New Year Resolution - keeping fit with volunteering

Lots of people are making New Year Resolutions around getting fit (fitter). How about combining that with helping a dog? 

Chris and I volunteer for the Cinnamon Trust helping people who can’t walk their own dogs – because of infirmity or circumstance. 

We’ve been walking the handsome Alfie for over a year now. Twice a week for 45 minutes up to the Windmill in Rottingdean. Lots of hills for us to climb and lots of fresh air once we’re up there. Alfie is 13 but still does his zoomies although his favourite pastime is to sniff. Everything. Absolutely everything. Except when it’s wet. On those days it’s a quick out and back again walk. Clever Alfie 

The other week we were contacted about helping Whiskey (not the drink – the 11 year old yellow Lab with a white stripe down his back). Whiskey lives very close to us and right opposite a Park. He already has a number of volunteers help him but we were told any extra would be great – typically once a week. 

So after all the indulgences of the festive season, New Years Day saw me walking round the Park getting my exercise while Whiskey was catching up on all the pee mail he’d missed. Double result. 

All you need to offer is a day a week for 45 minutes or so (depending on age and ability of the dog) and you can assist with keeping that dog with their loving Mum or Dad. Plus, all the exercise, fresh air, dog cuddles, smiles and laughs that walking a dog gives you.