Our Life Saver - Joy Waddington

Christmas is a tricky time for our volunteers, as they juggle family celebrations and caring for animals. Meet Joy, one of the team working at the Rescue on Christmas Day.

• Tell us a bit about yourself

  I’m a semi-retired pensioner. I started my working life in the NHS as a Health Promotion Officer, then staff trainer in the mental health sector and brief spell with social services as a trainer in the alcohol and drug services. I then trained as a counsellor, which kept me busy for 20+ years, becoming a trauma specialist. Whilst I’ve enjoyed the work I’ve done, my real passion has always been out walking with my dogs. I’ve lived with dogs all my life. Apparently, I was born at home with the family dog on the bed so I’ve been blessed with canine presence literally from day one! From being very young, I walked the moors with my Mum and our dogs, listening to larks singing, inspecting badger setts, enjoying all the seasons had to offer. As a family, we spent a lot of time at Flamborough Head on the East Coast where my grandparents lived. I have wonderful memories of exploring rock pools and hearing the beautiful calls from all the myriad seabirds. Summer holidays were spent camping in Scotland. I feel very lucky to have had such an outdoors experience from being young.

  I’m a biologist and have read over the years about how and why dogs were domesticated from wolves, which has led me to read extensively about wolves themselves. My favourite statistic is that dogs and wolves share 99.8% of their genetic code. My other favourite statistic is that dogs and humans share 85% of their genetic code. I like to think I’m 85% dog! Call me an old dog and I will take it as a great compliment! I love to read, particularly nature books. I also love to write and am a member of Settle Stories Writers Group. I’m also a member of the local badger group and go out checking and monitoring setts in the area.  Nature and wildlife is my life.        

Joy and Tulla

• How will you be spending Christmas?

  At the rescue! I’m not religious and hate how Christmas has been turned into another consumer obsession. The winter solstice is most important to me, honouring the turning of the season and the slow return of light to the world. I will be happy being with the animals that need our support and the other volunteers who will be there.

• How long have you been involved with the Rescue?

  I started in May 2024 soon after the original group of founders had created the site at Horton. 

• What made you decide to volunteer?

  I wanted the chance to help animals who are sick or injured, most often due to human activity. We owe them this. I want to give something back to wildlife, to help animals survive in the face of such tremendous destructiveness from humans.

• What do you get from being part of it?                                             

  A sense of satisfaction that every life saved is so precious. Of course, we can’t save every animal that comes to us but when we can, and that animal goes back into the wild, that feels so healing for me as well as them.

  
  

  I have had rescued dogs in the past and used to rescue ferrets. So it was a natural step for me to get involved with the wildlife rescue. We have an amazing group of volunteers in all sorts of roles, caring, transport, fundraising. So many people giving so much of their time and energy, going above and beyond. I’m proud to be part of the team.

• What is your favourite Rescue story so far? 

  I haven’t a favourite story but my experience of my first release of an owl has stayed with me. It was dusk, back where the owl had been found and with the finder's family sharing the moment. Watching as the owl left its cage, took flight and headed for the woods was totally magical. 

• What tips would you like to share with our supporters?

  No wildlife, no life. Open yourself to all the wildlife that lives around you.  Turn off your mobile phone for a while (especially children) and forget social media. In your garden or out on a walk, open up your senses. Who do you see? Who do you hear? What can you smell? How do you feel? Walk slowly, stop, be still, just be.

  
  

  There are lots of practical things you can do to help all wildlife. Let your garden, or at least part of your garden, get ‘messy’, be a bit wilder. Let it be how it wants to be rather than how you want it to be. Wildlife, especially insects and pollinators will thrive there. Keep your garden chemical-free, no pesticides or herbicides. These kill plants, insects and animals higher up the food chain which feed on them, so the damage they cause is widespread. Be very careful when using garden machinery especially strimmers. Check for animals, especially hedgehogs, before using them. Think twice about entertaining yourself with fireworks. A few minutes of fun for you can mean tremendous trauma for wildlife. Any donations for the rescue are very gratefully received. Financial, food, newspapers etc. Every little helps.