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Love Always Sanctuary

@lovealwayssanctuary

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A safe space for all beings. 🌱🌈
Visit, volunteer, support! 👇🏻
📍 Sun Valley, CA

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For so many years, I survived this world by burying my pain somewhere so deep I thought I’d never have to visit it again.

I learned that as a child. I could look straight into the eyes of my abusers and smile. Part defiance, but mostly survival.

That skill carried me through so much. The loss of my parents. The end of my marriage. One of my children being critically ill. Every now and then I would crack, but only in private. A quick cry in the shower, and then it all went right back down. I didn’t talk about it, not even with the people closest to me.

I see now those were trauma responses. No matter how deeply I buried it, it never left. It just came along for the ride.

We recently experienced a loss here at the sanctuary that has hit me in a way I can’t ignore.

Eggbert and I were so intertwined. He needed so much care, and I was with him constantly. Long drives across Los Angeles twice a week for therapy. Late nights in the barn. Singing to him, reading to him, telling him my secrets.

But his pain increased, and his body couldn’t keep going. Letting him transition was the only compassionate choice.

What I’ve realized in the heaviness of missing him is how new this is for me. I’m not running from these feelings anymore. I’m sitting with them.

As painful as it is, there’s something beautiful in it too. To have loved someone this deeply is a gift, even when it means feeling this kind of loss.

I’m not better, but I’m getting there. Finding small moments of joy again. Walking the same paths I used to walk with Eggbert in his wagon, talking to the flowers because I swear his energy is still all around me.

Our final moments together were beautiful. We walked the sanctuary and picked spring flowers. I filled his wagon with fresh sage. We laid out a blanket, and like a gift, the gray sky opened and the sun came through.

I tried to make him a flower crown and realized I had no idea how.

We laid there in the warmth, surrounded by friends and laughter. And when it was time, he left this world with me nose to nose, whispering how much I love him.

I wouldn’t change a single moment.

Thank you all for loving him and for following his journey by @lovealwayssanctuary

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5 months ago

Love is a strange and powerful thing. The deeper it grows, the more it stretches us wide open, and with that openness comes the quiet knowing that loss is part of the deal. It doesn’t go unnoticed, tucked away in some corner of the mind, whispering what we don’t want to say out loud.

As we fight for little Eggie, as we try everything to help him stand again, I can feel myself falling deeper and deeper in love with him. And somewhere inside, I’m aware that loving him this much also means risking the kind of heartbreak I can’t even begin to measure.

But I wouldn’t love him any less to make it hurt less.

Love Always
@chefnickiemingarelli

#love #animals #cute #insta #instamood no taken in Love Always Sanctuary by @lovealwayssanctuary

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7 months ago

I think it’s important, from time to time, to be clear about the values that guide my life and the work we do at Love Always Sanctuary.

I believe every being deserves compassion, dignity, safety, and the opportunity to exist without fear. That doesn’t stop with the animals who call Love Always Sanctuary home. It extends to people too.

I believe in kindness over cruelty.
Science over misinformation.
Equality over discrimination.
Love over fear.
Community over division.

I believe LGBTQ+ people deserve to be celebrated. I believe Black lives matter. I believe immigrants deserve humanity. I believe women deserve bodily autonomy. I believe every person deserves to be treated with respect, regardless of who they are, who they love, what they look like, or where they come from.

If you’ve ever wondered where I stand, I stand with compassion. I stand with inclusion. I stand with those whose voices are too often ignored, whether they walk on two legs, four legs, or have wings.

My sanctuary has always been, and will always be, a place where love comes first.

Love Always
@chefnickiemingarelli

#love #cute #instagood #instagram #photography taken in Love Always Sanctuary by @lovealwayssanctuary

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3 months ago

Hey guys! 🎃 Follow Willow, Juniper, and me right on over to the link in our bio to grab your tickets for our Haunts & Hooves Halloween Safe Trick-or-Treat Party! 👻🐴

Love Always
@chefnickiemingarelli

#love #instagram #instagood #halloween #party

Not only is it a beautiful way for your family to celebrate Halloween in a fun, safe space, but you’re also helping support the 142 animals who call Love Always Sanctuary home. ❤️

Tickets are on sale now through Eventbrite! We can’t wait to see you all, and you KNOW how much I love seeing everyone’s costumes! 🧡🎃 taken in Love Always Sanctuary by @lovealwayssanctuary

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11 hours ago

Zen ✨…

THE FIELD Drewskiii FT CFGainz out tonight 9PM PST / 12 AM EST

Thank you @lovealwayssanctuary for having us 💚

#animalsanctuary #animals #newmusicfridays #newartist #trap by @lovealwayssanctuary

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a day ago

🎃👻 HAUNTS & HOOVES AT LOVE ALWAYS SANCTUARY! 🐷🦇

Come spend Halloween with us for an evening of spooky fun, sweet rescued animals, laughter, and a little Halloween magic!

We’re turning the sanctuary into a place for families and friends to make memories while supporting the animals who call Love Always home. 🧡

Saturday, October 31 | 4 PM–7 PM

We’ve got a whole evening planned!

🎃 4:00 PM: Gates and barnyard open!

👀 4:30 PM: Eyeball and Spoon Race

💃 5:30 PM: Dance Contest

🎬 6:00 PM: Hocus Pocus under the stars! Bring a blanket or chair and get cozy!

Plus games, activities, a scavenger hunt, and Halloween treats!

🎟️ Tickets:

🧡 $25 includes admission, all activities, and a Halloween treat bag!

🧡 $15 includes admission and all activities without a treat bag.

All treats are vegan and nut-free!

Advance tickets are required through Eventbrite. Link in bio!

📍 Love Always Sanctuary
9841 La Tuna Canyon Rd., Sun Valley, CA

Come celebrate Halloween with us, support our rescued residents, and enjoy a little magic in a place built on love.

We can’t wait to see all your spooky little faces! 🧡👻

Please share and help us spread the word!

Love Always
@chefnickiemingarelli #love #halloween ##family #fun taken in Love Always Sanctuary by @lovealwayssanctuary

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2 days ago

At a time when so many of us are at odds, when the world feels heavy and we seem to be surrounded by anger and heartbreak, I find myself with very little left to give but love.

I am exhausted. And I know so many of you are, too.

I think we’re all grieving something. Friendships, relationships, the world we thought we knew, or maybe just the feeling that we once understood each other.

I don’t have the answers. I don’t know how to mend all the things that feel so terribly broken.

But can we please lean into each other instead of pulling further apart?

Can we lean into love, even when it’s difficult? Can we choose kindness when anger would be easier? Can we remember that compassion isn’t something we offer only to those who agree with us?

I know we’re tired. I know we’re hurting.

But I still believe that love is the most powerful thing we have to offer one another.

And right now, it’s all I have left to give.

So I’m giving it to all of you. ❤️

Love Always
@chefnickiemingarelli

#love #Instagram #instagood #friends #family taken in Love Always Sanctuary by @lovealwayssanctuary

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2 days ago

Who did it better? 🐔or 👸🏼? 😛
The roosters won’t let anybody throw them off their „crowing at least 100 times per hour“ game 😅

#animalsanctuarylife #rooster #roosters #kikeriki #cockadoodledoo taken in Love Always Sanctuary by @lovealwayssanctuary

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3 days ago

It’s finally starting to cool down, which means private tours at Love Always Sanctuary just got a whole lot more magical!
There’s something so special about spending a beautiful, chilly afternoon surrounded by rescued animals, hearing their stories, making new friends, and enjoying a little peace away from the rest of the world. And let’s face it, we’re all a little happier when we’re not melting in the heat! g
Our private tours tend to book up in advance, especially on weekends, so please plan ahead!
Visit our website, send us a DM, or text us to schedule your visit. We can’t wait to share this beautiful little world with you!
Love Always
@chefnickiemingarelli
#love #instagram #instagood #friends #losangeles taken in Love Always Sanctuary by @lovealwayssanctuary

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3 days ago

Life is so much more complicated than I wish it were sometimes.

I’m learning that growth isn’t always about holding on. Sometimes it’s about finding the courage to let go. Letting go of things we once loved, things we thought would last forever, and things that no longer bring peace or purpose to our lives.

And there’s grief in that. Even when letting go is the right thing to do, it can still break your heart.

I think we’re all carrying more than the world can see. We’re all trying to find our way through things we don’t always understand. And I wish we could remember that when we’re dealing with one another.

We need each other. We need gentleness. We need compassion, especially when it’s difficult to give.

Standing here holding Willow, I’m reminded how simple love can be when we stop making it complicated. He doesn’t need me to have all the answers. He just needs me to be here, to be gentle, to be someone he can trust.

I wish we could offer each other that same grace.

Because life is already so hard, and if we can’t learn to be a soft place for one another to land, I worry about what becomes of us.

I still believe love is the answer. Even on the days when believing that breaks my heart.

Love Always

@chefnickiemingarelli

#love #instagram #instagood #friends #family taken in Love Always Sanctuary by @lovealwayssanctuary

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5 days ago

The Halloween Party of the year is back!

We’re throwing an EPIC Vegan Halloween Party on Saturday, October 17th and you’re officially invited! 🎃

Get ready for a night full of music, drinks, food, and pure good vibes. 🍻

A DJ will be spinning spooky beats all night to keep your feet moving and your spirits high. 🕺💀

🍴 Food & Drinks (available for purchase):
• @afterhourzeatz818 – Fire eats 🍔🍕
• @thesweetcoyote – Cookies & desserts 🍪✨
• @tonchfit – Handcrafted mocktails (and yes, they can be spiked for free 😉) 🍹

👻 Costume Contest:
Three winners will take home prizes! So bring your A-game and best fit!

🎟️ Hourly Drawings:
Attending gets you 1 free drawing ticket. Want to up your chances?
$5 = 1 ticket | $20 = 5 tickets
We’re drawing winners for gift cards and prizes throughout the night, and all ticket proceeds go to Love Always Sanctuary and Simply Vegan Project (SoCal VegFest)❤️

Feel free to bring your favorite drink if you’ve got a preference and we’ll bring the fun 🤩

What to Bring:
🪑 A chair or blanket/towel (limited seating)
🎭 Your best costume
🔥 Your good vibes
🐾 Any Toys, food or anything for the animal shelter

The party’s going down at a private home in Santa Clarita with plenty of street parking.
Come dressed, hungry, and ready to get lit 👌🏽

🔗 Comment “LIT” and I’ll send you the RSVP link so the hosts can plan accordingly 🙏🏽

#halloweenparty #halloweeninLA #halloween #partyinla #vegancommunity by @lovealwayssanctuary

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7 days ago

Hello from the chicken garden! 🐓💕

Did you know chickens dream, recognize their friends, talk to their babies before they’re even born, and can actually blush?

They have friendships, preferences, memories, and very strong opinions about absolutely everything.

The more we learn about chickens, the harder it becomes to understand why we treat them so differently from the animals we share our homes with.

They’re funny, affectionate, intelligent little individuals, and I feel so lucky to call so many of them my friends.

Now, if we could just get them to stop gossiping about me. 😂💕

Love Always
@chefnickiemingarelli

#love #chicken #losangeles #instagood #instagram taken in Love Always Sanctuary by @lovealwayssanctuary

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8 days ago