pays de la loire, france
The Yin Yang Animal Sanctuary
💜 Where healing begins with love 💜
JOAFE Association # W533006069
OUR RESIDENTS
HENRI
THE MINIS
HENRI
This little oprhan boy was found at 1. 5 months old in the engine bay of a Ford Transit van after the driver heard his meows before setting off on a journey! Hence the name 'Henri' :-) The wonderful association Helianthus told us about this little one who needed a forever home and we were delighted to welcome him to the Sanctuary. He is now best friends with our parson russell terrier Milo and it's wonderful to view their affection. Henri accompanies us on our walks around the sanctuary, we've had to rescue him from a 20ft tree, and he's like a little hobbit in that he always wants a 2nd breakfast!
PAUL
THE MINIS
HENRI
Paul is an adorable 28 year old Arab gelding whose owner sadly died and he was left for a year and a half, surviving on grass alone with no-one to care for him. The land he was living on had been sold, and it was a race against time to prepare his new home at the Sanctuary before he would have been sent to slaughter. We found his story through Facebook via the brilliant Association Le Repere [who were full] and they kindly brought him to us just in time! Paul has bad teeth so has to be fed a special soaked diet, often topped with his favourite treat, grated carrots! He loves his grooming sessions and is such a gentle soul.
THE MINIS
THE MINIS
STOMPER, POMPOM & EYORE
We were talking to other rescues to find a friend for Paul, but we ended up with not just one, but FOUR little angels! The wonderful team at Pegasus Sanctuary had saved this Shetland pony family from slaughter as their previous owner wanted to get rid of them :( This is a mama and her daughter, who both had a colt each. One of the minis has a severe hay allergy [COPD] and her son a mild one, so luckily we could offer their hay free forever home. We named them after our first donators; Ricky, Mrs Jones, Leonie and Blue.
STOMPER, POMPOM & EYORE
BIG MAC [aka Gadnuk Breaker of Worlds]
STOMPER, POMPOM & EYORE
These two elderly donkeys [Pompom and Eyore] and pony [Loulou aka Stomper] came to us on Easter Monday 2025. They were in a state of neglect with overgrown hooves, matted manes, underweight and skin problems. They had not been fed properly for a long time, so they were delighted to get onto the quarantine paddock's fresh grass. They all enjoy carrots, having a browse around the bushes and trees, and Pompom [darker donkey] is learning to love affection from us. The other two we'll need to build up to cuddles with, but we won't stop trying until they know love.
PUMPKIN & MINKY
BIG MAC [aka Gadnuk Breaker of Worlds]
BIG MAC [aka Gadnuk Breaker of Worlds]
This beautiful bonded pair came to us via a very kind lady who had been feeding them after their owner died and were left with no-one to care for them. Once loved and cared for house pets, the inheritor of their owners' house did not want them and threatened to poison them. They had become semi-feral after living outside for so long. It took a while to build their trust, but they are now living their best lives at the Sanctuary. They make the cutest little gang with Henri, its wonderful to watch them all playing together.
BIG MAC [aka Gadnuk Breaker of Worlds]
BIG MAC [aka Gadnuk Breaker of Worlds]
BIG MAC [aka Gadnuk Breaker of Worlds]
This handsome lad was found by a kind hearted couple after his original owner [their neighbour] let him go into the wild after all his hens were killed by a fox. Unable to stay with them [as they had 3 roosters already] a home was sought for this impressive dude through Facebook. We saw the post and thought our ladies could do with a little company, so we gave him sanctuary with us. His powerful cockadoodledoing has us in stitches and he is the best intruder alarm there is! He chases us and does try to attack us occasionally, but we are working through it and building his trust.
WILSON & JOEY
WILSON & JOEY
WILSON & JOEY
These lovely friends came all the way from the UK! We originally rehomed them from South Essex Wildlife Hospital [where founder Zoe was a volunteer] before we officially started our sanctuary in France. We don't know much about their history, but Wilson [Greek tortoise] is estimated to be between 50-60 and Joey [Hermann's tortoise] her mid-30's. They both love dandelions, basking and the odd cucumber slice on a hot day!
Donate to us with Wise
Our website is SSL protected so your details are secure.
We have three ways to donate, Wise, Donorbox [for monthly and one off donations] and Stripe.
Scan the QR code or click the link to donate directly to our association with Wise, that way we avoid fees:
https://wise.com/pay/business/theyinyanganimalsanctuary
Or use the button below to donate with Donorbox if preferred.
Please consider sending something from our Amazon Wishlist
ABOUT THE FOUNDERS
Zoe and Justin sold up their Essex home in 2024 to realise their dream of the sanctuary
The married couple had always shared a mutual passion for animals and their welfare. After a long and fruitful career in the music industry as record label founders, a DJ and producer [Justin] and singer and producer [Zoe] - the duo decided to do a complete 180 on their hectic London lives and followed their dream of building and running a sustainable animal sanctuary.
After having tried to find land in the UK for nearly 6 years [and always being outbid by developers or facing unaffordable restrictive covenant clauses], the couple embarked on the biggest adventure of their lives; moving to France, where the land was plentiful, reasonably costed and the need for the sanctuary turned out to be greater.
The multi skilled couple have built everything themselves, from fencing, shelters, to the allotment in just 4 months so they can finally start to live the life they've always dreamed of, rescuing abandoned and neglected animals, and giving them a forever sanctuary full of love.
WHY YIN YANG?
The theory behind the name...
Naming the sanctuary didn't take long. The idea was formed back in 2016, Zoe was practicing a lot of yoga at the time and exploring Taoism and Buddhist philosophies. Particularly that of the Dharma and Dao - simplified as finding one's purpose and dedicating your life to it.
The idea that the couple could put some real good back into a hurting tumultuous planet, spawned the name. "The world is in trouble and can be a dark place for animals. But what we can do is become the light for those souls who have experienced pain and neglect, through creating a safe loving corner of the world for them."