Our impact
We provide valuable animal welfare and rehoming services across Suffolk.
Our Martlesham Animal Centre can care for over 140 animals at any one time – from dogs, cats, birds, hamsters and more! Our Welfare Clinics provide low-cost vet care for families in need with the aim of keeping pets in their loving homes. Working together with the national RSPCA Inspectorate team and the local community we provide protection, care, and rehoming for animals in need.
Improving welfare
The RSPCA is the world’s oldest animal welfare charity, working to improve the lives of animals for over 200 years.
Our focus on education within the community through outreach, events and talks, provides awareness and guidance on animal care, training and behavioural needs, to help make the life of your pet as enjoyable and happy as possible.
Meet the RSPCA Suffolk team
Zoe Barrett-Lamb
Animal Centre Manager
Zoe Barrett-Lamb
Animal Centre Manager
Zoe has been a part of the RSPCA team for 11 years, having started as a volunteer during her university studies. She has been Animal Centre Manager for Suffolk Central Branch for 6 years. Her passion for animals started at a young age and the welfare sector is where her heart is happy and she gets to exercise her skills and knowledge on a daily basis to support animals and people in need. When she’s not at our Rehoming Centre you’ll find her on long walks, navigating motherhood, or in the Fjords of Norway enjoying the company of wild Orca and humpback whales.
Lotti Buchholz
Small Animal Supervisor
Lotti Buchholz
Small Animal Supervisor
Lotti’s career at RSPCA Suffolk Central started after moving to the UK in 2023.
She started working as care assistant on the weekends while also working as an animal technician elsewhere. She has a BSc in Animal Management and experience working with alpacas in Germany.
Joining us as the Small Animal Supervisor has made her incredibly happy as Lotti has always wanted to be a voice for animals and loves working with them as they give so much back. Most of her free time is spent with her two dogs but she also loves to sing and take photographs.
Kellis Bird
Small Animal Centre Assistant
Kellis Bird
Small Animal Centre Assistant
Kellis has been working at the RSPCA for 2 years now and has found it rewarding as it was an her dream to work with animals since she could remember.
She currently works on the Small Animal section that includes ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and more. She finds working with ferrets fun and loves how they run around and can be quite naughty.
Kellis has a pet snake called Rolo, rabbit called Flop and a rescue hedgehog that lives in the garden. In her spare time she likes to spend time with friends and family and over-spending on shopping trips as she feels you can never have too many outfits.
Clare Larter
Cattery Assistant
Clare Larter
Cattery Assistant
Clare joined RSPCA Suffolk Central Branch in 2002 having previously attended Otley College completing an NVQ 1 and a BTech first diploma in animal care.
Her favourite part of the job is working with the more challenging cats and helping them to feel more comfortable around people.
Outside of work Clare enjoys spending time going on countryside walks and being with her own cats who she adopted from the centre.
Lucy Calver
Senior Kennel Assistant
Lucy Calver
Senior Kennel Assistant
Lucy has worked at the Suffolk Central Branch for 5 years now, but has worked with animals ever since she’s was old enough to gain work experience as she grew up with a love of animals – with a particular soft spot for dogs!
She has a Level 3 Diploma in Animal Management and in Canine Behaviour and Training, as well as a BSc Honours in Animal Behaviour and Welfare and more.
Lucy has a huge passion for her work and finds it the most rewarding job and is driven by her experiences. She takes huge pride in being part of a dogs rehabilitation and rehoming journey – from first seeing the heart-breaking state a dog arrives to the branch in, to seeing that same dog jump happily and healthily in the car of their new owners.
In her spare time she enjoys fostering the dogs, taking her own beautiful rescue for walks, watching sunsets/rises and travelling.
Sally Locke
Receptionist
Sally Locke
Receptionist
Sally has worked at the centre for over 25 years. She studied animal care at college for two years before starting work as an animal care assistant and has undertaken many different courses relating to animals including two in feline psychology and a customer care qualifications.
Sally’s love for the job has always been about helping animals in need and giving advice to those who need it.
When not at work Sally likes gardening, furthering her knowledge on feline health, welfare and behaviour, fostering the centre’s more challenging cats and watching crime dramas.
Evie Plant
Animal Care Assistant
Evie Plant
Animal Care Assistant
Evie has been working for RSPCA Suffolk Central since March 2024 and joined after completing her Level 3 in Animal Management at college.
Her concern about the welfare of animals led to a keen interest in the work charities do to support this and she is proud to say she is now an Animal Care Assistant at the RSPCA.
Evie finds her job really rewarding, especially being part of a team responsible for caring for animals that are then successfully rehomed.
While not at work she enjoys catching up with friends and caring for her own animals at home.
Ella Scopes
Kennel Assistant
Ella Scopes
Kennel Assistant
Ella joined our Kennel Team in early 2024. She has an animal management qualification and followed her passion to work with animals.
This job means she gets to show her love to animals that need it most and help to give them the care they deserve. Ella loves working with a team that all have the same passion for the animals they care for. In her spare time, she likes to crochet, see her friends and go climbing.
Donna Rich
Deputy Manager & Cattery Supervisor
Donna Rich
Deputy Manager & Cattery Supervisor
Donna joined RSPCA Suffolk Central Branch in 2011 and has loved every second! Before joining the branch, she studied a National Diploma in Animal Management and went on to get a BSC Degree in Animal Welfare and Behaviour. Her favourite part of the job is seeing an animal go from day one to their new loving home. In her spare time she enjoys gaming on her PC and spending time with her foster cats.
Emma Sharman
Receptionist
Emma Sharman
Receptionist
Emma has worked with animals for over 10 years and in that time she has been a Rehabilitation Groom for the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare. This work led her to study Veterinary Physiotherapy.
She now runs her own business and works part-time as a receptionist at RSPCA Suffolk Central.
Her favourite part of the job is seeing the excited faces that come to pick up their new family members and watching animals that didn’t have a good start in life go to their forever homes.
Natalie Smith
Behaviour and Welfare Advisor
Natalie Smith
Behaviour and Welfare Advisor
Nat started working for the RSPCA 14 years ago, after completing Animal Behaviour and Welfare studies at both college and university.
Her journey began at RSPCA Danaher, then after 2 years, she joined the team at RSPCA Suffolk Central where she works as our Behaviour and Welfare Advisor.
Her favourite thing about working for the RSPCA is being able to put her passion for dog behaviour and welfare into practice and being able to constantly learn. In Nat’s spare time she loves being outdoors and sharing experiences with her little girl, Gracie.
Bethany Smith
Kennel Assistant
Bethany Smith
Kennel Assistant
How else can I get involved?
There are many ways you can offer your support.