Eline began working for PAWS - before she even got here!

Eline Donders is a young social worker in the small Dutch town of Reithoven, just south of Eindhoven. She has a stressful job, working in a Citizens Advice Centre dealing with difficutl problems (and sometimes difficult people). She needed a break, some sunshine, a change of scene.

Eline loves animals, and has a Chihuahua - she has only a small apartment. She had studied and qualified to be a veterinary assistant before switching to be a social worker. So one evening she and a friend Googled Animal Rescue Shelters in Spain, and came up with PAWS. They booked in with PAWS volunteer co-ordinator Yvonne Tromp for a three-week stay in one of the shelter's mobile homes.

But spending her holiday working hard at the shelter wasn't enough for Eline. She decided to organise a sponsored dog walk in aid of PAWS before coming here. She hoped the event would raise €150-200.

It raised €530 - just at the time when PAWS was in most urgent need of funds from anywhere it could find them!

Five days after arriving in Spain Eline was able to present the money in person to a delighted PAWS Treasurer, Janet Franklin

Eline Donders presenting €530 to PAWS treasurer Janet Franklin and Austin (still looking for a home)

Afterwards Janet responded: "I never stop being amazed at the dedication of our young volunteers. The money is desperately needed, but more than that at a critical time for PAWS' future acts like this give us hope. There are so many people out there who really care, and who want PAWS to survive."

And for Eline, how does cleaning out dog kennels compare with the stress of solving people's problems? "I'm really enjoying it here. Sometimes working with dogs is more rewarding than working with people. You get more warmth and appreciation - even though they can't speak!