Meet Lisa: the heart behind Spaniel Rescue Foundation

When Lisa first imagined Spaniel Rescue Foundation (SRF), she saw more than a rescue. She saw a place where education and compassion could sit side by side – where dogs would be saved, but where owners, volunteers and fosterers would be supported just as deeply.

Having spent many years volunteering with various rescues, she recognised a gap: too many dogs were reaching crisis point, with too few resources existing to prevent it. SRF was born to fill that space, with spaniels at its heart.

Her connection to spaniels runs deep. Lisa’s first dogs were spaniels, and she fell in love with their unique characters: “They’re clever, gorgeous and a little bit all over the place – in the best way,” she says. Their quirks and challenges felt like home to her, so when the time came to build a charity, there was never any doubt it would be for them.

Lisa’s career in the NHS, spanning over three decades, gave her the skills she now pours into SRF every day: caring for people, managing large teams, problem solving under pressure and staying motivated even when the days are tough. “I feel like my whole career led me here,” she explains.

At home, life is just as full. Lisa and her family share their lives with four dogs – Zak the German Shepherd, Pippa the cocker spaniel, Noodles the sprocker, and Ruby the springer. All four are “foster fails,” just a handful of the 25 dogs Lisa has fostered over the years.

She and her family also opened their hearts and home to three end-of-life spaniels, giving them love and dignity in their final months: “They stole and broke our hearts in equal measures,” she says. That’s why her advice to anyone considering fostering or adopting is simple: do it. Go in with patience and an open heart and you’ll witness something extraordinary – a dog learning to trust again. “It’s the best feeling in the world,” says Lisa.

Running SRF is not without its challenges as Lisa explains: “Finding enough foster homes and adopters remains a constant challenge, alongside building the digital resources hub that will give owners the tools they need to keep dogs in their homes.” Yet Lisa is proud every single day. The ‘Happy Tails’ stories of dogs SRF has rehomed remind her why the hard work matters – proof that every volunteer, fosterer and supporter is part of something life-changing.

In just two years, the charity has grown steadily, laying strong foundations and learning from experience. Lisa’s days are filled with policies, funding applications and countless conversations with the people who make SRF possible. “It’s hard work, but an absolute joy, which comes from many moments every day, like seeing a nervous dog blossom, or a volunteer discover a new skill,” she explains.

Looking ahead Lisa hopes SRF will become the trusted place for spaniel owners to find advice and support. She believes the future of rescue lies in prevention: “That’s the dream – giving owners the knowledge and confidence to manage small issues before they become big problems. But most of our team have day jobs, so focusing on a big project can be a real juggling act.” That’s why more volunteers have been recruited to get the digital resources hub up and running in 2026.

“I hope SRF can play a big part in promoting kind, force-free training. If our education can help people understand and manage their dog better, we can prevent dogs from being surrendered in the first place.”

The last two years have been about making sure everything is set to keep SRF running smoothly and sustainably: “Our team of volunteers is incredible, and we’re all pushing together in the same direction now.”

But as a volunteer-run charity, Lisa understands that everyone has busy lives. From fundraising coordinators to administrators and graphic designers, she says there’s always a need for more volunteers to join: “Come in with an open mind, a passion for spaniels and a love of learning. Every single role makes a real difference, and you’ll get such a buzz out of helping to change lives for both dogs and people.”

That’s the spirit Lisa built SRF on. And it’s the spirit that continues to drive the charity forward, one wagging tail at a time.

Interested in joining us? We’d love to have you! Explore our volunteer opportunities on our website.