When Manuela saved my life at MasTorrencito


Scene 1: The meeting in the garden.

The afternoon was perfect. The sun was shining softly on our little paradise, and the air was full of tranquility. When Manuela saved my life at MasTorrencito

Javier, my friend from Salamanca, was sitting on one of the chairs in the garden, holding a glass of red wine and watching the animals that accompanied us.

Manuela, as always, was lying at my feet, quiet but attentive, with that look that always seemed to say more than words could express. Matías, my other dog, was a little further away, sniffing the air. And the two cats, Martina and Bandit, rested some distance away. Martina, delicate and reserved, watched everything with disdain from a low branch of a tree. Bandit, on the other hand, occupied an entire chair with his more than eight kilos of pure sass and confidence.

-You know what? -said Javier, pointing at Bandido. That cat is bigger than some dogs I’ve seen.

-And don’t think he doesn’t move much! Bandit can climb, hunt, and, when he wants to, he can be a real pain in the ass,» I answered with a laugh.

Javier leaned back, raising his glass.
-Let’s see, tell me, I see that each of your animals has a story. But I want to know more about Manuela, the famous smart dog.

Manuela raised her head at the sound of her name, wagging her tail slightly.

-Manuela is special, Javier. She has proven it so many times that sometimes I think she is not just a dog. It’s as if she knows more than she lets on.

Scene 2: The child, the mother and the magic of Manuela

I told Javier the story of the family that came to our house looking for a solution to their son’s irrational fear of dogs. The boy, a little boy of about eight years old, had a fear that seemed to paralyze him every time he saw an animal. But, as we would later discover, the problem was not only the boy’s: the mother also had an enormous panic.

-The first day was a disaster, Javier. The mother did nothing but tremble, and that only made the child’s situation worse. Manuela understood everything from the beginning.

-What did he do? -asked Javier, intrigued.

-First, nothing. He just sat at a certain distance, without moving. But her posture was relaxed, calm. Little by little, the boy began to look at her. Then Manuela took a small step, and then another, always slowly.

Javier looked at Manuela, fascinated.

-And did it work?

-And it worked. Within an hour, the child was already caressing her. But the most incredible thing was the mother. Seeing her son calm, she began to relax as well. By the end of the weekend, the two of them were walking around the garden as if they had never been afraid.

At that moment, Martina, from her tree, let out a slight meow, as if she wanted to remind us that she was there too.

-Of course, Martina, you’re important too,» I said, laughing. But this story is Manuela’s.


Scene 3: The day of the tree. When Manuela saved my life in MasTorrencito.

-And what’s this about him saving your life? -asked Javier, with a raised eyebrow.

-Ah, that’s my favorite story. If it hadn’t been for Manuela, I wouldn’t be here today, or I would be in a wheelchair.

I explained how, at the beginning of our adventure in this house, the garden was in chaos. There were no paths, it was all mud and weeds, and the dry trees were a hazard. One of those trees, a monster over five meters tall, was too close to the house.

-And you, with your little experience, decided to cut it? -said Javier, smiling.

-Of course, because I’m a brave man… or an idiot. The thing is that I cut it down with a chainsaw that I learned to use thanks to YouTube. The tree fell, and I started chopping it up. But the main trunk remained, a huge bug that weighed more than Bandit after lunch.

-Hey, I hear you,» I said, looking at the fat cat that was now lazily licking one of its paws.

Javier laughed.

-So, what happened?

-I tried to move it with a crowbar. At some point, my foot got caught and the log knocked me to the ground. It went over my legs and came to rest on my tailbone.

-Mother of God, were you alone?

-Yes. My Ex was in Girona, and there were no customers. There was only Manuela, Matías, and the cats, who, of course, did nothing useful.

-What about Manuela?

-Manuela came over immediately. She could hardly speak, but I told her, «Come on, please get help». I don’t know how she understood, but she ran away.

Ten minutes later, he showed up with Pere, my neighbor.

-And how did Manuela know where to look for help? -asked Javier, dumbfounded.

-I have no idea. Pere told me that she came to his house barking like crazy, went into the kitchen and didn’t stop until he followed her.

Scene 4: The neighbors and Bandido, the watchman. When Manuela saved my life in MasTorrencito.

-What if Manuela had gone to the house of the unfriendly neighbors? -asked Javier, amused.

-Ah, those. If she had gone there, they would have closed the door on her. Fortunately, Manuela is not stupid. She knows exactly who to go to.

Bandido let out a purr from his chair, as if he wanted to add something.

-And then there’s Bandit, the one who looks like a bodyguard but only moves when it comes to eating.

-Hey, don’t criticize the cat, with those eight kilos it’s sure to scare off anyone who tries to enter your house.

We both laughed.

Scene 5: Reflection under the stars. When Manuela saved my life in MasTorrencito.

Night had already fallen, and the sky was full of stars. Javier and I were silent for a moment, each of us immersed in our own thoughts. Manuela, as always, was at my feet, while Matías rested a short distance away and the cats continued with their endless napping routine.

-You know, Javier, of all the dogs I’ve had, and I’ve had quite a few, Manuela is unique.

-It seems so. It’s not just an animal. It’s more like… a person.

-Exactly. And I don’t know how to explain it, but I feel that it has come into my life with a purpose.

Javier raised his glass.

-To Manuela, the smartest bitch I’ve ever met.

-To Manuela,» I said, clinking my glass with hers.

Manuela raised her head, wagging her tail, as if she knew that all this, in the end, was her story.

From Mas Torrencito we wish you a good day and that your dog accompanies you !!!!


If you want, you can see our vouchers for weekends, retirees vouchers, at an incredible price…go to www.mastorrencito.com or if you want you can read more history and anecdotes that have happened to us in Mas Torrencito… Click here:

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🌿 Sustainability, wellbeing and a pet-friendly spirit at Mas Torrencito
At Mas Torrencito, we understand sustainability as something inseparable from the wellbeing of people… and their dogs. We live surrounded by nature and share our space with animals every day, so caring for the environment is not an option: it is part of our way of life.

For this reason, we are committed to a model of conscious, efficient and deeply pet-friendly rural tourism, where technology, respect for the environment and living alongside pets go hand in hand.

☀️ Solar energy produced on site

We have a photovoltaic installation consisting of:

🔹 72 solar panels
🔹 Individual panel power: 450 W
🔹 Total installed capacity: ~32.4 kWp

Thanks to the high level of solar radiation in the Empordà, this system allows an estimated annual production of between 50,000 and 55,000 kWh, covering a very significant part of the accommodation’s energy consumption.

➡️ A large part of the energy used to heat water, light the rooms and provide comfort for guests and pets is generated directly at the farmhouse.

🔋 Batteries to make the most of every ray of sunshine

Solar energy is complemented by an energy storage system with:

🔹 40 kWh in batteries
🔹 Use of surplus energy
🔹 Use of self-generated energy during the night

This allows us to:

reduce dependence on the grid,
minimise consumption peaks,
and ensure a more stable energy supply, even during periods of high occupancy (when dogs and people are enjoying themselves to the fullest 🐶😄).

🌡️ Efficient thermal comfort (aerothermal system)

The climate control at Mas Torrencito is provided by aerothermal technology, a highly efficient and environmentally friendly system that offers:

lower energy consumption,
reduced emissions,
stable and comfortable temperatures all year round.

Ideal for people to feel comfortable… and for dogs to sleep peacefully, without excessive heat or cold.

💧 Responsible water use

We use greywater recycling systems, reusing water from showers and washbasins for other non-potable purposes.

In a rural setting, every drop counts, especially when there are gardens, green areas and happy dogs running around.

♻️ Recycling and responsible waste management

We promote a conscious approach to waste management through:

selective waste separation,
reduction of plastics,
responsible use of cleaning products and consumables.

All with the aim of maintaining a clean, healthy and safe environment for people and pets.

🐾 Rural tourism with meaning (and with paw prints)

Mas Torrencito is:

a rural retreat where dogs are part of the family,
a project that cares for the natural environment,
and a place where sustainability and pet-friendly values are not labels, but a daily reality.

Because we believe there is no better rural tourism than one that respects nature… and those who enjoy it on four paws 🐕💚