took. I am a veterinarian, yes, but that does not imply that I perform other tasks, those that are needed for the welfare of animals. And at the Gaia Sanctuary everything you do is enjoyable and productive.
But beware, you can’t get carried away by those cute animals while you clean their house, because they catch you and time runs out. Never let Liam the pig throw you on the floor for more than 5 minutes if you just run your hand over his belly, because he knows what he has to do to hook you and that the minutes pass and you have to run to continue on other tasks. All necessary!
On this first tour and without even having unpacked and organized my room, I met Pepe, that donkey with special care that gives you kisses if you put your hand to him.
Who was going to tell me that in the first minutes of my arrival I was going to meet Paolo? No, I couldn’t believe it. I followed Paolo especially on the networks when that wonderful team did their cures on his leg and then put the prosthesis on him and teach him how to use it. He always seemed excessively tender to me and that is why I immediately went to give him kisses and, with great pleasure, stretched my neck when he caressed him.
With his partner Naim I did not have the same luck, because she was a bit reticent. But then she came up to me to snoop while she cleaned her place and ended up biting me on her clothes. That’s why when they said “who wants to go to the Molladic today?”, She jumped quickly, because being with Liam, Miguelito, Pepe, Paolo and Naim, was, for me, life itself.
Life at the Gaia Sanctuary
The work at the Gaia Sanctuary is exceptional, it’s been 10 years saving lives and doing everything for the welfare of those farm animals that have suffered so much. When you are there you wonder how it is possible that there is not a detail missing in that place.
You get up early and maybe have some time to have a coffee. Then comes that beautiful part where you prepare the feeders for the goats and sheep that enter like crazy for their food. While they taste their feed and their grass, the volunteers and workers are in charge of cleaning their patio.
From there they go to the pastures to be happier and that is when the beautiful Manuelita “plays the Swedish” and does not want to leave. Then she to carry her, pamper her and take her to the exit.
The Efraín and the Apolo, before leaving, make you go through some hot flashes because, if you are not careful, they want to attack you, but they are so beautiful that you would like to eat them with kisses. Of course, you have to run and close the door quickly when you manage to take them to the exit, because they always come to the revenge. And settle for Efrain’s kisses with a fence through.
After finishing this work where everyone participates, tasks are distributed by parts and by specific animals until approximately 10am, which is when the volunteers and some workers meet for breakfast.
Breakfast in the sanctuary is another sublime moment. Imagine a Cuban who had only tried vegan food based on rice, beans, some vegetables and some meats. I had no idea of the other things that existed and I spent all my time wondering what this or that is. And so, with a lot of patience and love, they explained to me and gave me options of other things that I could prepare and eat.
It was at one of those lovely breakfasts where I promised to make them a Cuban meal one afternoon and I don’t think they can forget the congrí, the tostones and the yucca with mojo that I prepared for them that day and they were accompanied by the music of The Van Van.
Breakfast time is very pleasant, but it can’t take long, because there are still tasks to be done until approximately 1pm, and then you have time to rest until the afternoon, when there is another time to work, although less. In this time you can go to the town to get more food for yourself, if someone takes you in their car, you can walk around the sanctuary and spend time with the animals or you can just rest. Up to you!
Sanctuary workers, volunteers, and non-human animals.
“If you make friends with all the volunteers who pass through here, life is not enough for you.” So Laura told me; that exceptional person who works intensely together with other beautiful people like Laia, Belén, Bea, Jose, Siscu, Mom, Tomás, Robert, the beautiful Lía and the founders, Ismael and Coque.
Laura is right. There are many volunteers who have passed through the Gaia Sanctuary but, for our part, it is impossible not to stop thinking about all of them and the non-human animals that live there and not wanting to write to them from time to time and ask how they are all there.
Sometimes social networks are not enough for you when they show you the sanctuary diary. You need to write and ask the great veterinarian who is Coque how Lluvia is doing after having that fever, or Magdalena, if she feels better and wants to eat now. Or simply if the Lazarito pig has improved with rehabilitation.
No one who has been there escapes Patri’s love. That sow, with her bad temper from time to time, is one of the many special beings in the sanctuary. But her bad temper lasts for seconds, because she knows very well that you are going to feed her with lots of love and heal her wounds, which, by the way, are getting better every day. It is true that the kiwi, if it is green, does not like it. But be patient, peel it off, accompany it with a taco and maybe it will go unnoticed by his mouth.
In Gaia you can find everything. From a comfortable stay in the facilities, to an excellent coexistence. Both people and animals make the volunteer experience enjoyable. But in Gaia, above all, you breathe a lot of love and respect.
Farm animals have surprised me by their behavior and by the emotions they provoke in you. Especially when you come from a place that is almost completely speciesist and where, for trying to save a horse one day, I almost got into serious trouble.
Manel the donkey surprises you when you try to clean his place and he doesn’t let you advance because he puts his head on your shoulder. A donkey, yes, that’s how he is.
Neither time nor space may be enough for you to name each animal in the sanctuary. Just as you may not want to talk about Paola or Mike either because you get a lump in your throat when you remember that they have left, but you are relieved to know that they never lacked the best care or love.
Not even the beautiful cat Dantes can you forget; Then you remember when, very early, he asked you for food and you had to look for his food and put it in his container, which was always by the window. In Gaia there is everything!
Gaia makes you rethink consumption alternatives and immerse yourself in the vegan and anti-species world. But returning to your routine, after having been there, causes some ups and downs in your emotions that you can not imagine. It is the place where you have been happy and to which you would like to try to return.
Congratulations to the Gaia Sanctuary for having been founded for ten years, for having saved so many lives and for serving as an inspiration to many people.
