081: The Animals Changed Everything: Chiara Saitta's Path to Purpose
About this episode
Chiara Saitta shares her transformative journey from fashion to animal care, highlighting the impact of veganism and sanctuary life.
What happens when the life you built no longer reflects what you believe? For Chiara Saitta, becoming vegan changed far more than what she ate. It prompted her to leave a career in fashion and film, help open Rome's first vegan patisserie, and eventually dedicate herself to caring for rescued animals in Portugal. In this episode of the Better Life for Animals podcast, Chiara shares the experiences that led her to Riza Animal Sanctuary, where she helps care for around 60 animals through a fully volunteer-run operation. From meeting a rescued pig to watching her brother reconsider his choices after an encounter with a cow, Chiara has seen how connecting with animals can open hearts in ways a conversation alone sometimes cannot. She also offers an honest look at what happens behind the scenes of sanctuary life. Compassion must be supported by veterinary care, appropriate diets, dependable volunteers, and consistent funding. Chiara explains how she draws on her business experience to meet those needs, including founding the Coimbra Vegan Market to help generate income. Looking ahead, she shares plans for a larger sanctuary property and a vegan cooking school where food, education…
More episodes of Better Life for Animals
- 080: They Grieve, They Love, They Remember: Inside Donkey Dreams Sanctuary
- 079: How Young People Can Turn Their Love for Animals Into Action with Danielle Hanosh
- 078: The Pigeon Lady: Giving a Voice to the Birds We Overlook
- 077: PETA is Activism in Action with Amber Canavan
- 076: She Was Only Known as Number 38. Then She Changed Everything.
- 075: The Road to No-Kill: Tawny Hammond on Leadership, Community, and a New Future for Shelter Animals
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