SAFA shelter for farm animals first of its kind in Lower St. Lawrence

Abused and neglected farm animals have been given a new life at a shelter in eastern Quebec, the first of its kind in the region.

Claudia Andersen, a zootherapist fromQuebec City, set up the SAFA shelter in September in Sainte-Angle-de-Mrici, some 50 kilometres northeast of Rimouski. The cows, horses, sheep, goats, pigs,chickens and, recently,llamasshe takes in were destined for slaughter. But Andersen decided to intervene.

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"These are animals that were neglected, sometimes abused. We take them in, rehabilitate them and eventually they become partners with us," Andersen said.

By partners, she means the animals assist in the zootherapy work she does with children. In her practice, Andersen uses animals to better connect with her clients.

"Animals come with baggage, with a past," she said. "These are animals whose owners didn't take good care of them.

"We have a cow that was very, very mistreated. She was up to her belly in feces. She had never seen the outdoorsand hasn't walked in two years."

For now, Andersen and her assistant, Vanessa Dufresne, run the shelter with modest means and mostly without any outside help.

"We get some donations. It's great, it helps us a lot. We hope this will continue because this is how we're surviving," Andersen said.

The SAFA shelteris welcomingvolunteers and donations of money and equipment.