Daydream Animal Sanctuary: Northeast Atlanta, GA
The Daydream Animal Sanctuary in Gainesville, GA, an area comprised of 52 acres of rolling fields, mixed in with lush vegetation, was started five years ago by Deborah Andrews and her daughter, Ashley, when they bought an old rundown farm to save dozens of horses, cattle, donkeys, goats, pigs, chickens and other animals from abuse, abandonment and slaughter. All these creatures now have a forever home at the sanctuary, and are provided with nutritious feed, fresh grass and medical help as necessary.
Volunteers from the Sri Sathya Sai Center of Northeast Atlanta began serving at the animal sanctuary in August, 2019. They started with a devotional session at the farm, where about 35 adults and children walked through the farm, blessing the farm, owners and animals with their devotional singing. This unique service, was initiated for the Sai Spiritual Education (SSE) children, as a way for them to be out in the fresh air, soak in the beauty and peace of nature, and show love and care for the animals.
Through the years, the project evolved into a regular event. The sanctuary owners would call the Sai Center whenever they had a special need. Sai volunteers, on the average of about 7-12 families, would happily respond. The children eagerly awaited these visits to the farm, cared for the animals with great love, and enthusiastically took on farm chores.
This year, the Sai volunteers decided to visit the sanctuary every first weekend of each month. They would clean the horse sheds, lay fresh bedding, clean and fill the water and food buckets, as well as help with mowing, bushwhacking, weeding and any other farm chores. This allowed the sanctuary to reduce the cost of hiring help for one weekend each month. Volunteers also help out on their own time as well. There may be less help during the summer due to the heat, and families being on vacation. But volunteers are still available so the farm is well looked after.
In addition, Sai Center volunteers in the Envirocare Program have planted a fruit orchard on the farm, and have vigilantly tended to the little saplings to ensure they continue to flourish.
The sanctuary teaches children the importance of loving and caring for creatures and plants that share this planet with us. With guidance, the children will grow to become stewards of the planet and its inhabitants. Watching the radiant glow on the children’s faces as they joyfully tend to their animal friends has its own reward. Working in the garden, taking in the scent of newly mowed grass and fresh air, and seeing saplings grow into fruit-bearing trees engender a sense of satisfaction beyond words. This truly is a sanctuary for transforming all: Nature, Animal and Man.