Volunteer Laundry Assistant Evelyn Grice with Beagle Cross Ella
Dogs Trust Leeds’ Volunteers Going The Extra Mile For Dogs In Need This Christmas
3 years ago 
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Whilst families are tucking into their Christmas dinners, a dog lover from Leeds will be doing whatever it takes to make sure the rescue dogs at Dogs Trust Leeds have everything they need.
Evelyn Grice from Beeston has volunteered at the York Road rehoming centre since 2008, so dedicating her time to her four-legged friends is nothing new. But this year, as well as volunteering twice a week, she decided she would even join the team on Christmas Day, despite that meaning she will spend much of the special day in the laundry room.
Evelyn says:
“I love volunteering, whatever I am doing. For many years I walked the dogs and on Christmas morning I will join the team taking the dogs out, but now my main job is doing the laundry so that’s what I’ll be doing. It is of course never-ending, from towels to beds, and it doesn’t stop just because it’s Christmas! But knowing the dogs have lovely clean bedding to snuggle into makes it all worthwhile.”
Evelyn is one of more than 50 volunteers at Dogs Trust Leeds who help out with everything from walking the dogs to cleaning the kennels 365 days of the year. Over Christmas, the centre will be caring for 102 dogs, so it will definitely be a case of the more volunteers the merrier, so the dogs can have the best possible time.
Dogs Trust Leeds’ Volunteer Coordinator, Johnny Dawson, says:
“Our volunteers are wonderful and the fact that Evelyn and many others are happy to spend time with us over Christmas is fantastic.
“In one year alone, our on-site volunteers give more than 4,000 hours of their time, which is incredible. Their generosity means that our dogs benefit in so many ways, from additional walks, extra play time, additional one on one time and the opportunity for staff to spend more time with dogs that perhaps need a bit of extra training or support to help them find their forever homes. We can’t thank our volunteers enough and the fact that they are part of our Christmas team is fantastic.”
If you would like to volunteer at Dogs Trust, please go to www.dogstrust.org.uk, where you can also find out about becoming a volunteer foster carer.
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