Why Becoming an Ambassador for Birmingham Dogs Home Means Everything to Me
At the end of last year, I was incredibly honoured to be given the title of Ambassador for Birmingham Dogs Home.
It’s a role I’m immensely proud of - not because of the title itself, but because of what it represents after almost a decade of consistent support, advocacy and genuine commitment to a charity that changes lives every single day.
This felt like the natural next step in a journey that has been building for years.
I’ve been a dog person for as long as I can remember. Giving back to dogs who haven’t had the best start in life has always mattered to me, but over the last five years in particular, my role as Managing Director and Co-Founder of The Animal People Recruitment Company has given me a much bigger platform to make a difference.
Through our Platinum corporate partnership, we donate to Birmingham Dogs Home every time we make a placement. That means that the work we do - placing brilliant people into pet and animal health businesses - directly supports rescue dogs. It’s something I’m incredibly proud of and something that sits at the heart of how we operate as a business.
Beyond financial support, I’ve been able to introduce Birmingham Dogs Home to senior decision-makers, brand leaders and a wide community of animal people who genuinely care. Watching those introductions turn into long-term supporters, donors and advocates has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career.
To now stand alongside fellow Ambassadors like PJ Ellis and Dr. Scott is incredibly special. They are people I admire greatly, and both are passionate, authentic supporters of animal welfare.
Together, we share one goal: to help Birmingham Dogs Home support as many homeless dogs as possible, and to do it in a way that brings the wider community with us.
My relationship with Birmingham Dogs Home really began during a volunteer day with my team. I walked in expecting a meaningful team-building experience, but what I left with was a deep emotional connection that stayed with me.
Seeing the number of dogs arriving through absolutely no fault of their own, the emotional weight carried behind every kennel door and the tireless dedication of staff and volunteers completely changed my perspective.
That day opened my eyes to the true scale of rescue work and how heavily it relies on generosity, advocacy and people showing up consistently. From that moment on, I knew Birmingham Dogs Home would always be part of my world.
This year started on a very personal note for me as well. I supported my family in rescuing their own puppy, Cooper, a seven-month-old Maltipoo. His story was heartbreaking, but watching him settle, trust again and bring joy into my parents’ and brother’s lives has been incredible.
It’s a powerful reminder of something I see time and time again through Birmingham Dogs Home and that is that rescue dogs don’t just get saved - they save people too.
Over the years, I’m proud to say we’ve donated thousands of pounds directly to Birmingham Dogs Home. Last year alone, we donated almost £7,000, making it our biggest year of financial support to date.
But one of my proudest moments came at PATS, where we donated our entire stand space to the charity. By introducing our clients and contacts to Birmingham Dogs Home and encouraging product donations, we collectively generated £45,000 worth of donated products in a single event.
That didn’t happen by accident. It happened because people care and because when you give a charity visibility and trust, incredible things follow.
This year, we’ll be doing it all again, including donating our stand space at PATS at the NEC in Birmingham. As Ambassador, my mission is simple and that is to raise more awareness, more money and more donations than ever before.
One of the things I always make sure people understand is this:
Birmingham Dogs Home receives no government funding.
The charity relies entirely on donations, sponsorships, fundraising and community support to operate.
The charity cares for dogs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and provides vital veterinary care, behaviour support, rehabilitation and rehoming services to over 2,000 dogs every year.
Here are some vital stats that really bring home the scale of what they do and the challenge they face:
- They care for around 190 dogs every day across their two centres.
- They receive absolutely no government funding, meaning every pound they spend comes from the generosity of the public and businesses.
- The average cost to care for a dog in their care is about £100 per week, with seriously injured or ill dogs costing much more!!
These aren’t small numbers. These aren’t occasional costs. This is ongoing, life-saving work - financed by everyday people who care.
If you’re local or even if you’re not there are so many ways you can help:
- donating food, treats, toys or essential supplies
- giving your time through volunteering
- fundraising as an individual or business
- donating practical items like washing powder, which they get through in huge volumes
Every contribution, no matter how small it feels, makes a tangible difference.
I want to say a very special thank you to Rachel Frost, who has been instrumental in making my Ambassador role possible.
Rachel is one of the kindest, most committed people I know and truly embodies everything Birmingham Dogs Home stands for. Her passion, integrity and dedication are felt by everyone who meets her and the charity is incredibly lucky to have her.
Becoming an Ambassador isn’t a milestone, it’s a responsibility I take seriously.
I’m committed to using my voice, my network and my business to support Birmingham Dogs Home in every way I can. This charity has been part of our community for over 130 years, and I’m incredibly proud to play a small role in helping shape its future.
If you’ve ever thought about supporting Birmingham Dogs Home, I promise you this - your kindness will change lives, both canine and human.
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