Interview questions - Chris Richbell - Charity Chairman

Why did you choose to do volunteer charity work?

It was not a choice more like I drifted into it. Sometimes things happen in your life that make you change direction and do things you always meant to do but you have never had a good reason to start. After losing my first daughter at three months to a cot death I reluctantly helped my wife run a local cot death support group raising funds and supporting newly bereaved parents. Running the group helped my wife a lot but for me the constant reminder of my loss was hard to handle and I hated it. This was my first voluntary work.

Why did you choose to work specifically with animals?

I have never fully understood people and their apparent inability to help each other. Animals are completely dependent on their human owners many of whom let them down badly. I still help people but as I have got older my sympathy has moved more and more towards animals that are unable to help themselves.

What is the best part?

Going to bed knowing that an animal is safe because of your efforts and working with other people that feel the same.

What do you find most satisfying?

In January we fostered Ozzie an abused Greyhound X with terrible injuries to his back legs who was facing PTS. My most satisfying moments are looking at him safe and happy laying next to me on the settee sleeping peacefully. If I had not got off work early and raced up to the pound to get him out this beautiful gentle boy would not be alive today. What could be more satisfying than that?

Is it something you planned to do?

No and anyone who planned this kind of life would be mad. I do this because I care and because of how I feel inside. I think that if you planned to do voluntary work without caring you are doing it for the wrong reasons.

How did you get into charity work?

I was forced into it and found it a very negative experience because I was doing it for the wrong reasons. Since then I have done volunteer work with cadets, young offenders and various animals and I have found each experience very rewarding.

Do you find it difficult managing a job and volunteering?

Yes   ranging from very difficult to impossible, unfortunately when you fulfill your work and charity commitments it’s your family and friends that suffer. There are never enough hours in the day to do everything.

What do you find hardest about volunteering?

Apart from the time commitment being unable to help an animal is the hardest part. Sometimes despite our best efforts a dog is destroyed because we were unable to help or unable to help in time. Even though we save so many losing even one is devastating.

Do you think that it is your love of animals that has led you into volunteering?

No   If you are the kind of person that cares and the opportunity comes along you will volunteer.  My love of animals has determined the direction my volunteering has taken

Would you encourage other people to volunteer?

If they care about something enough then yes. This type of charity work is a huge commitment and takes over your life but the rewards make this worthwhile.

What is it you like best about Homeless Hounds?

We are a small committed charity that always puts the interests of the animals first. Our success rate and the number of dogs we save is phenomenal and of course our name is great and says it all. Long live Homeless-Hounds