Bristol Animal Rescue Centre
St Philip's, Bristol, January 2022
The longest-standing animal rescue centre in the country, 2022 marks the 135th anniversary of Edward T Parker establishing Bristol's first home for stray dogs. Despite an affiliation with RSPCA the centre relies on the local community for support through donations and volunteers.
"I stumbled upon by complete accident" explains Josie, one of the evening volunteers. She moved to Bristol mid pandemic and lives a few minutes away from the centre. "I started on going on walks around the area and walked straight past here. I looked them up online to see if they had any volunteering opportunities and that day they’d posted some". Josie was quite lucky. The centre has a long waiting list and during the lockdowns they were closed to the volunteers. The obvious draw to the centre is working with the animals but they also offer shifts that more accomodating to people who work during the day. The evening shift is from 6pm until 9.30pm and, as Josie puts it "The fact that it’s in the evening and I live a few minutes away is so convenient". An acknowledged barrier to volunteering is the fact that it clashes with work commitments for many people.
Josie started at the centre in July 2021 having moved nearby the previous winter. "I finished university in 2020, mid pandemic, and moved here for work in the November of that year and just worked. And then I thought I haven’t made any friends, I didn’t know anyone, work was all from home, all I was doing was going on walks. So when I started here I was able to make friends and spend time with animals". Having grown up surrounded by animals she missed that interaction. Like with all volunteer groups the community is vital in keeping people returning. "When I applied I didn’t know how many people I was going to be volunteering with. It turned out that it’s two people and they’ve become two of my best friends from doing this with them for nine months".
Perhaps one of the most visual roles at the centre is that of the dog walkers. They're often seen in the local area, adorned with a branded high vis vest, happy dog by their side. Robin, a retired database programmer, has been a volunteer dog walker for over a decade. Like many of the other volunteers he's local - he can see the centre from his house. "I lived in this area for thirty odd years and I’ve always enjoyed walking and I’ve always enjoyed dogs but it never occurred to me to put the two together". Robin started while he was still working, walking dogs on the weekend. "I used to miss it quite badly during the week. I looked forward to my Saturdays" he says. Again, what started as wanting to spend time with the animals has grown into a strong social network. "There is so much more to it because you do get hooked in by the social side of it and the friendships you make. And the people here are really good and make me feel very welcome".