As many of our friends out there can imagine operating a successful rescue organisation such as Best Friends Rescue Inc is both very rewarding and very taxing at the same time we are a team of dedicated volunteers and are very proud to maintain a NO KILL policy. We have friends in retail and other Rescue Groups all working together for a common cause.

“We just need to focus on one dog at a time Best Friends Rescue is a non-profit group dedicated to saving the lives of dogs and cats on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane. I spoke to behavioural dog trainer, Helen Andrews, to learn more.

“I started with Best Friends Rescue two and a half years ago,” says Helen, “The job is busy and chaotic, but fulfilling and I am building better dogs. I love Linda at Best Friends Rescue as she is very reasonable. She listens to my ideas and is as committed as I am to the lifelong care of rescue dogs.”

“Linda is like a counsellor to all her pet owners and is always there for both the dogs and the families that take care of them. She works closely with me and is a trusted professional. So many of the amazing people I work with inspire me. Talking to them makes me want to work harder and do better.”

Most of the animals at Best Friends Rescue have been rescued from death row at council pounds, while others have been surrendered by owners who for whatever reason can no longer keep the animal.

“When dogs come to me, I am their last chance,” says Helen, “I touch these dogs lives, dogs that others have given up on, and see them live a long, happy life. If I wasn’t doing this job, many of them would be recommended to be put to sleep by behavioural professionals. I’m working with a seven-month-old dog at the moment that has been punished for what can’t be helped. Linda doesn’t shy away from even the hardest dogs.”

“I look at the dog and work with what I see to figure out the best plan for that dog. It is a holistic approach and every dog is different in what they have experienced, how they have been socialised, their environment and the people they have been with. I tackle the dog and make it the best dog in the world.”

Whilst they are waiting for their perfect and permanent family to come along the animals at Best Friends Rescue are placed into foster families. All dogs and cats are vet checked, de-sexed, vaccinated, wormed and micro chipped.

“My family are such a great support,” says Helen, “I wouldn’t be able to do this without them. They take in rescue dogs.”

Each adoption goes out on a three week settling in period and all monies are reimbursed if the animal is returned within this period (less a $50 processing fee). All Best Friends Rescue animals will always have a place to return to should the need arise in the future to be rehomed if circumstances change in their home.

“There was a dog this week that was rehomed 12 years ago and the owners can’t look after it anymore,” says Helen, “Linda took the dog straight back and has stayed up until midnight trying to think of a solutions to help dogs.”

Of course, there is still more that needs to be done. “Big picture, we need more education,” says Helen, “About the dangers of cross breeding, unethical rescue operations and the preventable nature of money making breeders. There are lots of very good, ethical breeders out there that we should be supporting.

Adoption is not always an option for everyone, so we need to support those breeders that are breeding for conformation, temperament and producing healthy sound pups.” “We need to keep pushing forward. It’s hard work, but is an important job to do. We need to expose the funding of this industry, which it the backbone of society, and get the word out to people about these important organisations that are overlooked.”

So what can you do?

“Get on social media and harness the power of it,” says Helen, “This makes a big difference to lots of dogs. If you can’t afford to help financially, just share our posts.

This means the difference between life and death for many dogs. If you reach just one person, you have helped.”

Written by Roshan Lewis
Owner Libertad Communications
Email: roshan@libertadcommunications.com
Phone: 0490 419 477
Website: https://libertad-communications.business.site