Got a job at a rescue centre!!

Hi everyone.

I don't think that I mentioned it in my original intro because I didn't really see the need to but I suffer from Parkinson's Disease. I'm only 39 so you can imagine what a massive blow this was to me and my family at the time of diagnosis. It was like somebody had run me over with a truck however as time goes on you learn to accept it I guess. Due to the illness I'm not allowed to work a full time stressful job which I was devastated about because I have worked all my life and had a very good job.

I have been determined not to sit on my backside and just rake in the benefit money, I'm not that type of person, I see these people on the TV and hanging around shops etc that just don't want to work and won't work and these people annoy me. My family keep telling me not to be daft as I have a legitimate reason for not being able to work but I feel I still need to give something back.

So I decided what better way to do this than work in a dog rescue centre rehoming dogs as a volunteer. I went for an interview yesterday and got the job which I was delighted about. I can work the hours I want and when I want and they were fully understanding of my illness. I love dogs and hate the idea of them not being in a loving and caring home and want to do my very best to help these dogs get the loving home they deserve. It's called Stray Aid and is located in a village just outside Durham. I will be mainly working on getting the dogs rehomed and keeping all the paperwork together etc as well as taking the dos for walks etc and giving them the love and attention they deserve.

What I was shocked to see when I was given a tour round was the amount of Staffies that were there and some of their stories were awful, just left tied to fences for the warden to pick up. I just can't believe that some people can be like that to these wonderful dogs and I will be doing my very best to get them rehomed.

Anyway sorry to ramble on, I just thought that I would give you some background about me and what I am planning to do. I can't wait to get started. Having Cooper is great for me when I'm by myself at home when my wife is at work and the kids are at school, he seems to know when I'm having a bad day with the illness and he just never leaves my side and this is a great chance for me to help in any way I can get these dogs at the rescue centre rehomed and into loving families.

If anyone lives near Durham on the forum and is wanting to adopt a staffy or any dog for that reason I will post some of the dogs on the rescue section on the forum.

http://www.strayaid.org.uk

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Paul

aww thanks for sharing that with us Paul,i'm sorry to hear about your illness,i guess it must have been a real shock for you and your family.It sounds like your determinded not to let it get to you and its brilliant that you got a job at a rescue centre,well done you

I'm also sorry to hear about your illness Paul. You sound like the sort of person that will make a real difference for the dogs at the shelter.

Our Staffy's are amazing, they really do know when you aren't well or for that matter simply feeling down.

You are more than welcome to post in the rescue section and with a bit of luck some might find that loving home through it. We also post them on the Facebook page so they should get a nice wide audience.

Good luck with the new job and thanks for sharing your story

Thanks very much guys, this forum has also been great for me as well, communicating with so many great staffy owners.

Just wanted to say well done Paul, with your attitude to life and
the way you are approaching your illness I'm sure things will go
well for you.  The rescue centre and staffies in particular are
lucky to have someone like you.  Good Luck

What a moving story. Ramble on about rescues and especially rescue staffies to your heart's content, we're all behind you!

Aww that's wonderful - well done & good luck. Will you be able to take Cooper with you ?

I had both my staffys from rescue, RSPCA and Animal Aid, and they do such great work.

Well done. Keep us posted

I'm not sure if I will be able to take Cooper with me but I am certainly going to ask if I can.

Thank you very much for all the kind comments, it means a lot to me.

Well done you it will give you a great deal of experience on a number of breeds all the best in your new post.

Paul. Well done , that's very commendable , I'm sorry to hear your diagnosis , and I admire you for getting up and doing something worthwhile. A great cause too dog rescue. Good on you , all the best.

Brilliant!!! Will be looking forward to updates/stories from the shelter I worked in kennels for 5 years and will be going back to it this year part time. It both shocks and restores your faith in humanity.

Great news Paul. Good luck to you.
Very inspirational story

Thanks very much everyone.

Sorry to hear about your illness Paul. It's fantastic your getting yourself out there and offering a helping hand, not to anyone but to our amazing canine friends that are in desperate need of a little love.

Keep us posted

Congrats on the job Good luck on getting some of the pups re-homed! I'm sure you'll do a great job!

Oh Paul you are young to be having such health probs, but what a fab oppurtunity for you and very rewarding good luck

An Insperation mate, I just love poeple like you! true grit and out there looking after others! proud to have you around.

Thanks Nathan that's very kind of you to say that.

Also thanks to everyone for their comments, it means so much to me. Finding this forum has been brilliant for me with such lovely people on here.

This is such wonderful news. You are going to be saving lives - what job can be more important than that?

I look forward to your rescue stories. Have you always loved dogs or did it take Cooper to enlighten you? I'm so happy for you and happy for all the homeless dogs that will cross your path from now on.

What is Cooper's story? I'm sure you must have posted it a million times on here but I'm not up to date.