Caroline Cordier is a 37 years old animal lover from Sydney, Australia. She is filming a documentary about Animal Rescue and Animal Sanctuaries in Australia. In this interview, Caroline talks about her love for dogs, the situation of wildlife in Australia, and her project “It’s a Wild Life.”
Voicu Mihnea Simandan: You have recently become the foster carer of a Siberian Husky. How did that happen?
Caroline Cordier: I always loved arctic breeds. I had an Alaskan Malamute a long time ago and that was it for me, I was in love with all Arctics from then on. I have a female Beagle cross whippet and, yes, I know she is not an arctic even though she thinks she is one, but she was a rescue (a friend of a friend was going to take her to the pound so I adopted her instead) and she was extremely active and getting bored being on her own all the time. She used to get in all sorts of trouble. So I decided I was going to get another dog to keep her company. But I was adamant it was going to be from a rescue. Being in love with Arctics, I started searching for Arctic Dogs in pounds and groups etc and I came across this amazing Rescue group called “Arctic Breed Rescue.” Up until then I had no idea you could foster or even help out or that there was such a large overpopulation problem.
So, I filled out my application, hounded them because I was so eager; they did a property check and I was on my way to fostering a dog. My first foster was an active 10 month old husky girl. She is now happy in her forever home. Now I have Braxton who is a 7 year old boy, Siberian Husky Cross. And the best bit is my first dog is now super happy with all these fosters she gets to play with, teach and love, that she is never bored anymore.
VMS: What is the situation of abandoned animals in Australia? Do you have any specific numbers?
CC: I am not sure about the specific numbers of Australia, but I do know that the RSPCA (which is only one pound all across Australia) received over 90,000 dogs and over 40,000 of them were euthanized. So you can see that it is a big problem. This is not including the thousands of other pounds such as council pounds or independent pounds across Australia. So if we were to include all of them, the number will be much, much higher.
The problem is over breeding, many backyard breeders who only care about the money they can make and not about the animal itself. Also there is no monitoring of these breeders, so there is no way to stop them. Many dogs we get, we almost always try and contact the original breeder (if their details are on the chip) and over 99% will not take the dog back as it has no cash value for them.
Please don’t get me wrong, there are some responsible breeders out there, but they are very few and far between.
The other problem is people fall in love with these breeds without doing their homework and as soon as it gets too hard and they surrender them. Pounds have laws that if they are found they have 3 weeks to 4 weeks to be rehomed before being destroyed. But if an animal is surrendered then they only get one week to two weeks (depending on pound) before they get destroyed.
VMS: Give us three reasons why anyone should volunteer to work in an animal shelter.
CC: First thing that comes to mind is that it is so rewarding and grounding. Makes me feel like a star. These little guys see you as a hero no one else ever will. Second, you are saving a life! You are helping give these little guys a chance. Third, you will meet so many people, exchange so many stories that it will change your life.
VMS: You’re planning to do a documentary about animal groups and rescue sanctuaries throughout Australia. What is the purpose of this project?
I created this project to show people various things:
1. That you can foster and help out rescue groups
2. That there are so many rescue groups available you just have to know where to look.
3. To share the struggles and the challenges an animal faces and the rescue group faces to save its life.
4. To share stories that will fill your heart with joy. If it weren’t for these amazing people, 99% of them volunteers, giving up their time, homes, money etc to give to something they believe in.
I want it to be raw and truthful. I want it to make you feel something and make you want to get off that chair and go do something. Even if it is just going to the store and buying a bunch of dog biscuits and donating them to your local rescue group.
VMS: Do you have any background in filmmaking?
CC: Yes, I do have a little bit. I have just completed my short film entry for the world wide TropFest called “The Last Exchange.” It’s a short film about an older lady reliving her youth which turns dark and sinister.
I also have filmed many interviews for a Sydney-based only magazine and YouTube channel called Trash Baggery, most recently doing a short interview with Clare Kramer from Buffy and Manu Intiraymi from Star Trek.
I have also been appointed as Marketing Manager of the Sydney Intercultural Film Festival happening in November 2013 in Sydney’s town hall. It’s going to be a show case of international multicultural filmmaking talent.
I am blessed though, as Kate Ryerson may be coming on board to assist me and she is first assistant director for “Deadly Women,” a popular show on the Discovery channel.
VMS: When and where will filming start?
CC: We will commence filming In May 2014. We still have a great deal of planning and need donations to get this project on the road. Our Facebook page will have constant updates. We will also be updating whilst on the road, so you guys will get to see everything first hand.
VMS: Where do you get your funding?
CC: We will be funding the documentary via crowd funding sites. We will have links on the website and Facebook page once they are up. All that donate will have a huge thank you on our website and also on our finished product. Large donations will receive an “It’s a wild life” t-shirt and a copy of the DVD.
We will also ask for donations from various companies so we can take some goodies to the rescues we visit. Where there is a will there is a way and somehow the funding will come, I believe in that.
I am also applying for a grant to help cover some expenses.
VMS: What are the plans for the future?
CC: I am in the process of writing a few children’s books about my dogs and once this is all over I would like to get them illustrated and published.
Fingers crossed this documentary is a success and then I will be taking it overseas. I would love to do the same thing overseas and perhaps educate people across the globe about rescuing animals and the amazing work behind it.
VMS: Thank you.
CC: Thank you so much, those were some great questions, made me think.
Watch the documentary’s trailer below:
Photos by Norm Hatch from Through My Lens Photography
September 27, 2013
Thank you so much guys… Fantastic Interview.