Meet dedicated volunteer Maureen
30/01/2008 Hello, my name is Maureen and I am a voluntary dog walker. I also do home visits for the Coventry RSPCA but I’ll tell you about that another time.

I applied to be a dog walker soon after retiring early in 2000.

After a short induction where a few do’s and don’ts are pointed out (all common sense really) and the basic procedure explained, I started walking the dogs.

As a lifelong animal lover, my main objective is to treat each dog as if it were my own when we are out. For whatever reason a dog has come into the Centre, I feel that they deserve the best we can give them in terms of their basic requirements, one-to-one contact and affection.

The dogs react quite differently to the sudden, dramatic change in their lives when they leave behind their previous homes and come to us. Some retain their natural exuberance, while others are very subdued and often nervous. Some take longer than others to adjust of course, but it is always rewarding to see how they respond to kindness and affection.

An added bonus is that I get regular exercise and try to make the walks as enjoyable and varied as possible for the dogs and myself. It speaks volumes that I have continued in this role for so long and I would recommend it to anyone who loves dogs and has some time to spare.

In 2005 I was nominated by the centre staff for a ‘Year of the Volunteer’ dedication medal. I was chosen for hundreds of nomination and received my medal at a special award ceremony in Birmingham.