Meet the Stardust Family
Fostering Connection at Every Turn
Located in the foothills of Mt. Diablo, Stardust Sanctuary is home to our very special animal friends. These animals come to us from various backgrounds and we welcome them into our herd with care and respect. In turn they teach us so many valuable lessons including; patience, perseverance, respect, time management and more! Even though they don’t speak our language, they teach us to communicate. They are healing to be around and we hope to share them with our wonderful community.
Our Hope
At Stardust, we strive to educate our community on how to care for animals and encourage positive interactions with them for a better future. Our teaching sanctuary was established with the aim of raising awareness for animal welfare by fostering connection with the greater community. We offer animal assisted education and therapy as well as many fun opportunities to engage with our animal ambassadors.
Can't get enough of these adorable faces?
You can learn more about each of our animal pals through interactive opportunities from specialized workshops to celebrations at Stardust.
For those who wish to contribute directly to the welfare of the animals. Consider subscribing to one of our plans to sponsor an animal, a stall or become an advocate. Your monthly contribution helps us to continue our mission to provide the best possible care for these remarkable animals.
Meet the Board
President
Cesyli Gaut
Cesyli Gaut is the President of the Board. In addition to receiving a Master of Education with an emphasis on the best practices to accelerate student growth, Cesyli has spent 20+ years working with students and children from early moments in life through their teenage years. After teaching in public schools and discovering significant flaws in education, she pursued redesigning what education would be to her children. Cesyli is focused on developing partnerships, animal welfare and community programming.
Secretary
Laurie Watase-Bohn
Laurie Watase-Bohn is the founder and owner of Team Horse Training in Clayton, California has had a lifelong passion for horses. She has trained across various disciplines, including natural horsemanship, eventing, dressage, and trail/ obstacles. Laurie emphasizes the importance of clear communication between horse and rider, believing it is essential for building lasting, successful partnerships. Her mission as a trainer is to continue learning and contributing to positive change within the equestrian community.
Treasurer
Ashley Myers
Ashley has joined Stardust Sanctuary as an Eagala-certified equine specialist in mental health. She brings five years of experience in leading groups and supporting inpatient youth who face mental health challenges and addiction. Additionally, Ashley has two decades of experience in animal care, including her work as a veterinary technician. She believes that horses have a unique awareness and sensitivity that can reflect unseen aspects of ourselves and foster meaningful change in our lives.