For my 27th birthday all I wanted to do was take a dog for a big walk in the countryside, so i googled "dog rescue near me" and Islay appeared up on the search. I never anticipated the impact the rescue would have on my life over the years to come.
I started volunteering in January 2021, and had to stop when lockdown ended as I didn't drive, then re-started volunteering regularly after passing my driving test in December 2023. I love being outdoors, spending time with animals and working to help dogs find their forever homes seemed like a really rewarding task - so coming to Islay was a win-win.
I adopted my dog, Bear, from Islay in April 2021 and my wee world changed forever. He's an older gentleman from a public shelter in Romania. Having never had a dog before it was a whole new experience and it opened my eyes to how complex and intelligent these lovely animals are.
I was asked to be a Senior in March 2024. Lorraine was looking to expand the team, and while I was initially reluctant that I wouldn't have enough experince or time to commit to the role; it's been amazing so far, and i've managed to build a routine that allows me to come up every weekend. I'm really grateful that the opportunity was offered.
While here i help woth cleaning, washing, general domestic tasks that are necessary to keep things ticking over. When the housework is done, I take dogs out for walks, and try to spend one-on-one time with them to help contribute to the assessments that build a profile for them to be adopted. I also volunteer to collect dogs anywhere within the UK that have been surrendered and bring them to Islay for a new lease of life.
It's always daunting and confusing for a dog when they're first handed into the rescue, so I like to try and spend time with them to help them come out of their shell a bit, and start to build a trusting relationship with humans. Some of them have never known a kind hand and seeing them feel confident enough to get a bit cheeky with you is heart warming.
I've learned so over the past (almost) year, the time has flown in. Everything from little skills such as how to successfully start a fire in the log burner on a cold wintery morning, to tasks that hold a lot of responsibility, like working with dogs who are scared of people, and how to safely maneuver them in a public setting. Getting regular exercise is a big bonus, and spending time with a lovely dog while doing that makes the task so much better.
It's so hard to choose just one out of all the wonderful souls that i've met so far, and it would be rude not to elect my own dog, Bear. He's got me through some really tough times over the past few years just by being his happy little self, and he's given me a reason not to give up when times get a bit scary. He's my pocket-sized guardian and I know that no matter what happens in a day, he'll always be happy to see me when I get home.