Bristol Animal Rescue Centre cares for thousands of sick, injured and stray animals every year – and we couldn’t do this vital work without the help of our dedicated volunteers.
Helen has been with us for many years and is one of our valued team of Trustees. Here, she tells us about her role.
What volunteer role do you do?
I am very proud to be a Trustee of Bristol A.R.C., being accepted onto the Board in May 2020. I also help out at events and wherever they need me.
How long have you volunteered with us for, and why did you start volunteering with us?
I have been a Bristol A.R.C. volunteer for 11 years. I have always been an animal lover and had family dogs growing up, but a busy working life meant little time to devote to having my own dog.
In 2010 I took a three month sabbatical and after travelling the USA for 5 weeks, I wanted to get involved in voluntary work, so my love of dogs drew me to sign up as volunteer dog walker at Bristol A.R.C. This fed my desire to do and learn more, so I also became a volunteer animal care assistant for four years on my day off. I loved meeting and helping the huge variety of dogs, getting to know their individual needs and personalities and seeing how they developed emotionally and physically.
This provided fabulous insight in to the amazing work the Bristol A.R.C. team do to help, heal and home the animals in their care, and the patience, skill and complexities involved in handling the animals most in need.
What do you love most about Volunteering with us at Bristol A.R.C.?
Making even a small contribution to improving animal welfare, across a wide range of domestic and wild animals in our area. Supporting the fantastic staff at Bristol A.R.C. who work so hard to help the animals and humans in our local community through education, treatment and rehabilitation.
Have you adopted a rescue pet from us? If so who, and can you tell us a little bit about them?
Yes, my reduced working hours meant we were able to adopt our dog, Bonnie from Bristol A.R.C. in November 2016. She is an unknown mixed breed, perhaps Rottweiler/Collie/Lurcher? She was around one when we she was found abandoned, tied to a tree and handed in to Bristol A.R.C. She was nervous and under-nourished but I fell in love with her when I got to walk and play with her doing my volunteer ACA role, and it wasn’t long before we brought her home. She still has a few little anxieties but we love her to bits and she is now such a big part of our lives.
Interested in volunteering? Check out our Volunteers Page for more information.
