There are different types of shelter volunteers. Some help with feeding and grooming, while others do adoption counseling or administrative tasks. But no matter what type of work a volunteer does, all have a common goal in mind that is to help the animals under their care in any way they can.
89-year old Maisie Green has a profound love for knitting. But aside from that, there is one more thing that she says is close to her heart – dogs.
She thought of a smart way to incorporate the two for a good cause. So Maisie volunteered to knit cozy blankets and sweaters for pups in the Dogs Trust Basildon shelter. So far, she has knitted 450 of these!
“I love knitting and I love dogs, so this combines both wonderfully,” Maisie told the Basildon Standard. “It takes me three days to knit a blanket and one day to knit a doggy coat.”
Dogs Trust is “the UK’s largest dog welfare charity and cares for over 15,000 dogs each year through a network of 20 re-homing centers in the UK.” They have been helping homeless people who have dogs with temporary accommodation and free veterinary treatments for their four-legged companion.
The project manager, Clare Kivlehan, has this to say about the special relationship of homeless people with their dogs:
“The bond between any dog and owner is a strong one but for homeless people their dog can be their only friend. Each year we’re delighted to be able to distribute these hampers to homeless hounds to help make Christmas happier for them and their owners. We hope this year that we will be able to make the festive season a little brighter with the addition of some cosy dog jumpers and fun toys.”
This animal shelter is getting a lot of praises from social media, one reader said: “Hope Project does a great job in helping homeless people and their dogs all year round. Many thanks to everyone at Dog’s Trust for their help over the years.”
Maisie donates her knitted creations to the shelter three times a year. Her family drives her there to help unload each batch of sweaters and blankets. Daniel the Spaniel, one of the dogs in the shelter, is among the many lucky dogs who were able to enjoy Maisie’s knitted donations over the years.
“It keeps me busy and often I like to knit whilst watching television,” Maisie said. “I’m delighted to be helping the four-legged residents at the centre in some way.”
Kudos to Maisie for her efforts in providing warmth to our canine friends during the winter! She is a great example of a person who uses her talents for the greater good, and we hope that she inspires more people to take action and volunteer help in their local animal shelters.
Share this story with your friends and family.