Meet our Team

Home Meet Our Team

Juliana Castañeda Turner

Co-founder & Animal care giver

Juliana co-founded the sanctuary in 2006, from that moment on, she has given her life to saving animals. Vegetarian since she was 5 and vegan from 2006, and a lifelong activist. Juliana is also the regional coordinator for Food for Life Global, the world’s largest vegan food relief.

Ekala Isvara Das

Co-founder & Manager

Ekala cofounded the sanctuary, put aside his career as an artist to dedicate his life to saving animals. He currently oversees the well-being of all the animals. Recently, he has started creating artwork of the animals to help support the sanctuary.

Paul Rodney Turner

Animal Caretaker and Chef

Paul cares for the larger animals on the sanctuary and is also the in-house vegan chef. He is the founder and director of Food Yoga International, formerly known as Food for Life Global, the world’s largest vegan food relief, a social entrepreneur, and founder of the feedOM Kindness Ecosystem. He is a 10-year veteran of the World Bank, a former monk, and author of 5 books.

Jorden Meade Ruggles

Secretary

Jordie is a long-time animal activists and graphic designer who lives in Seattle. She began doing pro-bono graphic design for JAS in 2016 and soon after took over the role of charity president for 3 years. Jordie has also helped us bring 8 dogs to the US to their forever homes!

Amelia

International Volunteer Recruiter

Amelia is an animal-loving environmentalist from Canada. Since going vegan in 2014 she has dedicated all her free time to saving animals. She has traveled around the world volunteering for Sea Shepherd, Elephant Nature Park, Esther the wonder pig and JAS. She is so inspired by Juliana’s work and is thrilled to be part of the team.

Camilo Arias

Animal Caregiver

Camilo is an animal caregiver

Mariana Hernández

Animal caregiver

Mariana is an animal caregiver.

Camila Rocha

Animal Caregiver

Camila is an animal caregiver.

Mauricio Guzmán

Veterinarian

Mauricio is our on-site veterinarian

Victor Guarin

Maintenance Manager

Victor is our go-to guy to get anything fixed.