FindingForeverHomes

Caring Charlie devotes her life to rehoming unwanted dogs

I’ve always been obsessed with dogs practically from the moment I could talk!” says Charlie Vincent (51) from Snetterton, Norfolk. “I could soon name all the different breeds off by heart, much to the amusement of my parents.”

Charlie’s childhood pet was a border collie called Bramble and she recalls watching the TV programme OneManAnd HisDog, then copying the complicated whistles, which she used to train him.

“Adults who caught sight of me would be amazed,” she says. “I literally spent every available hour before and after school out in a field near my parents’ home bidding him back and forth. He was the love of my life as a child.”

Charlie’s deep-rooted passion for our four-legged friends would be rekindled later in life. One favourite game she used to play was pretending to work for what was then The National Canine

Defence League, imagining what it would be like to find unwanted dogs a happy new home. That organisation is now known as Dogs Trust and when Charlie moved to Snetterton 15 years ago, there happened to be a rehoming centre right on her doorstep…

“While I was bringing up my two boys, now 30 and 31, I was working full time at a college for teenagers with learning difficulties,” she says. “But one day five years ago I saw

“I’ve always been obsessed with dogs”

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are when a dog is neglected, but not intentionally, when perhaps an older person struggles to look after themselves and their muchloved pet is affected by that.”

It wasn’t long before Charlie was fully involved in many aspects of life at Snetterton and after two and a half years she took on the role of volunteer co-ordinator. Every Christmas Snetterton celebrates the tireless work of their volunteer heroes, and the fact that they save the centre the cost of three paid employees by selflessly giving their time.

“I found the volunteer team to be dedicated, with unending patience and an amazing sense of humour,” says Charlie. “Technically known as Volunteer Canine Assistants,

“The volunteers are so dedicated and patient”

they clean the kennels and feed and walk every single dog individually so they get the most attention possible.”

Recently Charlie was proud to become co-ordinator of Snetterton’s Home From Home foster scheme, which is invaluable in providing temporary homes for dogs who