A goat in a wheelchair named Manolito has become the most beloved face of Second Chance Farm, the animal sanctuary run by Cuban veterinarian Yaileny Selema in Pahrump, Nevada, an hour from Las Vegas. His videos on Instagram have garnered tens of thousands of reactions and have touched the hearts of thousands, especially within the Cuban community abroad.
Manolito was born with a mobility disability that prevents him from moving without assistance, but that doesn't take away an ounce of his character. In one of the most recent reels on the @secondchancefarm_ profile, he can be seen interacting at full speed with another resident of the sanctuary named Alfonso, while Yaileny tries, amidst laughter, to restore order: "Hey, stop being crazy, Manolito, you're out of control."
But behind that energy lies a demanding care routine. Due to the constant friction from the wheelchair, Manolito requires regular baths to prevent skin irritation. "Bathing him regularly is not a luxury but an essential part of his routine to keep him healthy, comfortable, and happy," Yaileny explains.
Beyond physical care, Yaileny takes the opportunity with each post to challenge the prejudices surrounding farm animals. "I no longer know what bothers people more, seeing someone treat a living being with love and dignity or watching stereotypes about farm animals being broken," she reflects in another one of her reels.
His argument is straightforward: "I believe that a dog is worth no more than a goat, nor is a goat worth less than a horse. They all feel pain, fear, tranquility, and well-being."
"And if caring for a living being with love breaks someone's stereotypes, perhaps the problem was never the animal, my people; perhaps it was the way we learned to see it. And as long as God allows me, I will continue to be here for them," Yaileny concludes.
About Manolito in particular, it is clear: "Here, we lift Manolito up, bathe him, dry him off, and make his life as normal as possible so that he can have a dignified life despite his disability."
Second Chance Farm is a completely self-funded project that Yaileny runs alongside her partner, who is also Cuban. The sanctuary is home to more than 30 rescued animals —horses, donkeys, goats, pigs, cows, dogs, cats, and turtles— many of whom reside there permanently due to their old age or chronic health conditions. Neither of the two founders receives any financial remuneration for this work.
Yaileny has been dedicated to animal rescue and rehabilitation for eight years. "All the animals that are with me arrived because they were abandoned or because they were sick," she stated.
Their work and that of their husband are not only worthy of admiration; they also remind us that giving a second chance to any living being is an act of infinite love.
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