Brightside Farm Sanctuary only accepting emergency surrenders after increase in demand

For 17 years Emma Haswell has been helping animals in need find their forever homes, but the last 12 months have left her “burnt out” and unable to cope with demand. Why the sanctuary has had to take a step back.

Emma Haswell with Ziggy at front and Dolly who are both former race horses rescued and now living at Brightside Farm Sanctuary in the Huon Valley. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

For 17 years, Emma Haswell has been taking in animals which have been either surrendered or rescued, rehoming some and keeping others at Brightside Farm Sanctuary at Cygnet.

The animal sanctuary takes in about 650 animals a year, and there are about 500 on site at the moment.

“We rehome pretty much everything that comes in,” Ms Haswell said.

“Sometimes the calls are from people who can’t get a rental for their dogs or they’re in domestic violence situations.

“I’ve had quite a few calls from nurses in the mental health ward, a lot of desperate owners of dogs hospitalised that cannot get out (to their pets).”

Greyhounds Whiz (white and black) and Stanley (brindle) were up for adoption at Brightside Farm Sanctuary in 2017. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

But Ms Haswell says increasingly the calls are not emergency situations.

“Most of the animals that come here aren’t because of desperate situations, they’ve been purchased without homework,” Ms Haswell said.

“It’s people who can’t afford vet bills, maybe they’re not prepared, people don’t want to put eye drops into their dogs eyes or give it medication three times a day, it’s that sort of stuff, it’s really sad.”

Ms Haswell said the calls for situations where pet owners were unprepared have become more common, particularly in the past 12 months.

“It’s gotten way worse. A large chunk of people don’t appear to consider animals part of their family for life,” Ms Haswell said.

“At the moment we have a lot of smaller animals that people surrender after a month … we recently had a few rats surrendered that were emaciated, we’ve had guinea pigs, rabbits.

Brightside Farm Sanctuary's first hare Nelson with rabbit Basil (2022).

“People aren’t researching the dogs they get … nearly every dog surrendered is purebred, sometimes these dogs are only eight or nine months’ old.

“We’re taking in a two-year-old border collie, she’s being surrendered because she chases sheep. She was going to be put down. It’s a farm dog.”

The situation at the moment has left Ms Haswell at breaking point.

“The calls are so constant, I’ve closed for a few months, we’re not taking surrenders unless they’re in emergency circumstances,” she said.

“In the last year, I think it’s got a lot worse, I’ve seen it get a bit worse each year but in the last 12 months … it’s been beyond belief, it’s something I’ve never seen before.

“We’re also getting more calls about tiny dogs being shut in tiny backyards with no food.”

It’s taken a toll on Ms Haswell and her two part-time staff.

“I’m so burned out … and I can’t listen to the excuses anymore,” she said.

“I love taking animals that aren’t wanted and putting them in beautiful homes where they are loved for life. I don’t want to stop taking the animals, it’s that I can’t physically cope at the moment.”

Emma Haswell of Brightside Farm Sanctuary with dogs Raffy the seven year old Cavalier King Charles and Pip the 13 year old Silky Terrier that were rescued from a puppy farm in Tasmania. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Ms Haswell hopes to accept surrenders when she is back to full-strength, but until then, she hoped Tasmanians would think twice before buying an animal they weren’t prepared to care for.

“Please do your research about what you’re going to acquire, whether it’s a dog or chickens,” Ms Haswell said.

“Get a dog that suits your backyard and family life and you’ve to put in the training

“And animals need to be desexed.”