Grettel’s Fight to Rebuild a Home for
50+ Rescued Animals
Two years ago, tragedy struck Grettel’s life in a single, devastating moment. A neighbor’s electric motorcycle exploded in their garage, igniting a fire that rapidly consumed her family’s home. In just hours, memories and stability were reduced to blackened walls and smoldering wreckage.
But the fire didn’t just destroy a house—it threatened a sanctuary.
Grettel, her mother, and over 50 rescued street animals—dogs and cats abandoned, injured, or forgotten—had lived together under one roof. Her home was more than a shelter as it was a last chance for animals no one else would take in.
Now, they all live in what’s left: a charred, roofless shell where walls barely stand and where the line between indoors and outdoors has been erased. Despite the danger and constant exposure to the elements, Grettel refuses to abandon the animals who depend on her.
Since the fire, Grettel and her mother have done everything in their power to survive sharing the little food they have with the animals. But the burden has become overwhelming. Many of the animals need medical care. The house is not structurally safe. And still, every day, they fight to keep everyone fed, dry, and alive.
It’s time for the community to rally around Grettel the way she has rallied around every soul in need that crossed her path.
Your support can help rebuild a safe, clean, and stable shelter for Grettel, her mother, and the animals they care for. Donations will go toward construction materials, veterinary care, food, and basic utilities—essentials they’ve gone too long without.
Who is Grettel Montes de Oca?
Grettel Montes de Oca is a distinguished dancer, actress, and activist, recognized for her artistic versatility and tireless work in defense of animals. Trained at the National School of Art (ENA) and the Higher Institute of Art (ISA), she founded the iconic company Danza Abierta in the 1980s. She continues her activism as the founder of Cubans in Defense of Animals (CEDA), an organization dedicated to the rescue and raising awareness of animal abuse.