Tails are wagging at Dogs Trust Shoreham as the rehoming centre’s oldest volunteer is celebrating her 80th birthday this month and staff are taking the opportunity to thank her for all her help over the years.
Shirley Wickham has volunteered at Dogs Trust for 11 years, starting in the Shoreham Charity Shop, and during her time with the charity it’s estimated that she has sorted through hundreds of donated items, washed thousands of loads of laundry and cuddled a multitude of dogs of all shapes and sizes.
In fact, Shirley was the Rehoming Centre’s very first ‘Canine Cuddler’, helping to keep the dogs company and giving them plenty of love and affection whilst they wait to find new homes. She now takes the newer volunteers under her wing and is a friendly face to everyone who visits the centre.
Tracey Rae, Rehoming Centre Manager at Dogs Trust Shoreham told The Sussex Newspaper; “Shirley is a wonderful volunteer who has given us so much of her time over the last few years. Her calm and gentle manner puts the dogs at ease straight away – it’s lovely to see her sitting with the dogs and stroking them as they fall asleep. Shirley is our secret treasure and we are so grateful to her for all her continued support. She truly is one in a million!”
Shirley Wickham adds, “I have loved every minute of my time at Dogs Trust, it’s incredibly rewarding to see the dogs going off to new homes, especially if they have been at the centre for a while. It brings me so much joy to spend time with the dogs and see the difference I can make to their lives. I really look forward to my time spent there – it’s safe to say it is a highlight of my week.”
If you think you can give one of the dogs that Shirley cares for a happy home, please call Dogs Trust Shoreham on 01273 452 576 or visit the centre at Brighton Road, Shoreham by Sea, West Sussex, BN43 5LT for further details on how you can help.
To find out more about volunteering at Dogs Trust please visit https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering/