For the members of the Paw Plan club, the long trek out to Leander and time spent volunteering was a small exchange for the privilege of meeting inspiring and adorable animals. On Saturday, Oct. 23, the club toured Safe in Austin, an animal rescue ranch that accommodates animals rescued from severe abuse or neglect. 

The students first helped remove debris and broken construction material from the farm grounds. All the while, animals roamed free, a mark of Safe in Austin’s philosophy of providing a safe space for animals to recuperate after traumatic experiences. The main focus of the organization’s mission is to connect at-risk and special needs people, especially children, to animals whose experiences may help them forge unbreakable bonds. 

“[We] have been ever-renovating to accommodate a safe haven for the broken, abused, neglected, and forgotten animals who continue to give us hope. Healing can be hard and scary, but animals can show us the way,” the Safe in Austin’s website stated. 

Former Westwood student and Safe in Austin volunteer Ishika Samant then gave the club members a tour of the farm, introducing them to a variety of animals, including Hantzel the horse, Cookie the goat, and Hector and Vector the pigs. 

To learn more about Safe in Austin and animal rescue, visit their website, or donate to the Paw Plan’s upcoming donation drives.