Our moments of BRAVERY

Three inspiring women faced their biggest fears - and got through them

- KATE CHAPMAN

‘I made life-changing decisions’

Caroline Oram, 51, is adoptions co-ordinator at Blue Cross Bromsgrove rehoming centre. She lives in Worcestershire with her partner, Dwight, 53.

If you had have told me I'd end up working with dogs and fostering them, I'd have laughed at you. I had been terrified of them since my childhood.

When I was six, a Jack Russell chased me around the garden and I ended up running away, then wetting myself because I was so scared; it traumatised me.

A German shepherd chased me when I was 12 and I did all the wrong things, screaming and flailing my arms because I was frightened.

We had cats when I was growing up. In 2009, I got a rescue one from the Blue Cross centre in East Sussex, where I lived. They asked if I'd like to volunteer and help socialise the kittens.

It was a lovely environment, but they had dogs too. I said no when asked if I would work with them. The charity's head behaviourist gave us a talk on dogs, their body language and on understanding them. I found it fascinating, as I didn't know anything about it - things such as what their tail positions, yawning and licking their lips meant.

I wanted to drink up as much information as I could, and so signed up for some courses.

The next time I was asked if I'd work with the dogs, I agreed. The first was Banjo, a Staffie with a broken leg. I remember taking him out, thinking, 'How can I be walking this dog?'