“We have to change humanity in order to change the future for animals. And so, bring the kids in. Let’s embrace them. Let’s teach them about inclusivity. Let’s show them what unconditional kindness looks like. Let’s change their little hearts and get a chance to change the future.” — Jamie Wallace, Founder of Safe in Austin
Watch the Trailer
What happens when the rescued become the rescuers?
At Safe in Austin Rescue Ranch, Texas, USA, animals who have survived difficult pasts are forming powerful bonds with children and teens navigating trauma, neurodivergence, disability and other challenges they have in common.
Through the quiet, daily acts of feeding, grooming, and caregiving, meaningful relationships between young people and animals begin to form. The animals offer trust without judgment; the young people discover a sense of purpose, belonging, and connection. In caring for one another, both find something they have been missing: the freedom to be understood without having to explain themselves.
“The First to Trust” is a short documentary about the unexpected power of these bonds—and the possibility that healing can move in both directions. The film follows rescued animals and vulnerable young people as they find safety and healing in one another.
Join us on YouTube on September 28 at 6pm ET for the online premiere of our new short film, “The First to Trust.”