We’re incredibly proud to share that Emma Connelly, Centre Manager at our North Lincolnshire Centre, has been named as one of just four finalists in the BBC Make a Difference Humberside Awards 2026 Animal Award.
The Animal Award recognises individuals who go above and beyond to improve animal welfare, something Emma has dedicated more than three decades of her life to doing.
Emma has worked in the animal welfare sector for an incredible 32 years, including the last seven years here at Jerry Green Dog Rescue.
But her career could have looked very different.
After finishing her A Levels at 18, Emma began training with a local firm of solicitors to become a Legal Executive. It didn’t take long for her to realise that office life wasn’t for her, and when a vacancy came up at a local animal charity, she decided to apply.
Although she was considered too young for the position she originally applied for, she was offered a different role as a switchboard operator. Just three years later, Emma had worked her way up to become deputy manager of the very department she had initially been turned down for.
Over the following three decades, Emma has held a variety of roles across animal welfare, working with both dogs and cats as well as taking on clinical management roles within rescue environments.
Today, she leads our North Lincolnshire team, helping dogs with a huge range of needs to receive the care, support and second chances they deserve.
While every dog matters to Emma, supporting pregnant dogs and new mums has become a particular passion.
In the last year alone, Emma has helped to care for 52 puppies, with some of their mums arriving at Jerry Green Dog Rescue heavily pregnant, frightened or with complex medical and behavioural needs.
For a dog, giving birth and raising a litter can already be an enormous experience. Doing so after arriving somewhere unfamiliar can make it even more challenging. Emma works to build trust with these mums and give them the safety and reassurance they need throughout pregnancy, birth and those important first weeks with their puppies.
One of those dogs was Blossom, a former stray Staffordshire Bull Terrier. When one of Blossom’s newborn puppies stopped breathing during labour, Emma acted immediately and successfully revived the puppy. She remained at the centre until 2am to make sure mum and her vulnerable family were safe.
Then there was Missy, a pregnant Cane Corso who was so frightened when she arrived that Emma was initially the only person she trusted. Knowing how important that fragile bond was, Emma came into the centre on three consecutive days off to continue caring for her.
For up to eight weeks at a time, Emma can also carry out nightly checks on new mums and their puppies, carefully balancing the needs of vulnerable puppies with those of mothers who may understandably be protective of their young.
“My passion is very much about protecting the welfare of pregnant mums. We see so many young dogs coming through our doors heavily pregnant, and being able to support them through what is probably one of the most stressful experiences of their lives; being in a strange environment, giving birth and then raising their puppies has really focused my attention in recent years. Having puppies around can of course be incredibly cute, but they are also hard work to care for. The mums will forever have my heart. Being able to become their friend and earn their trust is immeasurable.”For Emma, earning their trust makes it all worthwhile.
Emma’s nomination also recognises something that sits at the heart of our work at Jerry Green Dog Rescue: animal welfare is about supporting people, too.
Every dog who comes into our care has a story, and behind many of those dogs is a person or family facing an incredibly difficult decision or change in circumstances.
Alongside rescue and rehoming, Emma has a passion for helping owners experiencing extreme crisis, such as domestic abuse, hospitalisation or homelessness.
By providing a safe place for their dogs when they need it most when we have the resources to do so, we can help prevent family dogs from becoming another casualty of a crisis and, where possible, support dogs and their owners to be reunited.
“My job isn't just about the dogs. It's about helping people too. Every relinquishment to our care has an owner's story, and many of those are heartbreaking. Every adopter has their own story and the right dog could help to complete that story for them. My amazing team and I couldn't help so many dogs without helping people too.”
Despite dedicating 32 years of her life to animal welfare, Emma is quick to share the recognition with the people working alongside her every day.
Speaking about being selected as one of only four finalists, Emma said:
“I am honoured and proud to be recognised in this way, but I couldn’t do my job without a fabulous team behind me and supporting me as much as I support them. To have been shortlisted when there would have been so many strong nominations is incredibly heartwarming.”
From an 18-year-old who quickly realised that life behind an office desk wasn’t for her, to a career spanning more than three decades of animal welfare, Emma has helped change the lives of countless animals and people along the way.
Whatever happens at the awards, being chosen as one of four finalists is a wonderful recognition of that dedication, and everyone across the Jerry Green Dog Rescue family will be cheering Emma on.
