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Volunteers give up their Christmas to help animals in need

As most of us sit down with our families to tuck into our festive feast and watch the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special this Christmas, spare a thought for the hundreds of staff and volunteers who will be working to feed and care for rescue animals.

There will be more than 4,000 animals in RSPCA care this Christmas and a dedicated team of workers and volunteers will give up their traditional Christmas Day to ensure they have everything they need.

Brian Reeves, Head of Volunteering at the RSPCA, said: “There’ll be thousands of dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, chickens, ferrets, snakes, pigs – and everything inbetween – in RSPCA care this Christmas and taking care of them is a 24/7 job, 365 days a year! 

“We’re lucky to have an incredible network of more than 7,000 volunteers who help provide the best care to these animals across all of our animal centres and branches, and that includes those dedicated animal-lovers who give up their Christmas Day to come in and give the most needy and vulnerable animals some extra love for the festive season.

“They deliver special Christmas dinners, help them open their presents, spend extra time playing with them or giving them quiet strokes, and make sure they feel the love this Christmas.

“If you want to help us be there for more animals in need this Christmas, please Join the Christmas Rescue and donate by visiting www.rspca.org.uk/winterappeal.”

We all muck in on Christmas Day’

Karen Smithers, 74, started volunteer dog walking almost 25 years ago when she was signed off work due to depression and anxiety. She said: “I found getting out for fresh air and walking really helped with my mental health so I started popping into Bath Dogs and Cats Home to take the dogs with me on my adventures.”

Once she retired from the Ministry of Defence in 2007, she made her volunteering official and started going into the RSPCA branch twice a week to help with dog walking and other jobs.

Describing herself as a ‘dog person’, she said: “It’s so lovely to see the dogs transform in our care; especially if they’re frightened to start with and then they gradually warm to you. 

“I help with dog walking and training, but I’m also a general gopher too and I’ll help with whatever job needs doing from mealtimes to laundry.”

Karen always used to volunteer on Boxing Day but, for the last five years, has given up her Christmas Day to help with the dogs and cats at the Bath shelter. 

“It’s just my husband and I at home so we don’t worry too much about Christmas, it’s just like any other day for us. We usually go for a nice walk together and then he drops me at the centre for the rest of the day. 

“We all muck in together to get the jobs done and if the weather is nice we’ll go for a group walk which is lovely. There’s usually a nice buffet lunch which we all share and we spend time making sure all of the animals get extra attention.”

Karen, originally from Plymouth but now living in Bath, said she’d encourage people to consider volunteering as it’s nice to use your skills for good. She added: “It’s great exercise and hard work but lots of fresh air; it feels great to be helpful and make a difference. We don’t have any pets at home so it’s also great to spend time with the dogs.”

‘It’s a little bit extra I can give back’

Cathy Milbourne, 67, from Woking, has volunteered at RSPCA Millbrook Animal Centre in Surrey since retiring from her IT job in 2021, alongside her husband, Ken.

This is the fourth Christmas the couple will spend at the rescue centre with the animals instead of playing board games by the fire at home or tucking into a Christmas pudding.

“I help out in the cattery as I’m definitely a mad cat lady!” Cathy said. “We have adopted two cats from the centre over the years, Huckleberry first and now Bombur, but I’d have more if I could!”

Cathy volunteers three times a week at the centre while her husband Ken sometimes joins her to help out with maintenance and DIY. 

“We’ve got no kids at home anymore so we enjoy going into Millbrook at Christmas to spend our time with the animals and with the other volunteers and team members there,” Cathy added. “It’s always such a lovely atmosphere and all of the animals get their own stockings and presents.

“We decorate the cattery and give them extra treats and lots of attention. It’s such a lovely time to volunteer, it’s a little bit extra that I can give back.”

‘I wouldn’t spend Christmas morning anywhere else’

When Margaret Tayler, 78, lost her beloved Jack Russell Poppy she pledged that instead of getting a puppy she’d volunteer at a rescue centre. Six months later she joined the volunteering team at the RSPCA’s Cotswolds Dogs and Cats Home

Now, six years later, she continues to volunteer in the cattery, fosters dogs and is a member of the fundraising committee. And she helps out every Christmas morning, spending time with the cats and ensuring all of the animals get the extra TLC they deserve. 

She said: “The festive season is always special at the centre. I help the cats open the presents Father Christmas has left and they’re always eager to check out what they’ve got from festive treats, toys or a blanket to cuddle up in. We always make sure they all get an extra special fuss and love.

“All the donations we get throughout the year are appreciated but there’s something extra special for me about Christmas time; I wouldn’t spend my morning anywhere else!”

Margaret, from Berkeley, Gloucestershire, will turn her hand to anything and, while usually working in the cattery, also helps with backroom jobs such as laundry and tidying the store rooms.

“Cats come to us from a variety of circumstances but it’s really special when the cats who come in neglected or shut down start to blossom under the care of our amazing staff,” Margaret added. “It can be a real Christmas miracle!”

‘It’s a family affair!’

There will be two members of the Shilling family at the RSPCA’s Danaher Animal Home this Christmas, as mother and daughter duo Cathy and Katie head into the centre to spend time with the dogs while the turkey is in the oven.

Mum-of-two Cathy Shilling, 62, has been volunteering at the shelter since 2015 and always tries to head in on Christmas Day for a few hours to help out staff and give the dogs some attention. This year, her daughter, 25-year-old Katie, will already be in the kennels, as she’s a kennel assistant and is working on 25 December.

Volunteer dog walker Cathy, from Halstead, Essex, said: “I’ll get the veg prepped and pop the turkey in the oven and then I’ll head down to Danaher to spend time with the dogs and help support the staff there who also want to get home so they can spend some time with their families.

“I started volunteering when my daughters were older and I had more time on my hands. I thought it would be a great way to get outside, do something I love and do a little bit of good.”

Katie started volunteering alongside her mum when she turned 18 and returned a few years later when she moved back home after university. When a kennel assistant vacancy came up, she applied and was thrilled to get the job. 

Now the pair, who have two dogs of their own, will be working together on Christmas Day to help the dogs.

Katie said: “When I was little I was scared of dogs so mum and dad got a puppy and it helped me get over my fear. We’ve always had dogs since and I’ve fallen more and more in love with them.

“I absolutely love my job and spending time with the dogs who need it the most is really rewarding. To see a dog come in who is completely shut down and terrified, work with them and see them blossom and go off to their new home, is incredible.

“I wouldn’t do any other job!”

Cathy added: “She certainly has a way with dogs and really enjoys working with them. It’ll be lovely on Christmas Day to go out together for a walk with some of the dogs, it’s a real family affair!

“When I arrive at Danaher to volunteer I get given a radio and someone comes over the radio waves to say ‘Mama Shilling’ has arrived which always makes us laugh.

“Being able to go to the kennels on Christmas Day and give the dogs a break from those four walls, get them some fresh air when they need it most, and spend quality time with them is such a wonderful feeling on a special day. It’s nice to show them that extra bit of love.” 

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