Linda Searles is the founder and director of Southwest Conservation Center (SWCC) in Scottsdale, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary as one of the leading wildlife sanctuaries and rehab facilities in the southwestern United States. Unlike other wildlife conservation centers, SWCC focuses on multiple facets, including wildlife rehabilitation, education, conservation, medicine, and sanctuary. Learn about Linda Searles…
Follow at: @Southwestwildlife
Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ
First job: Working at a hardware store.
Favorite ways to spend your free time in AZ: Time with my horses and dog.
Your biggest accomplishment and why: Founding Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center.
The biggest obstacle you overcame: Funding the center by myself and then learning how to be a fundraiser, which is difficult if you are running a sanctuary. The animals always come first. Sometimes, there was little time to do fundraising.
Someone who inspires you and why: Richard Hancock, DVM, my horse vet when I was a teen. He taught me how to read animals.
Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: Be prepared to give up your free time this is a 24/7, 365 days a week job. Running a wildlife center for 30 years has been like running a M.A.S.H. unit with no days off.
Favorite quote: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” –Mahatma Gandhi
Something someone would be surprised to learn about you: I am an introvert.
What makes someone fabulous: What is in their heart.