Animals and their people

Do you want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money in aid of Oak Tree Animals' Charity and every donation will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

I am finally embarking on a long held dream of walking the Camino de Santiago de Compestela (The Way of St James) during the first week of October 2024, with my husband, Mike. We have decided to do it in 5 stages of 100 miles, finishing in 2028.

We have fantastic support from relatives, friends and neighbours for house sitting and cat sitting etc, but when you embark on something for yourself, it is quite nice to know that someone else will benefit from it, which brings me to Oak Tree Animals’ Charity, a local charity based near Wetheral, Carlisle.

Since I retired, I have volunteered at Oak Tree, and am usually there on a weekly basis, working with the Community and Education Section, as they look at your background and see what skills you can offer, when you apply to be a volunteer. I originally applied to socialise cats and exercise dogs, having lost dear old Ginny, our nineteen and a half year old cat, before I retired, and had vowed never to have another pet. However, the Volunteer Co-ordinator asked if I would meet the Education Co-ordinator, Nicky Williams, and work in the Community Section to get the message out there to people of all ages about the work that Oak Tree does and Animal Welfare. I have been there almost 6 years now, and I look forward to the different aspects of the work.

I have participated in the Halloween events; Easter, Summer and Christmas Fairs- usually on the children’s craft activities.

Nicky and I have delivered Assemblies and Workshops to many different educational establishments throughout North and West Cumbria, as well as in Northumberland, where you will see the Oak Tree Charity Shops close to you.

We have developed Schemes of Work and Lesson Plans for all ages and abilities- which you can find on the website www.oaktreeanimals.org.uk .

We have hosted events for children and young people at Oak Tree Farm itself, where they have been able to meet the goats, donkeys, horses, the occasional dog and kittens.

Through A Helping Paw, I have fostered kittens and cats that would have been homeless or abandoned if their carer was not able to support them due to a number of issues that can occur in people’s lives at different times.

Sadly-not really- I failed as a fosterer, as we kept Minnie, not quite the last of nine cats, that we fostered but one that Oak Tree was monitoring to see if she was feral or not! She spent the first three days up the chimney but is completely domesticated after three years!

I frequently share an office when I am there with dogs and/or kittens that are being fostered, socialized, exercised or trained before being rehomed. It is amazing to see the dedicated staff take shy, scared hurt animals and provide an environment where their medical, food, accommodation and training needs can be met before they are matched to their forever home with their new family.

I could go on about the benefits of pets to people’s mental and physical health, and why pets should be responsibly sourced, but you can have a wonderful time just looking at the website to find out about them.

Oak Tree Animals charity has supported over three thousand animals this year alone. The charity costs around £2 million pounds per year to run and relies on donations, grants and sponsorship. I am hoping that people will contribute to that sum, as we walk the Camino. Thank you for ‘pawsing’ to read and find out about this charity.