SAFE Founder
Sue Hedley
The Cats and Dogs of the Pilbara - and beyond -
have benefited greatly from the years I worked for the Australian
Bureau of Statistics (ABS), traveling all over the Northwest of Western
Australia interviewing in people’s homes. This is where I was first
made aware of the enormous number of animals who were homeless and in
need of somewhere to stay while a permanent home was sought.
My work background prior to ABS was mainly in the Human Services Arena - often working with young people and people with disabilities. Encouraging people to be involved in Government Surveys when they would rather be doing something else is a skill that has assisted me in the development of SAFE by learning to not be shy in attempts at convincing people to become involved - I have been told that I could sell ice to eskimos!
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Photo courtesy of Lily Frost, Tiladilli Images
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Marketing SAFE has been an integral part of SAFE's success. With the knowledge that help would be available for all these animals if people were aware of the need, has turned me into a self confessed - and much needed - “media hound”.
SAFE is based on a belief system I have developed over many years, while putting much effort into my own personal growth. That belief system is about;
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Staying in the moment - taking the action that is needed for the Now
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Learning to ride the horse in the direction it’s going - going with the natural flow of life, accepting change as a natural phenomena. and working towards making positive change where one can
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Remaining positive, non-judgmental, and open to the possibilities, knowing that adversity is never as adverse as it first seems
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This has helped SAFE achieve many positive outcomes for animals who would have had no future prior to SAFE.
SAFE is run from my home, where I live with my partner Denise and my two dogs, Taffy and Deemange. We also shared our home with our beloved dog Amber and tabby cat Mr. T (may they both RIP). My day begins around 4am - well before dawn - with the feeding of all the cats and kittens who are staying at SAFE waiting for a foster home to become available. Then it's straight onto the emails, where there is always a backlog to be dealt with, as well as all the ones that come through overnight. Next, once it's light enough, it's time to take the dogs to the local park. This is followed by my daily readings which accompany my breakfast - “feeding the body, mind and soul”. The SAFE day is filled with emails, phone calls, and a constant flow of human and animal traffic. After the sun has gone down there is a small window of opportunity to “tune out from SAFE” and watch something on TV with Denise accompanied by a wine and a bite to eat. Only then can I slow my thoughts down enough to sleep, so I can be ready to face another massive, but very rewarding, day at SAFE.
SAFE’s life-saving work is made possible by help from a huge range of people. Foster carers, sponsors (financial, as well as goods & services) and volunteers who assist in the day to day running of the whole operation.
SAFE utilises foster carers to avoid the overhead costs and limitations associated with kenneling animals. We then use the worldwide web to advertise these animals (on both the SAFE and Pet Rescue websites). The assistance provided by our sponsors Australian Air Express and Jet Pets, keeps pet transport costs manageable. This winning combination has put SAFE well on the way to reaching its stated aim across Western Australia. I believe that we will soon live in a society where euthanasia of rehomable pets will no longer be tolerated.
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