She's housed almost 400 animals, now this N.L. woman says she can't keep up with the demand
CBC
Sarah Hedges of Grand-Falls-Windsor started operating an animal rescue in her house after working at the SPCA.
"I've always had a passion for rescue," Hedges said. "When I realized there was a need for small animal rescue, I sort of branched off on my own and started Central Small Animal Rescue. Since I started it, I helped almost 400 animals."
Hedges was running the animal rescue out of her home but has now been forced to stop due to a lack of space.
"That decision was one of the worst decisions I've ever made," Hedges said.
"I'm hoping eventually that everything is going to go back and once I clear my head a little bit then, I will be able to get back at it and once I have a little bit more space I should be able to," she said.
Hedges said she's been involved in animal rescues for around 15 years.
"I started the rescue back in 2019," Hedges said. "For 12 years prior to that, I volunteered at the SPCA."
It was during her time at the SPCA that Hedges realized another space solely for small animal rescue was needed for rabbits in particular.
"A rabbit takes up a lot of space," Hedges said. "And rabbits, typically they can't go together, so they need to be individual, so they need a fair bit of space on their own."
As a result of that need for more space, the SPCA often can't support rabbits, she said.
Hedges said many people don't realize the amount of work it takes to take care of smaller animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters.
"They do need regular vet care," she said. "The main thing people give them up for is they can't afford to bring them to the vet. It is recommended that rabbits get spayed or neutered and, here outside of St. John's, there is not many vets that you can take your animal to and get them fixed and it's quite costly."
LISTEN | Sarah Hedges talks with the CBC's Amy Feehan about the closure of her animal rescue:
That's why Hedges devoted part of her life to ensure rabbits and other small pets get the care they need before they get rehoused.
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