RESCUING animals is something that comes naturally to Amanda Giese. She rescued her first animal, a kitten, when she was just 11.
Her next rescue was a dog she found near a grocery store. She had quite a few pets growing up, including a hamster and a goldfish.
Giese, who first studied to be a medical doctor but later switched to become a veterinarian, is the founder of Panda Paws Rescue, a non-profit organisation advocating for medically needy or differently abled animals.
She now treats seemingly hopeless animals in her Washington State home, primarily focusing on dogs that others have given up on.
Together with her two children, Jade and Beast, and her partner Gary, they care for animals in need and help them get the second chances and loving forever homes they deserve.
Giese and her fellow rescuers can be seen in the upcoming Animal Planet (Astro channel 556) series Amanda to the Rescue, that premieres tomorrow (Dec 11) at 9pm.
Throughout the series we will see them go on rescue missions across the US to save dozens of animals with major medical or special needs from being put down.
Among the places she will travel to are California, where shelters are overrun with displaced and injured animals from deadly wildfires, to Puerto Rico to help a dog rescue operation after hurricane Maria, and to Hawaii after the eruption of Kilauea to help bring dogs in need to safety.
In a tele-conference interview prior to her promotional tour in Malaysia, Giese revealed how, as a child, she sought sanctuary against abuse at home with some adults who lived across the hall.
They had special needs but “were my best friends growing up”, Giese said.
“Also, animals were my therapy. You know, a lot of people who grew up with abuse in their home often turn to animals as their support system and that is definitely true in my life.”
Giese developed the idea for Panda Paws Rescue when she was working as a veterinarian.
“There were these stray injured animals that were coming in, who were not getting the right medical treatment because they were not attached to a bank account. So these stray animals had nobody to advocate for them.
“I would bring them home and give them the care they needed, and eventually find them families.”
Giese eventually quit her job to run Panda Paws Rescue full time. She felt it was important to be an advocate for these animals, especially those that have special needs.
As a single mom, Giese is able to find time to raise her kids (who are teenagers now) as well as do what she loves.
“I was practising veterinary medicine for three years before I quit, but I still go to the surgery. So any time one of our rescues goes into the surgery room. I am there.”
Most of the animals she and her team have rescued are dogs and cats, but they have also rescued birds and other creatures (like snakes or lizards) that are released back into the wild after proper treatment.
She has no problems with the camera following her about for the show.
“I open my life up 24/7 because I think it is important for people to see what we are doing, authentically and genuinely. However, at times when the animal was timid or shy, I would tell them to give the animal some space.”
Giese believes that when an breeder or rescuer sends an animal off to live with someone, it is their responsibility to make sure that person is fit to take care of it.
She feels that anyone who wants to have a pet should first ask themselves if they are committed to taking care of an animal for years (sometimes up to 15). If they are not, then they should not take on the responsibility.
