Linda Sadler, OSF’s longest-serving volunteer, tells her story

“Your visits with your dog are better than any medicine”

“I have been a volunteer with OSF, and for a period of time, a paid part-time employee, since 2012. I first heard of the charity when I came across a leaflet on its bereavement services and kept it as I knew that it would not be long before I had to say goodbye to my beloved dog Barney. He died a year later and then I lost my mother just a week later, a terrible double loss. I approached OSF and Bin Johnston, founder and CEO of the charity, and a practitioner, helped me greatly through this awful time.

In gratitude, I made a donation to OSF and then became a volunteer. For two years I visited a lady to walk her dog Patsy as she could not give her any exercise, and continued to visit even after Patsy died in 2014. As I have veterinary nursing qualifications (Animal Nursing Assistant and Equine nursing diploma) I spotted a problem early on with Patsy that led to early medication for her enlarged heart, giving Patsy an extra couple of years of good quality life.

I then acquired two dogs, Meg, a border terrier, and Ben, a collie X Lab, who had both been abandoned strays. Our first client was a 90-year old lady in poor physical health who very much enjoyed our visits, when I took both dogs on alternate weeks. The dogs loved their new lives as visiting dogs. Even when the lady suffered memory loss and did not remember my name, she always remembered Meg’s. I took Meg to her funeral, which was very sad, as the only other attendees were her son and a carer.

Meg and I then began another long relationship, when we visited a lady who was initially able to come with us on walks in a park, then when less mobile, in her garden. During Covid lockdown, I took Meg to the client’s garden gate so she could still see her. When the lady died her family were so appreciative of Meg’s work that they donated the proceeds of the funeral collection to OSF. There have also been many dogs that I have walked for owners unable to do so, and assisted with many other needs.

My veterinary qualifications have also enabled me to assist OSF in assessing the health and temperament of dogs, both potential visiting dogs and those needing re- homing. I also assist in finding dogs for clients, and once went to North Yorkshire to collect a dog from a breeding friend for rehoming with one of our clients. For four years, I was a part-time employee of OSF, doing animal-related work which included liaising with vets. In 2022, I left to resume working with horses, having previously gained experience in the horse racing industry and as a PA to a land-owner.

As a volunteer with OSF I have been able to take opportunities to attend many training courses, on subjects that have included dog behaviour, pet bereavement, animal first aid and dementia awareness. I now have numerous certificates of attendance as well as Certificates of Appreciation from the charity.

These days I assist the charity, when time permits, as I now look after a wide range of pets: dogs, cats, llamas, horses and even a lizard, when their owners across Suffolk are away. I continue to attend various events to help promote OSF, as I have done over the years, and I am hoping to resume visiting clients with my dog, when I have welcomed my next rescue dog and she is suitably trained.”

If you feel inspired by Linda’s story, click here to see more information about volunteering with Our Special Friends.