By BRIDGET COOK
CRANBOURNE South’s Samantha Nicholls opens her heart and home to abandoned and surrendered dogs to give them a better life.
But as of August she will no longer have a home to run her animal rescue organisation and is calling on the community to help her find somewhere to move.
Ms Nicholls, 25, runs Sweet Shepherd Rescue Australia, with the sole purpose to rescue and re-home as many German shepherd dogs as she and others involved can.
The organisation does not discriminate against other animals, with Ms Nicholls having also taken on two horses and other breeds of dogs in the past.
Ms Nicholls, who works as a paramedic, has to be out of her Cranbourne South rental property by August and has yet to find a suitable property in her price range that can cater for herself and the rescued animals.
“I’m struggling to find room for us all and I’ve been looking since November,” she said.
“It is just my wage, so anything with a bit of acreage that I require is out of my price range.
“I’m not fussed about the house, it’s just me, but I would love to continue what I do so require some land.
“This is pretty much my whole life outside of work.
“I do my job so I can continue saving dogs through the rescue organisation.
“It would break my heart if I couldn’t find anywhere to move that could fit us all.”
Ms Nicholls said she worried that if she paid more for a rental property, then if something went wrong or money was needed for the dogs then she would be unable to afford it.
Through her own money and donations to the organisation, Ms Nicholls has recently helped fund a prosthetic leg for one dog, a full hip reconstruction for another and the medical bills for two sick dogs from puppy farms.
Ms Nicholls takes many of the rescued dogs on herself, as well as arranges others to go to foster homes until they are ready to be re-homed with a loving family.
“We currently have 38 in foster care and have rehomed about 170 dogs in the past 14 months,” she said.
“I can have up to five or six with me at any particular time, especially if it’s a puppy litter.”
Ms Nicholls urged anyone who could assist in providing a home for her and the organisation, anywhere in the region, to email her at info@sweetshepherdrescue.com.au.
To donate to the organisation or find out more visit www.sweetshepherdrescue.com.au.
