HOMELESS pets at the Blue Cross animal adoption centre in Felixstowe need animal lovers to be their friends. The charity is seeking more volunteers to sign up to help exercise, train and socialise the animals while they are waiting to find loving new homes.

HOMELESS pets at the Blue Cross animal adoption centre in Felixstowe need animal lovers to be their friends.

The charity is seeking more volunteers to sign up to help exercise, train and socialise the animals while they are waiting to find loving new homes.

Blue Cross centre manager Andrew Gillon said: “This is a great opportunity for animal lovers to spend time with the cats and dogs in our care.

“Pets love human company and can become unhappy and withdrawn if they spend too much time alone in a kennel environment.

“We try to make their time at the Blue Cross as comfortable as we can and our staff do a great job at looking after them, but with so many animals currently needing new homes we need volunteers to come forward and help us out.

“We are encouraging anyone over 18-years-old to come along for a few hours a week and make some new feline, canine and human friends.”

Rose Reynolds, 69, a volunteer walker at the centre in Walton High Street for more than eight years, said she looked forward to her visits.

“I really enjoy my time here and over the years I've enjoyed the company of some lovely pets looking for a new home,” she said.

“My favourite activity when I come here is to walk all the different dogs.

“Although I do sometimes become fond of particular animals I'm always happy to see them leave with new owners to live in a nice permanent home. I also enjoy helping with a lot of fundraising events and find raising money for the Blue Cross a really worthwhile activity.”

Volunteers must be over 18 and able to spare a few hours either at weekends or during the week to walk and play with dogs; handle, groom and socialise with cats; help with events held at the centre, and take part in fundraising activities.

To find out more about becoming a volunteer people should ring 01394 283254 or visit the centre, which is open Mondays and Tuesdays from 11am to 4pm; Wednesdays 11am to 1pm; and Thursday to Saturday 11am to 4pm.

What do you think of the work of the Blue Cross? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk