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Russell Patient only set out to volunteer a few hours a week at Blue Cross but these days he’s at our Felixstowe rehoming centre so much it’s like a second home.

Russell organises training courses, helps new volunteers settle in on their first day and, if we’re ever short of manpower, is always on hand to muck in.

He’s a regular face at the centre, which he goes to two to three times a week, and he’s even rehomed two dogs from us, Boyce and Fi Fi.

Russell says: “I’ve always donated to animal charities and when I found myself with some free time I decided I wanted to volunteer so I got in touch with Blue Cross. 

“I started off walking the dogs and socialising the cats and I thought I’d go to the centre a couple of days a week and that would be that. I soon realised that not only did I love it but I wanted to do more and more to help.”

Russell knows exactly how daunting it is for volunteers on their first day so he’s the perfect person to help them feel at ease.

And, after the success of his dog training classes for the volunteers, he’s now in the process of putting together a cat course too.

He says: “Volunteering is amazingly rewarding. To see a dog arrive at the centre a nervous wreck, watch their confidence improve and then see them go off to loving new homes is really something special.”

Would you like to volunteer at Blue Cross? We’ve got so many different roles to choose from – find out more on our volunteer opportunities page.