For 21 years, Ana Julia Torres has rescued hundreds of animals from uncaring owners and looks after them at her shelter Villa Lorena, in Columbia.
Ana Julia Torres kisses Jupiter, an African lion she rescued malnourished from a circus six years ago, at her Villa Lorena animal shelter, in Cali, Colombia, Friday, Jan. 5, 2007. Ana Julia Torres is the owner of the 12-year-old shelter that rescues sick and mistreated animals from all over Colombia.
All of Torres’ animals have one thing in common- they’ve been abused.
Most come from drug kingpins and death-squad commanders, who have used animals like jaguars and tigers as mascots. With many these men have been extradited to the U.S., the animals have wound up at Villa Lorena.
Torres says, “This is not a zoo,” she says. “It’s a refuge, an old-age home; a hospital. [It’s] a place where we love, protect, defend and respect animals.”
She has over 800 animals at the Villa Lorena, but none of them as special to her as Jupiter the African lion is.
Jupiter used to be a circus performer until Torres rescued him 15 years ago.
The bond between them is unbelievable and Torres treats Jupiter like a baby.
He may be large, powerful and ferocious, but he’s a pussy cat with Torres, and hugs and kisses her through the bars of his cage.
It is incredible to watch the bond between these two:
We’d like to thank the Villa Lorena shelter for giving these animals a second chance at life. Please SHARE this amazing story.
[Featured Image Credit: AP]