From Nurse to Naturalist: Woman Builds Wildlife Refuge After Fibromyalgia Diagnosis
A former practical nurse, sidelined by a debilitating illness, has found renewed purpose in rescuing and rehabilitating injured and abandoned animals, creating a haven for squirrels and other vulnerable creatures in quebec.
Two years ago, Virginie Duquette was forced to leave her career as a practical nurse due to the severity of her fibromyalgia. “I never know in what state I will get up in the morning and in what state I will go to bed in the evening,” she explained.”But I am still able to enjoy my free time.” Despite her health challenges, the 25-year-old felt compelled to continue working, leading her to an unexpected path: animal care.
Unable to continue her work with human patients, Duquette decided to apply her nurturing skills to animals in need. This led to the creation of Refuge Blanche-Neige, a sanctuary that recently relocated from Saint-tite to Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel, at Domaine Enchanteur. While the refuge is home to a diverse collection of animals – including goats, raccoons, an emu, a Patagonian Mara, ferrets, an opossum, and a turtle – it is the sheer number of squirrels that truly defines the sanctuary.
duquette’s connection to animals dates back to her youth. “When I was young, I worked with animals on ranches,” she recalled. “I always hesitated between becoming a nurse or an animal health technician. I had the possibility to finish my high school at the same time as my DEP, so I opted for that.But everyone around me was surprised, they thought I would go into animal health.”
The refuge’s residents arrive with a variety of heartbreaking stories. Cindy-Lou is paralyzed in her hind legs, Lily fell from a tree while playing, and Jeanne was bitten by a cat and left for dead in a park in Trois-Rivières. Duquette’s primary goal is to rehabilitate these animals and return them to the wild.”The goal is to rehabilitate as many as possible, so that they can return to the wild once the treatment has taken effect,” she stated. “But for some, that won’t be possible, they will end their days here. But I don’t fight against the call of nature: if I judge that an animal should stay,but it makes me understand that it wants to leave,I will let it go. He will survive a few weeks, a few months, a year, but he will have lived as he wants.”
Duquette has embraced a holistic approach to animal care, incorporating naturopathy into her treatment methods. “I took training two years ago, I wanted to treat them with what they could find in nature, which would allow them to heal,” she explained.
The dedication to her rescued animals is clearly paying off. Duquette estimates she successfully rehabilitates around 70% of the animals under her care, frequently enough taking in those other shelters have deemed beyond saving.”Ther is nothing that pleases me more than taking care of animals for which another shelter recommended euthanasia and succeeding in saving them,” she smiled.
Currently, Refuge blanche-neige operates solely on Duquette’s personal funds and public donations. The process of registering as a non-profit organization is underway, though progress has been slow. A team of approximately fifteen volunteers assists Duquette, and she hopes to expand this number. To supplement funding, Duquette offers tours of the refuge, emphasizing that animal interaction is not guaranteed. “People can enter the enclosures with me, but if the animal doesn’t come towards them, I won’t force it. they are not show animals,they are the ones who will decide whether they come to interact with people or not.”
Despite the financial challenges, Duquette remains steadfast in her commitment. A visit to Refuge Blanche-Neige leaves a lasting impression, inspiring admiration for Duquette’s dedication and a renewed sense of hope.
To visit the Blanche-Neige Refuge, contact virginie Duquette by text at 450 916-3195, or by private messaging.
