A Hampshire woman who has helped educate more than 30,000 children about pet welfare and responsible pet ownership is being recognized during Volunteers' Week for her outstanding contribution to leading vet charity PDSA.
Dedicated Volunteer
Catherine Hahn, 71, from Winchester, has dedicated more than a decade to supporting the charity and now spends her time delivering educational talks to young people across the UK, helping to create a new generation of responsible pet owners. Catherine delivers engaging sessions to children from reception age through to university students, teaching them how to care for pets safely and responsibly while highlighting the importance of animal welfare.
PDSA's Mission
PDSA provides free and low-cost veterinary care through its Pet Hospitals across the UK, helping to prevent suffering, relieve poverty and keep people together with their much-loved pets. A lifelong animal lover and retired veterinary nurse, Catherine first joined PDSA as a volunteer in 2014 after attending a charity event at Highclere Castle.
Variety of Roles
Since then, she has taken on a variety of roles, from providing administrative support and representing the charity at events to becoming a key member of PDSA's education team. Since moving into the education role, she has delivered talks to more than 30,000 children, helping them understand everything from pet care and animal behavior to staying safe around animals.
Volunteer's Perspective
Catherine said: "I have always wanted to help pets have better lives. I had supported PDSA for most of my life, but after meeting the team at an event, I knew I wanted to become more involved and help support their mission." She added: "My favorite part of volunteering is connecting with young people, especially primary school children who are so eager to learn how to look after their pets. It's wonderful when schools tell me children were still talking about the session days later. That's when you realize you've made a difference."
Impact in 2025
In 2025 alone, Catherine spoke to almost 6,000 children as part of PDSA's wider education program, which reached nearly 470,000 young people across the UK. Among her proudest moments are receiving letters, drawings and thank-you cards from children inspired by her talks, as well as being recommended to new schools by those she has previously visited.
Charity's Appreciation
Anna Baggott, from PDSA's education team, said: "Volunteers like Catherine are absolutely vital to our work. They help us reach young learners in a way that is engaging, meaningful and memorable. Catherine brings a wealth of experience, passion and enthusiasm to every session she delivers. Her dedication has helped thousands of children learn how to interact safely and responsibly with pets, while inspiring kindness, empathy and respect for animals. Her contribution over the years has been extraordinary, and we are incredibly grateful for everything she has done to support PDSA's mission."
Special Sessions
One highlight saw Catherine help deliver a special Remembrance Day session celebrating the remarkable animals awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal, sharing stories of bravery and service with children across the UK. Research from the Children & Pets Survey 2025 found that 65% of children aged seven to 11 live with at least one pet, highlighting the importance of ensuring young people understand how to interact safely and responsibly with animals from an early age.
Encouraging Others
Reflecting on her volunteering journey, Catherine added: "I would absolutely recommend volunteering. We should all try to make a meaningful contribution to society and, in doing so, you gain so much yourself. It's incredibly rewarding to feel valued while helping make a positive difference." People inspired by Catherine's story can find out more at pdsa.org.uk/volunteering.
