“Tell me the story of how you rescued me, again…”

For those of us who are free, freedom often goes unsung. But for certain mice and rats rescued from a laboratory, that instant of emerging into fresh air and sunshine for the first time ever is a miracle, a moment of true wonder.

And on one such occasion last August, “the perfect day to experience how beautiful this world can be“, Italian vegan and ardent animal-lover Rachele Totaro was there with her camera to capture every emotion.

Maybe like me you believed that ‘only’ those millions of poor animals used in lethal tests die at the hands of workers in labs. Not so. Many millions more used in non-lethal experiments as well as those simply surplus, kept ‘in reserve’ in case they might be needed, are routinely killed. An institution that values these lives only as units for the practice of research is hardly going to care for them once they no longer serve the purpose.

But in Italy at least, the law permits those who do value the lives of these little beings to save them from that fate. And near Milan, a wonderful shelter called La Collina dei Conigli is rescuing all the rats, mice and rabbits they can from laboratories, and searching for them safe, happy forever homes.

Rachele speaks of her gratitude, as the mice and rats were released from their imprisonment and suffering on that particular hot August day, “to have witnessed such a great moment of rebirth!”

Big foot

So… is this above the famous “sky”?

Grateful

Little Bros

Who are you?

Contemplating

Loving cuddles

Hold me

Curious guy

Exploring

Safe now

I’ll protect you…

Enjoying the moment

I love you!

Tell me the story of how you rescued me, again…

So many things to see

“Shy ones, little warriors, curious explorers, cuddle-lovers: every one acted in a different way when taken outdoors, and they showed once again that they are not mere numbers, as they are considered in labs, but individuals with peculiar attitudes and personalities.”

Sharing as they do 97.5% of DNA with us, why should we be surprised if we find ourselves instinctively reading in their body language and little faces the same emotions we experience ourselves.

And if Rachele’s gentle photos make you cry, know that you are not alone!

#PersonsNotProperty   #AdoptDontShop

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To see more of Rachele’s pics of nonhuman persons, click here

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Source

I Photographed Ex-Lab Rats And Mice Going Outdoors For The First Time, And Their Expressions Say It All

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