Melinda and Jewel

Every volunteer that helps at SAFE does important work. Without our volunteers SAFE would not be able to accomplish as much as it does. All of them are incredible people but sometimes our volunteers go above and beyond what is asked. Melinda is one of the above and beyond volunteers. She began volunteering on a PM feed shift. We quickly realized our luck when we found out she was a vet tech AND a horse person. Melinda soon began helping out in Herd Health, doing tasks such as checking parasite levels. She is always willing to help and offers a wealth of knowledge. It seemed like a natural thing to ask her to step into the role of Herd Health Manager when the position needed filling. Melinda being the phenomenal person she is, agreed! This position is as intense as it is rewarding. We take in neglected and abused horses. 99%  of them come to us with significant  issues. It is her job to coordinate the best course of action to bring them back to good health. Melinda absolutely takes this responsibility to heart. She could be found almost every night (around 11pm!) checking on Anakin when he arrived, giving him meds, feeding him his late night meal, and giving him the comfort and love he needed. She is at the barn in the cold, in the rain, when she is sick, when the horses are sick, at night, and basically anytime she is needed. Melinda is a big reason why we are able to take on more challenging cases. She helps them not only survive but THRIVE! So thank you Melinda for your huge heart and your unwavering commitment to making our horses’ lives better.

Here is more about Melinda in her own words:

I was born and raised here in western Washington and have always been one of those horse crazy girls. I got my first horse when I was 9 and knew that they would be always be a huge part of my life. I had dreams of being a horse trainer for a living, but life took me elsewhere and instead I became a licensed veterinary technician.

I became involved with animal rescue and advocacy in 2003 when I got a job at a local shelter. When I got my technician license I knew I wanted to do one of two things: equine medicine or small animal shelter medicine. I started out in the equine field but then moved to shelter medicine. It was that shift that spurred me to start looking for a way to keep both of those dreams alive, and I found the solution when I joined SAFE in September 2013.

Many of the horses I’ve met though SAFE have taken special places in my heart. I’m a huge fan of paints and quarter horses, so at the moment I’m especially fond of Scarlett. However, a certain red-headed thoroughbred and I formed a bond when he needed late-night medicating. So right now I’d say Anakin and Scarlett are tied for favorite horse status.

SAFE has become a very special place to me. It’s amazing to watch the hard work, love, and devotion that goes into every volunteer shift and also everything behind-the-scenes. I am thankful that my life has led me down this path, and for all the friends (human and equine) I have made along the way.