“ We rescue the animals that need us , then they turn around and rescue the shaver that need them even more ! ”
The Safe in Austin tale begins with aGreat Pyreneesnamed Angel .
Jamie Wallace - Griner and her husband , David Griner , have three kids , admit Jackson , who has autism . When Jackson was young he was afraid of being alone , did n’t like change , and seldom spoke . Wallace - Griner start researchingservice dogswho could help people living with autism , and eventually brought Angel home to their family in 2012 .
Photo: Courtesy of Jamie Wallace-Griner
" She healed parting of his heart that even I could n’t get to as his mother , " Wallace - Griner say . Angel provide Jackson with sureness and protection from his fears . Angel was trained to listen to Jackson’sheart rateand keep him calm .
" The section of her that really changed his life history were just the unconditional love and understanding that the two of them had , " she says .
The connecter between Angel and Jackson showed the Griner house what could be possible when you put brute and child together , especially special - needs animals and child . " That ’s where the concept of saving the animal that other people consider broken and introducing them to children and people going through the same issues hail from , " Wallace - Griner says . Thus , Safe in Austinwas born .
Where Unconditional Love Thrives
In 2014 , the Griner family was living in Austin with one slovenly person , two goats , five dogs , and a few chicken . Realizing they ask more land , the family buy a broken - down cattle ranch alfresco of Austin where they could persist in to expand their deliverance . Now , the Safe in Austin farm presently houses around 150 animals ( including the chickens ) .
Safe in Austin rescues animals from severe ill-treatment or neglect — including wienerwurst , cats , cows , horses , pigs , and goats . They rehabilitate and rehome the unity that they ’re able to help , and declare oneself a safe and loving homefor the others . The Griners now have a never-ending inflow of animals , and Wallace - Griner says possess to turn an animal in need aside is always the worst part of her sidereal day .
Before the pandemic , Safe in Austin obligate regular outcome for the public to follow visit the animals . Now , the group has shifted to smaller , specialized programming through their " remedial hearts " tour . design for visitors with extra pauperization , or those who may dealing with trauma or fear , visitor are able to come out and meet the animals . Wallace - Griner asks the visitant about their narration , centre on introducing them to animals they might relate to , and then let the animals do the rest .
" It ’s just absolute thaumaturgy when a child with intellectual palsy run across a goat with [ a similar condition] … or when the wheelchair - oblige Thomas Kyd are wheeling around with all the wheelchair dogs , " she says .
Harper Wulms is a frequent Safe in Austin visitor . The 5 - class - honest-to-goodness was support with symbrachydactyly , a inborn hired man abnormality . The lilliputian one first met Priscilla , a joker born with a " prosperous claw , " when she was two . " It was such a coincidence , " Celine Wulms , Harper ’s mother , toldThe Washington Post . " Meeting Priscilla has been a gift . "
Healing hearts visit are offer at no cost because Wallace - Griner believes " that everyone deserves love whether they can afford it or not . "
It ’s a challenge for dependable in Austin to be that accessible as the group runs exclusively on donations . Vet billsfor animate being with prosthetics , amputation , womb-to-tomb unwellness , diabetes , and ongoing medical care are the most expensive part of their operation ( along with feed all of the animate being ) . " It would be a portion easier if I did n’t bring in the ' broken ' ones , ' " Wallace - Griner pronounce .
Before start Safe in Austin , Wallace - Griner was a concert dance instructor with most no animal - care experience . Empathy is what drive her to continue her work with fauna — consulting veterinarians and Google helps with the rest . " I ’m an autism mommy and I really like giving hugs , and that ’s about the extent of it , " she says .
" The moment that sit down on my gist the tenacious are when the moms break down and just look at me and thank me for the prospect to be in a space that is safe for their children that they love so much but the rest of the Earth see in a different luminosity , " she says .
Wallace - Griner read they seek to teach and show unconditional kindness to everyone who call in Safe in Austin . " Animals do n’t worry what you bet like , or what you ’ve done , or what you say , or where you ’ve been , or how much money you have . Animals automaticallyunconditionally loveif you ’re there for the proper understanding . "
The organization is one of many Austin - ground delivery operations featured inThat Animal Rescue Show , a 10 - episode docuseries that premiere on CBS All Access Oct. 29 , 2020 . In Dec. 2021 , Wallace - Griner and her dedicated crew appear in time of year six of the makeover showQueer Eye , dubbed the ' Snow White of Central Texas ' . Among many delightful surprises and much - want rest prompted by the Fab 5 ’s visit , designer Bobby Berk helped Wallace - Griner pull in a longstanding dream : building a amply - functioning barn to help theatre and protect more than 100 animals and put up additional space for creature - children interactions .
" Humbled , blessed , and perpetually grateful for the endowment that made 2021 , the year of the barn , " Wallace - Grinerposted on social media . " We could n’t have done it without Netflix , Queer Eye , and all of you , our saving category . It ’s such a beautiful gift during what was such a hard year . "
To keep up with the animals , you may follow dependable in Austin onInstagram , Facebook , orYouTube .
