02/03/2026
Some people talk to animals. Not many listen though. That’s the problem. (A.A. Milne)
*Alan Alexander Milne was best known for his books about the teddy bear Winnie-the-Pooh, as well as children's poetry.
Sometimes the most important thing we can do—for ourselves and for the causes we care deeply about—is to pause.
Last weekend, feeling a little burnt out, I found myself heading into the mountains for a few days at Retreat Yourself Festival. Surrounded by nature, fresh air, and a community of open-hearted people, it became exactly the kind of space I didn’t realise I needed so badly.
Events like this have a beautiful way of bringing together people who are searching for something similar: a slower rhythm, meaningful conversations, and a deeper connection—to themselves, to nature, and to one another. Between yoga sessions, walks through the trees, music drifting through the valley, and spontaneous conversations with strangers who quickly felt like friends, there was a sense of ease and openness that felt incredibly restorative.
But what moved me most about the weekend wasn’t only the setting. It was the people.
One of the lovely souls I had the chance to reconnect with was Vonne, the founder of Captive Animal Enrichment Project (CAEP). In a gathering centred on wellbeing and healing, it felt especially meaningful to spend time with someone dedicating her life to improving the wellbeing of animals who cannot choose their circumstances.
The work of CAEP is rooted in an important reality: many animals live in captive environments, even within facilities that are doing their best to care for them. While these environments may provide animals with shelter, food, and medical attention, they cannot replicate the complexity and freedom of the wild.
CAEP was established with a deep awareness of these limitations—and with a commitment to improving the quality of life for animals living within them.
Through approaches such as applied zoopharmacognosy and sensory enrichment, CAEP helps animals reconnect with natural behaviours by offering them opportunities to interact with medicinal plants and natural materials. In essence, the project works to “bring the outdoors indoors,” allowing animals to self-select the plants and scents they are drawn to. This process helps support their physiological and emotional balance, offering them ways to cope with the stresses of living in unnatural environments.
As Vonne so beautifully puts it, while we may not be able to give these animals complete freedom, we can offer them freedom of choice.
What I also found incredibly inspiring is that CAEP’s work extends beyond the animals themselves. The project collaborates closely with the people caring for animals in captive facilities, sharing knowledge and tools that empower them to better support the animals in their care. By introducing natural healing modalities and encouraging observation and connection, CAEP creates a multi-directional healing model—one that benefits both animals and their human caregivers.
This is especially important in a field where compassion fatigue is all too common. Witnessing animals respond positively to enrichment and natural healing can be deeply affirming for the people working tirelessly to support them.
As someone who advocates for a world where animals are no longer exploited for human use—whether for entertainment, experimentation, or food—it can sometimes feel difficult to hold space for the realities animals face today.
Of course, the world many of us hope to see is one where animals are no longer confined or used by humans at all. But until that day arrives, the work of people like Vonne matters enormously.
Her compassion, her scientific approach, and her commitment to improving the lives of individual animals make a tangible difference right now. And meeting someone doing this work with such humility and dedication was one of the highlights of my weekend.
Vonne also shared the exciting news that her private practice, Anima Botanica, has just launched, bringing bespoke, one-on-one consultations to animals whose guardians are committed to offering their animals the very deepest level of care. Sessions weave together applied zoopharmacognosy, nutrition, behaviour, and energy work into a truly integrated portrait of each individual animal - one that honours them fully, and offers their guardian a meaningful map of where support is most needed. Keep an eye on CAEP's social media pages and website for more information on her online launch, or contact her directly on [email protected] to book a session.
It felt fitting that this conversation happened in a place like Retreat Yourself: surrounded by nature, among people seeking greater harmony in their own lives, and in a community where compassion for all living beings feels like a shared value.
Weekends like this remind me that the movement for a kinder world is made up of countless individuals quietly doing beautiful work—whether that’s advocating for animals, supporting sanctuaries, developing new ways to help animals heal, or simply choosing to live more consciously.
Sometimes, stepping away from the noise of everyday life helps us see that more clearly.
And sometimes, it also reminds us that we’re not alone on this path.
Janneke Blake
March 2026
