Pam has volunteered for Canine Partners twice a week for over 11 years. During this time she has volunteered in the office and has fostered over 56 dogs. This is her story:

My love of dogs begun my volunteering journey at Canine Partners, I not only love volunteering for the charity but I also get my ‘dog fix’ whilst I work! I volunteer at the Southern Training Centre in the Aftercare Department.

My main role is to keep numerous data up to date when new partnerships are created, I post dog jackets and various other equipment to partners, and I help prepare for Partnership Ceremonies. I assist with quarterly stocktaking of jackets and wheelchair equipment, I update the microchips when new partnerships are formed, and I assist with emailing all of our established partners (over 450 of them) when important information needs to be sent to them quickly.

Before I became an office Volunteer for Canine Partners, my past experience was all in an admin capacity so I felt was able to bring that knowledge to the charity. I have been volunteering twice a week for over 11 years and over that time I have also been a Weekend Fosterer for dogs in Advanced Training. I looked after 56 dogs over the seven years I was a Weekend Fosterer and I currently still help out as an emergency fosterer, taking care of dogs when their partner has gone into hospital.

Canine Partners is a lovely charity to be associated with and I am always in awe of the wonderful tasks the dogs are trained to do to help people with physical disabilities. This could not be achieved without the dedication of my colleagues, who are a terrific group of people to be associated with. The team, especially my manager, are hardworking and dedicated.