
Safe In Austin Programs
We love nothing more than sharing our mission of rescue animals, rescuing children with each visitor. Check out all of our programs and how to visit us below.
Healing Hearts Tour
The Healing Hearts Tour is a deeply personalized experience offered to children and families navigating trauma, disability, emotional hardship, or special needs. This private, appointment-based program allows children to explore the rescue sanctuary in a safe, calm environment where each child is gently introduced to animals who share their stories of survival, resilience, and healing. Through meaningful, one-on-one connections with special-needs animals and Safe in Austin’s founder - Jamie, children and their caregivers are given space to feel seen, understood, and unconditionally accepted.

Animal Care Program
While everyone is always welcome the Healing Hearts Animal Care Program is a uniquely therapeutic initiative that focuses on empowering at-risk and neurodivergent children of all ages to take on meaningful roles as mentors and caregivers within the rescue. Teens are paired with younger survivors—children who have also experienced trauma, disability, or emotional hardship—and together they learn to care for animals who mirror their stories of survival.
Each participant receives individualized tasks tailored to their specific emotional, psychological, and physical needs. These tasks may include feeding, grooming, cleaning, or therapeutic bonding time with animals; it could also including repairing, restocking, and helping to maintain all areas of the sanctuary — all tasks are designed to build confidence, encourage empathy, and promote healing. Whether it’s a teen with social anxiety learning leadership through routine, or a child with sensory challenges finding peace in brushing a gentle horse, maybe a young girl with learning disabilities practicing reading a book to their favorite animal, or a boy with crippling anxiety from being bullied that is offering support to the most nervous little dog trying to be brave and meet new people- every activity is intentional and healing-centered.
Most remarkably, the entire Safe in Austin rescue is fed, cleaned, and cared for by the children in this program. In serving the animals, they find purpose. In mentoring each other, they find connection. And in every small act of care, they help rebuild not only the hearts of the animals—but their own.
Sunset Society
The Sunset Society is a safe, supportive evening program created for teens and young adults navigating mental health challenges, neurodivergence, or emotional trauma. Set during the peaceful hours of the day’s end, this unique gathering blends the calming presence of rescued animals with intentional moments of connection, mentorship, and healing. Every Sunset Society evening begins with a shared meal, creating a sense of comfort and community. Participants are then split into small groups to engage with adults from all walks of life—professionals, creatives, tradespeople, and compassionate individuals who are carefully chosen and fully aligned with our mission of unconditional love, acceptance, and kindness for all. These mentors don’t just teach—they connect. They offer opportunities, open doors, and introduce Sunset Society members to skills and experiences that can be life-changing or even resume-building. Whether it’s learning a new craft, exploring animal care, developing communication skills, or simply spending time with someone who listens and believes in them, every session is filled with purpose. On Mondays, Sunset Society members dive deep into learning how to care for the animals and the property. They’re trained not only in the responsibilities of animal caregiving, but also in how to become mentors themselves—preparing them to guide and support younger survivors in the Healing Hearts Animal Care Program. On Saturdays, these young leaders step into their roles, welcoming and supporting the children who need us most. They lead by example, showing compassion, patience, and kindness as they help create healing experiences for others—just as they’ve been shown themselves. The Sunset Society is more than a program—it’s a family. A place where teens who’ve felt unseen find purpose, community, opportunity, and hope under the setting sun.

Summer Camps
Join us for some Summer Fun with the Animals at Safe in Austin. Help feed the animals, work on social/emotional lessons, swimming, plus so much more!
Many different options for camps are available from Kinder-12 grades including our Olympic themed camp for All Ages and All Abilities friends.
Field Trips
Our Field Trips welcome all groups of any kind—from classrooms and therapy organizations to, community groups, and beyond. While many of our visitors are children navigating disabilities or trauma, our gates are open to everyone, regardless of age or background. Field Trips are made by appointment only, and
Each visit includes guided storytelling and opportunities to learn from the incredible rescue animals who call Safe in Austin home. Any animal interaction is entirely on their terms—we are not a petting zoo. Our animals are never asked to do anything they don’t want to do. This is their sanctuary, their home, and they are fully in charge of how, when, and if they connect.
That said, these animals often find tremendous purpose in meeting new people. Time and again, they show us what resilience, trust, and love look like, and they offer visitors powerful lessons simply by being themselves.
More than anything, our hope is that guests experience what true inclusion, compassion, and unconditional kindness feel like in action. We want every person who walks through our gates to soak up the hope that lives here—and carry it with them into a world that often needs it most.
Public Days
Our Public Days welcome all groups of any kind—from classrooms and therapy organizations to corporate teams, community groups, and beyond. While many of our visitors are children navigating disabilities or trauma, our gates are open to everyone, regardless of age or background.
Public days are announced on Social media and usually happen once or twice a month. These days can only happen when many of the incredible Safe in Austin volunteers and Sunset Society members come together to ensure the animals stories get told and that they are fully supported throughout the entirety of the visits.
Each visit includes opportunities to learn from the incredible rescue animals who call Safe in Austin home. Any animal interaction is entirely on their terms—we are not a petting zoo. Our animals are never asked to do anything they don’t want to do. This is their sanctuary, their home, and they are fully in charge of how, when, and if they connect.
That said, these animals often find tremendous purpose in meeting new people. Time and again, they show us what resilience, trust, and love look like, and they offer visitors powerful lessons simply by being themselves.
More than anything, our hope is that guests experience what true inclusion, compassion, and unconditional kindness feel like in action. We want every person who walks through our gates to soak up the hope that lives here—and carry it with them into a world that often needs it most.
Private Tours
Our Private Tours welcome anyone wanting to spend one on one time with the animals in a private visit. While many of our visitors are children navigating disabilities or trauma, our gates are open to everyone, regardless of age or background. Private Tours are made by appointment only.
Each visit includes guided storytelling and opportunities to learn from the incredible rescue animals who call Safe in Austin home. Any animal interaction is entirely on their terms—we are not a petting zoo. Our animals are never asked to do anything they don’t want to do. This is their sanctuary, their home, and they are fully in charge of how, when, and if they connect.
That said, these animals often find tremendous purpose in meeting new people. Time and again, they show us what resilience, trust, and love look like, and they offer visitors powerful lessons simply by being themselves.
More than anything, our hope is that guests experience what true inclusion, compassion, and unconditional kindness feel like in action. We want every person who walks through our gates to soak up the hope that lives here—and carry it with them into a world that often needs it most.




Volunteer Program
There is so much that goes into keeping a sanctuary up and running!
Without the help of our volunteers, our mission wouldn't be possible.
We rely heavily on volunteers to work alongside our staff every day to accomplish all that needs to be done. Volunteers are essential to providing animals the best life possible while they are with us.
We offer weekly/biweekly volunteer opportunities and group volunteer times for businesses looking to give back.