Ze redde 2000 honden in Ho Chi Minh-stad

Elizabeth never planned to become a dog rescuer - it just happened. She first moved to Ho Chi Minh City in 2007, and along the way, she fell in love with the stray dogs she met on the streets. It all started out with wanting to help one dog - and somehow it turned into her lifelong mission.

Over the years, Elizabeth has founded a shelter from nothing, moved it twice, fundraised through loads of challenges, and has now rescued and rehomed over 2,000 dogs 🥹

How it all started

When Elizabeth first arrived in Ho Chi Minh City in 2007, work as an interior designer was slow to pick up. While waiting for projects, she spent her days exploring the city on the back of a motorbike with a young local driver named Binh, venturing into neighbourhoods most visitors never see.

It was there that she noticed them.

Dogs with ribs showing through their skin, covered in ulcers, scavenging through rubbish bins. It was heartbreaking.

Growing up in Australia, stray dogs simply weren't part of everyday life. Dogs were family. Seeing so many abandoned and suffering animals was a huge culture shock.

At first, there wasn't much she could do. So wherever she went, she carried treats and left food behind for the dogs she met.

The turning point

Everything changed when a veterinary clinic opened near her home.

For the first time, Elizabeth could do more than feed the dogs. She could rescue them, get them medical treatment, and help them find loving homes.

The only problem was that there was nowhere for them to stay. So they all stayed with her.

I had no idea what I was doing at first. I even had to call my dad back home for crash courses on how to care for them!

By then, Elizabeth was already approaching retirement and often wondered if she was taking on more than she could manage.

But the dogs had no one else, and she could not stop. At one point, she and her husband were caring for 30 rescue dogs in their rented villa.

How the shelter came about

As more dogs were rescued, more people began rallying around the mission too.

Neighbours became friends. The local police got to know her work. The veterinary clinic became a second home. Volunteers slowly found their way to her. And by 2019, what had started inside her own home had grown into a proper rescue shelter.

But that was just the beginning. Running a shelter came with a whole new set of challenges.

As the neighbourhood grew busier, Elizabeth became more worried about disturbing the people living nearby. Being a good neighbour mattered just as much as caring for the dogs.

Finding a new shelter that was large enough, affordable, and still close enough to Ho Chi Minh City for volunteers and adopters wasn't easy.

It took her eight weeks just to find the right place.

All while continuing daily rescues, vet visits, fundraising, adoptions, and caring for dozens of dogs. Looking back, it was the most challenging time of my life.

But it was all worth it :)

Seventeen years later, Elizabeth is no longer doing it alone. Today, she has an incredible team beside her, and together they've rescued and rehomed more than 2,000 dogs.

Nothing means more than seeing them safe and happy… Especially when they find their forever homes. It makes everything worth it.

Beyond rescue

For Elizabeth, rescue isn't just about saving dogs. It's also about helping people become kinder towards animals.

Every weekend, the shelter welcomes student volunteers who help care for the dogs, while learning what responsible pet ownership really looks like.

She also regularly visits schools, hoping to inspire the next generation to treat animals with compassion.

Now, travellers are part of the journey too. Visitors can spend a day at the shelter walking the dogs, lending a hand with daily care, and discovering a quieter side of Ho Chi Minh City that few tourists ever experience.

When the community needed help

Although Elizabeth's shelter focuses on dogs, that didn't stop her from stepping in during Ho Chi Minh City's recent cat theft crisis where hundreds of cats were stolen for meat.

She worked with Humane World for Animals to secure specialist food that helped dehydrated cats recover, along with fans and protective rescue equipment for volunteers.

Through the shelter's Facebook community, her team also helped recruit volunteers and spread the word to find homes for rescued cats.

Times are changing

One thing gave Elizabeth hope during the recent rescue efforts. For the first time, she saw local authorities openly communicating about the investigation and what would happen to the rescued animals.

In the past, these situations often unfolded behind closed doors, leaving rescuers unsure of whether animals were truly safe. This time felt different.

To Elizabeth, it was a sign that more people, including the government, are beginning to see animal welfare as something worth protecting.

And after 17 years of never giving up, that's definitely a sign of light - that what she was doing was finally resonating and making an impact.

Looking ahead

Lots of people have asked us how they can donate, or see Elizabeth's amazing work! When you're next in Ho Chi Minh City, do plan a visit to go spend a day with Elizabeth's rescue dogs. The doggos are super cute and love any human contact. It's one of the most heartfelt things and impactful things you can do.