As a supporter, I found a natural home with like-minded people when Janetta founded Schnauzerfest. I’ve been involved in various capacities as it’s evolved into a registered charity. Becoming a trustee is a genuine honour and I wholeheartedly welcome the opportunity to support the charity’s mission to improve the lives of dogs in need. I’ve enjoyed a varied working life in the public and private sectors and as a trustee I look forward to contributing to the charity’s governance and decision-making with dog welfare at its heart.

My husband and I have shared our lives with a number of schnauzers since 1990 and apart from a bit of a sad break after we lost Lily at the end of 2019 and before Mungo came into our lives at the beginning of 2021, we have never been without at least one.

Schnauzerfest came into my life in 2017 and I learnt a lot on my first walk. Some were there with puppy farm survivors, each with their own story. I was aware of puppy farms but naive to the horrors breeding dogs endure, surviving and often dying a few feet from where they are born. I won a raffle prize that day, and chose a book written by Janetta Harvey about Susie-Belle, the inspiration behind Schnauzerfest, reading it cover to cover that day.

I have a lifelong love of dogs and Archie was my first schnauzer after losing a standard poodle and a Welsh terrier in the same week. After watching a shocking TV programme on puppy farming, the details of which stayed with me and really brought home how horrific the industry is, I adopted Isla, one of the fortunate few who get out of puppy farms.

I grew up with dogs: my favourite companions were the family miniature schnauzer Rowsby and standard schnauzer Daisie, both of whom I doted on. I have two standard schnauzers - Alfie, and Reeva who is adopted.

When we lost our first dog, Jasmine, we found a good breeder and brought Renae home at 8 weeks old. I wanted a friend for her and adopted Susie-Belle, a miniature schnauzer who had spent 8 years in a terrible puppy farm.