The Heart and Soul of Animal Rescue
This week, Robin talks with Natalie Owings of The Heart and Soul Animal Sanctuary in New Mexico, a place of refuge for animals who otherwise would perish: the abandoned, the abused, the sick, the old, the suffering.
Robin and Natalie discuss their shared commitment to animal rescue and welfare, while Owings gives Robin a glimpse of her daily life at the sanctuary, including how her and the animals live, family style, on the grounds and in the “Giant Doghouse”.
BIO:
Natalie Owings, founder and director of The Heart and Soul Animal Sanctuary, grew up on a ranch in New Mexico. She attended schools in Colorado, New York, and Germany. Following a multitude of positions, New Mexico drew her back in permanently. In the 1970s, Owings rescued her first dogs. Even while working full time, she had from 10 to 16 rescued dogs in the house and would rush home from work to take them all out on long walks in the beautiful wilderness areas.
Today, her Heart and Soul Animal Sanctuary, the result of hard work and dedication, cares for approximately 150 rescued animals at all times. These include dogs, puppies, cats, horses, llamas, goats, chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits and guinea pigs.
There are no cages. Everyone has a home. As Owings puts it, with love and passion, “I simply can’t walk past a stray dog.”
Natalie tells the story of The Heart and Soul Animal Sanctuary in her 2009 book, “The Heart and Soul Animal Sanctuary: To Love and Be Loved”.