Dogs Trust has heaped praise on the 'fantastic' duo

A leading rehoming charity has saluted a dedicated couple who began volunteering two decades ago to help pooches find their forever homes and still turning dogs’ hopes to reality today.

Dogs Trust Merseyside said Alison and Jonathan Rutter’s ‘extraordinary’ commitment had changed the lives of hundreds of canines in need of comfort, companionship and second chances.

The couple have been together for 29 years and began volunteering at the Knowsley-based rescue centre in 2004 when they attended an open volunteer event and never looked back.

Jonathan said: "We were going to go once a week, next thing we knew, we were there all weekend!"

Alison and Jonathan have supported the charity in countless ways, from cleaning kennels and socialising puppies to helping nervous dogs build confidence and giving some a forever home.

Among the hundreds of dogs they've supported, Dana, a frightened stray, has played a special part in their story.

Found on the streets of Ireland, Dana was terrified of people and unfamiliar surroundings.
 The couple fostered her temporarily from Dogs Trust, but it soon became clear she had found her forever home.

Today, the couple alternate their volunteering days so one can always be home to comfort Dana, who still needs extra support.

Reflecting on her time at the centre, Alison said, "When I look back on my life, one of the things I'll be most proud of will be volunteering with Dogs Trust."

She added that the support from the Dogs Trust Merseyside team, both two and four-legged, helped her through her mother's illness and loss.

For Alison, the centre became a place of healing, proving that no matter how you're feeling, dogs have a way of making your day brighter.

The couple were among the thousands of Dogs Trust volunteers being celebrated for Volunteers’ Week, which ran June 2-6.

Georgina Lowry, Dogs Trust Merseyside rehoming centre manager, said: "This fantastic pair has been easing the pressure on the team for 20 years.

“The centre simply wouldn't be the same without them.

“The time they've dedicated to our dogs and the difference they've made to so many lives has never gone unnoticed." 

To find out more and explore volunteering opportunities at Dogs visit www.dogstrust.org.uk/Merseyside