Our story
Why this name?
Well, first let me introduce myself.
My name is Silvia Clementi and since I was a child I have always had a “soft spot” for nature and animals. Like many people, however, it took me a long time to find my way but above all the strength to make this dream come true.
“L’arca di Natalia” (Natalia’s Ark) is the result of a personal journey that began when Natalia entered my life. I was 23 years old and she was only 2 months old. Soon this big dog turned all my habits upside down, filling my voids and coloring my days. Little by little I realized that under that ball of fur there was a world… a world of emotions, fears and so much more. From there the leap was short. A dog, a pig… a cow. I no longer saw any difference. It was then that I began to dream of opening a shelter to help the less fortunate, discriminated and defenseless animals.
Natalia opened my eyes by helping me see the soul that is inside every living creature.
A corner of Paradise
The Shelter is not just a safe home for our animal friends, nor simply a happy oasis for the few who have been lucky enough to be welcomed. Some visitors have called it a corner of Paradise. For us it is a magical place, where you can breathe the air of sacredness.
Animals are the hosts of the house, humans are the guests.
These animals are survivors and deserve respect. They are here to remind us of their brothers who die every day in slaughterhouses, trembling with fear, seeking comfort in their frightened companions, crying and screaming without being heard, with terror in their eyes and the smell of blood in their nostrils, waiting their turn. They are here to remind us that our lifestyle habits can make a difference for them. They are here to remind us that they are not on Earth for us, but are here with us. They are here to loudly affirm their right to LIFE.
You just have to listen… look them in the eyes and open your heart.
That is when the connection happens! And if it happens…that is the greatest miracle that makes this place sacred.
The project
Our primary goal is to save as many lives as possible from death and exploitation, giving them back the freedom and dignity to which they are entitled.
The inhabitants of the shelter, apart from eating, sleeping, grazing and being cuddled, have only one task: to represent their less fortunate conspecific brothers, showing themselves to the public in their habitat in conditions of freedom and psycho-physical well-being. This allows us to let visitors know the soul that hides inside each individual animal that is very often ignored.
Obviously any interaction between animals and visitors takes place in total respect of the will of the animal without any coercion or imposition on our part.
The secondary goal, but no less important, is to spread a lifestyle based on non-violence, non-discrimination, anti-speciesism and universal love, addressing in particular school children, families, communities and children with disabilities.
