Sophie's

Legacy

Saving the people who

save

our animals

What is Sophie's Legacy

Dr. Sophie Putland was a daughter, a sister, a friend, and a beloved vet, who tragically took her own life in September 2021. The pressure of the veterinary profession, including client abuse, became overwhelming for her.

On average, a vet dies by suicide approximately

every 12 weeks.

Family and friends established Sophie’s Legacy to honour her memory and advocate for change within the industry. We are determined to see all veterinary staff thrive. Happy vets equals happy pets too, right?

Our cause has resonated worldwide, and we believe we are already making a difference.

Learn more

Did you know?

Pet ownership in Australia has reached a record 69% which has skyrocketed since the COVID-19 pandemic

That's one vet for every 2,026 pets, and that doesn't include horses, wildlife and livestock.

There are 15,000 vets in Australia to look after pets.

And many hundreds more vets will be needed over the next few years.

Making a bright future for everyone

Keen to help out?

Like us, you love animals and are grateful for the wonderful people who care for them.

Support them by understanding the issues they face, dispelling the myths, and spreading our message far and wide.

Help vets

Needing Support?

We know your calling is to care but carrying the load isn’t always easy.

Having access to helpful tools and training is important and we’ve gathered some for you.

Let us share some love.

Get Help

Offering Support?

There are plenty of ways to help us. People have run marathons, staged events, donated sales – even sold nude calendars!

We’d love you in our community.

We’re stronger together.

Help out

Will you make The Promise?

We created The Promise when we launched "We're Only Human", our National Education Campaign to honour Sophie and help stem the shocking suicide rate among veterinarians.

The campaign asks pet and animal owners to make the promise to be kind and respectful and to understand the massive pressures impacting staff.

Knowledge is powerful. And kindness is contagious.

Make The Promise

Featured News

Media Coverage on Parliamentary Inquiry

You might remember that after Sophie died by suicide, we pushed for a parliamentary inquiry into the sector, backed by Sarah Game MLC.

The inquiry made 32 recommendations, recently tabled in a report.

We're very grateful for the excellent coverage of this by ABC News and reporter Isabella Kelly. You can watch the story on all our social media. Click here to watch on Facebook. And you can read the ABC online story here.

The following week, Garry had an excellent chat with Mary Gearin on The Conversation Hour, 774 ABC Melbourne. The full interview is available on all our social media. Click here to listen on Facebook.

If you'd like to read the recommendations in full, click on this Parliamentary Report link. And find them using the instructions in the image on the left.

Spreading compassion. Inspiring change.

Powerful Posters and Submissions to Parliament

In June 2024, we launched our Lost Campaign, inviting you to sign our petition so we could lobby for government policy and industry change to provide more mental health support for vet professionals.

Our ambition was to get 10,000 signatures across six months. We had over 11,000 within three.

We are grateful for your support and indebted to the wonderful volunteers across the country who handed out Lost flyers to individuals, libraries, shopping centres and community venues to help spread the word.

Thanks also to Showpony, who designed the flyer and Lost video, for their creative vision and helping to ensure the campaign was seen across multiple platforms nationwide, including the back of buses, in shelters, and across billboards.

Sophie’s Legacy has already contributed to the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Veterinary Workforce Shortages and made a submission to the South Australian Inquiry into Veterinarian Mental Health and Wellbeing. You can read more about this work and get access to footage and the submissions via our Strategic Plan.

Lost posters are still available for download. And the petition remains open. Because the more support we have, the louder our message will be.

Lost Campaign Video

Petition Count

We continue to receive wonderful feedback on the impact of our We’re Only Human posters. Stories of improved respect towards vet staff and tales of treats and thanks too. You can still grab one of these as well.

You can help make all the difference

Thank You

To our incredible community—thank you. Your generosity, passion, and commitment continue to create

meaningful change.

To those who have started a campaign, your dedication inspires us all. You’ve turned ideas into action and given people a way to support causes that matter.

And to every donor, your contributions, big and small, have made a real impact. Your kindness fuels these campaigns and helps bring hope, support, and change to those in need.

Together, we are stronger. Together, we make a difference.

FUNDRAISERS

Our impact so far...

Now I know better, I do better, and explain to others.

Thank you for setting Sophie’s Legacy up and speaking up for veterinarians who deserve better.

Sophie’s Legacy is a true beacon of hope and help.