Meet the Founder

Nicole DeBasio purchased this working horse boarding facility in Italy after a diverse lifelong adventure that included military service, working as a racehorse trainer, and, most recently, being a nomad. Wandering Europe with her cousin, she found herself rescuing animals wherever they were needed, drawn to the marginalized, the abandoned, and the sick. She called these altruistic adventures "The Traveling Menagerie."

The moment she laid eyes on the Italian equestrian base, she knew deep down that she had finally found the place to settle, a place she could call home. In April 2023, she moved in with 45 dogs, 14 horses, 18 cats, and a goat! Those numbers have already grown (along with the staff and a good turnover of visiting volunteers), and every animal is a rescue, except for 10 boarding horses and 10 of Nicole's horses. Now, there are also chickens, more goats, and even a few donkeys!

The Traveling Menagerie is changing its name because it no longer reflects the ambitions and goals of a sanctuary that has stopped wandering, but instead fulfills more than Nicole could ever have hoped for. Thus was born Hold Fast To Dreams Sanctuary and Rescue , a nonprofit organization with over 5,000 followers on Facebook alone.