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Carol Goodliffe

Meet Carol, or as her friends like to call her—AW, short for Angel Wings! Why the heavenly nickname? Well, if there’s a cry, a whimper, or even the faintest hint of a pointer in distress, you can bet Carol will be soaring in like a superhero on a rescue mission!

Carol’s superpower? She’s a real-life Dr. Dolittle, but with a special gift—she’s a Pointer Whisperer! Animals have been part of her life from the very beginning. Growing up on a farm, her first pet was no ordinary kitten or puppy—it was a cow! (Yes, you read that right!) And it wasn’t just for show—Carol was always the little healer, tending to every sick or injured creature that crossed her path. The warm fireplace in their family home? Often transformed into a makeshift recovery ward for calves, lambs, and any other creature needing a cozy space to mend.

Her journey with dogs began when she left home and started her own family. After the birth of her first son, she started scanning the local paper for the perfect pup and found Pepper, a six-month-old Pointer who quickly became her son’s loyal sidekick. When Pepper passed, life got busy with a growing business and two teenage sons, but Carol’s heart still longed for the pitter-patter of paws.

The spark reignited when they dog-sat a relative’s Irish Setter for a couple of years (spoiler: the Setter decided staying was better than leaving). But it was when the boys finished school that Carol knew it was time. She visited the legendary Beryl Bugden, our charity founder, where a playful young Pointer named Treacle was zooming around with an Irish Setter. If both had been on offer, they’d probably both be curled up on one of Carol’s sofas today!

Treacle was the start of something beautiful. Carol has since lost count of the number of foster dogs who have wagged their way through her door—each one leaving paw prints on her heart. While saying goodbye can be tough, there’s nothing quite like seeing a once-nervous pup blossom into a confident, happy member of their forever family.

AW’s motto? No matter how busy life gets, there’s always time to save one more tail. Because some wings aren’t just for angels—they’re for heroes like Carol, too.

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