Meet Our Ambassadors

Mixed Breed · Female · Senior · 21 years

At Hope Rescue, we are incredibly proud to be supported by two remarkable ambassadors who share our passion for giving every dog the second chance they deserve. Will Young, celebrated singer and advocate for animal welfare, and Ruth Doddsworth, much‑loved broadcaster and devoted dog lover, lend their voices to help shine a light on the dogs who need us most. Their support strengthens our mission, raises awareness, and inspires our community to stand with us in creating a brighter, kinder future for dogs in South Wales and beyond. We are honoured to have them as part of the Hope Rescue family. I’m absolutely delighted to become the first ambassador for Hope Rescue. Their work in South Wales and beyond is truly inspiring. Every dog deserves a second chance, and Hope Rescue works tirelessly to make that happen.” We are honoured to have Will Young as Hope Rescue’s first ever ambassador, a role that perfectly reflects his lifelong dedication to animal welfare. As an award winning singer, actor, and passionate campaigner, Will brings both heart and influence to our mission, helping shine a brighter national spotlight on the dogs who need us most. A committed advocate for improving animal welfare legislation and a devoted rescuer himself, Will has spent years using his platform to champion better protection for animals and share the stories of the rescue dogs who’ve changed his life. Now, as part of the Hope Rescue family, he supports our work to save stray, abandoned, and vulnerable dogs across South Wales, raising awareness of responsible dog ownership and the urgent need for rescue and rehoming. Will describes becoming our ambassador as “an absolute delight”, recognising our mission as “truly inspiring” and affirming that “every dog deserves a second chance”. His belief in that second chance is more than words - it’s reflected in his actions, including co‑founding Miraculous Meals, a dog‑food brand that donates 50% of its profits to UK rescue centres like Hope Rescue. The initiative responds directly to the growing rescue crisis and ensures vital resources reach the charities working tirelessly on the front line. Will’s kindness, compassion, and unwavering dedication make him an extraordinary ambassador. With his support, we can amplify the voices of South Wales’ most vulnerable dogs and continue striving toward a future where every dog truly gets the chance they deserve. "I am beyond honoured that I am now officially a Hope Rescue ambassador. I have been following Hope’s story for so, so long and supporting, and in a world that isn’t always kind, the love and care the staff and volunteers here give to dogs who need our help is just absolutely incredible." We are delighted to welcome Ruth Doddsworth OBE as a Hope Rescue ambassador. A familiar face on ITV Cymru Wales for almost three decades, Ruth has been a long‑time supporter, friend, and champion of our work, and we are thrilled to have her officially join the Hope Rescue family. Ruth’s compassion for dogs and her belief in giving every animal a chance to thrive shines through in everything she does. During her visit to our centre, she spent time with dogs like Coco and Captain, whose resilience and gentle spirits deeply moved her. Reflecting on her new role, Ruth shared how honoured she feels to support a charity she has admired for so many years, saying that in a world that isn’t always kind, the love and care shown by Hope Rescue’s staff and volunteers is “absolutely incredible” and offers real hope to dogs who need it most. She speaks passionately about what inspires her - the courage of the dogs who arrive frightened and unsure, yet learn to trust again, and the dedicated people who help them heal. Ruth hopes her ambassadorship will help more people discover Hope Rescue, raise awareness of the rising number of stray and abandoned dogs, and use her voice and platform to advocate for the animals who cannot speak for themselves. A devoted dog lover, broadcaster, and newly appointed OBE for her advocacy supporting survivors of domestic abuse, Ruth brings strength, empathy, and authenticity to her role. Her involvement is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when compassion meets action, and we are so grateful to have her on our team! "For me, what I find most inspiring about Hope Rescue is the relentless work that's done not only in rescuing the dogs and rehoming them, but also trying to help dogs that are at risk of coming into the charity and working with their owners to be able to keep them if they can." We are delighted that Welsh journalist and TV and radio presenter Mariclare Carey-Jones has joined us here at Hope Rescue as our newest ambassador! Mariclare first came into our world through her campaigning work raising awareness about the health issues faced by brachycephalic breeds - flat-faced dogs like French bulldogs, a breed she knows and loves personally. From there, her involvement only grew. She went on to make a documentary shining a light on the health challenges these breeds face and the work we do on their behalf, and even took part in a sponsored Kennel Break to raise funds for us. By her own admission, we won't be getting rid of her anytime soon - and we wouldn't have it any other way! Having seen our work up close, Mariclare is passionate about helping more people understand just how far our reach extends. Despite being based right here in Llanharan, we support dogs across six local authorities in Wales, and what sets us apart, as Mariclare has seen first-hand, is our commitment to not only rescuing and rehoming dogs, but working with owners to prevent dogs from needing to come to us in the first place. We couldn't be more thrilled to have Mariclare in our corner, using her voice and platform to champion the dogs who need us most. Published: 10th March, 2026 Updated: 29th May, 2026 Author: Laura Corillon Mackerel is is a Crossbreed looking for her forever home. Pippa is a Terrier cross looking for her forever home. We're looking for a compassionate, organised and experienced Fostering Manager to lead our fostering programme during a period of maternity leave. Butch is a Lurcher looking for his forever home. Discover the Hope Rescue dogs waiting for their forever homes. Find out more about adopting a dog with Hope. We have a number of dogs that would benefit from a foster home rather a kennel environment. If you live in the South Wales area and would like to find out more, please get in touch. To check if we have your dog at our centre, please contact us directly on , 8am to 8pm, or email . You can also check on our Facebook page. Since 2005 Hope Rescue has been saving the lives of stray, abandoned and unwanted dogs that, through no fault of their own, need a second chance. We're always looking for donated items like blankets, treats and toys. Our charity shops are in Merthyr Tydfil, Pontyclun and Pontypridd, for shopping and donations. Explore the volunteering opportunities with Hope Rescue. Help make a difference for the dogs in our care. Tetris is a Dutch Herder Cross looking for his forever home. View the businesses that partner with us at Hope Rescue. Helping us be there for the dogs who need us most. Read more Published: 27th January, 2024 Updated: 22nd May, 2026 Author: Stuart McCarthy-Thompson Explore the volunteering opportunities with Hope Rescue. Help make a difference for the dogs in our care. Read more Published: 1st March, 2024 Updated: 6th July, 2026 We take dogs irrespective of their breed, age or condition and with your help, we can continue to help more dogs in need.

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