Pampered with a festive hamper
Hinckley Times, Heart of England Co-operative and FedEx team up
A KIND hearted woman who devotes her time to caring for rescue dogs has received a special festive gift for her good work.
Lynne Simpson, 67, from Barwell, was one of the winners in our Pamper with a Hamper competition organised by The Hinckley Times, Heart of England Co-operative and FedEx.
She has volunteered for more than 20 years at East Midlands Dog Rescue, at the group’s kennels in Enderby and at its two shops in Barwell, on High Street and Stapleton Lane.
She was very humbled to get the box of goodies and said that she does her charity work purely out of her love of dogs.
Lynne said: “What I enjoy most is seeing the dogs rehomed - I put so much into them. You see them come in broken, like a labrador we have at the moment. It just breaks my heart.
“To see them get a new home is magical.”
The canine fan said her work with the rescue “never stops” as they sometimes get calls in the early hours about dogs that have been found or asking for help with a search for a lost pooch.
They are unable to take in strays but their four-footed friends come from many different countries, including an Alsatian which was saved from the Chinese meat trade.
Lynne was nominated by Ian McCall, also from Barwell, who she recently helped while his Tibetan Terrier, Heidi, has been poorly.
“My dog had a ligament torn. She was very good in finding me a cage and giving suggestions”, he said.
“She offered a harness, because Heidi couldn’t walk properly.”
Asked what advice she would give someone considering fostering a dog, Lynne urged would-be owners to research the breed and make sure they are prepared.
She said: “If it’s a mutt, you have to take every day as it comes.
They have to learn to trust you. “We have had one brought back in two hours because it’s barked or weed on the carpet.
“You have to have time and love. Time and love are the greatest things you can give a to a dog.”
The Heart of England Co-operative hampers were delivered free of charge by FedEx.