Missing her own dogs prompted Lindsay to become a volunteer

Lindsay’s story

“Both of my beloved Papillons died in 2021 and not being in a position to get another dog, I was pleased to learn from an existing volunteer with OSF that they needed dog walkers. Volunteers are often only needed temporarily, perhaps when an owner has been ill or had an operation,  although sometimes the relationship can last for several years.

Since then, I’ve walked four dogs short-term and currently walk Lacey, a Jack Russell, twice a week for her 97-year old owner, with another volunteer going on other days. Lacey is so pleased to see me, and as with other owners who live alone, hers also values seeing the volunteers. I live in Sudbury and walk dogs in and around the town, attend the local monthly meetings held for volunteers and have attended several OSF on-line training courses. In addition, I volunteer as a room steward at Gainsborough’s House art gallery in Sudbury, and am a member of an archaeology group. I had a hip replacement in 2023 but was soon back to my busy life.

I’ve had a long and rewarding career, initially ten years in wealth management in New York, then ten years in retail in London, and 20 years running my own coaching business, teaching management skills.  Wherever I’ve been based, I’ve made time for voluntary work. In London I helped a charity working for disadvantaged and orphaned children, some in the notorious Romanian orphanages.  Of particular relevance to my OSF role was supporting a pet charity in rural France where I had retired in 2008, Les Amis des Chats. Like OSF, it was started by a vet who saw a need. Local villages were overrun with sick and feral cats. LADC paid a contribution to farmers and villagers to get cats sprayed and vaccinated. My job was to distribute the funds and co-ordinate with a network of local vets who carried out the work.

Fighting loneliness is very important, and part of this is helping people to keep their pets in their lives. I have three cats, and as I live alone myself, really appreciate their company. It’s also good to know that if I have a problem with my own pets, OSF will try to help. This happened when I thought I might need to re-home a newly adopted cat but fortunately he settled in with the others.

And now we have a temporary new member of the household! I responded when OSF put  out an appeal in summer 2024 for a volunteer to foster a miniature poodle until its owner is found a suitable new home.  When that happens it will be difficult to part with the dog, but knowing I have helped her and the owner at a difficult time will make it all worthwhile.”

“This is a poem that appealed to me after my Papillons died” …

Four feet

I have done mostly what most men do
And pushed it out of my mind:
But I can’t forget if I wanted to,
Four feet trotting behind.
Day after day, the whole day through
Whatever my road inclined.
Four feet said “I’m coming with you”
And trotted along behind.
Now I must go by some other road –
Whichever I shall never find –
Somewhere that doesn’t carry the sound
Of four feet trotting behind.

Rudyard Kipling