A popular Penrith woman — well-known for her love of animals — has died aged 64 after a battle with cancer.
Carol Jeffreys was born in Kendal, but moved to Penrith at the age of four with parents Mary and the late John Jeffreys and sister Chris. When she was a teenager the family moved to Hunter Lane, in Penrith.
After attending St Catherine’s School and then Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Carol joined Barclays Bank in 1975, but six years later followed in her father and grandfather’s footsteps by joining Cumbria police. After six years as a police officer she moved into the control room due to a shoulder injury — a position in which she was well liked, having previously been an officer.
In 2010, Carol retired from the police and fulfilled a long-held dream by opening Furrytails dog kennels at Melmerby.
She was a dog lover all her life, getting her first canine companion, Sultan, in 1982.
Most of her pets were from rescue centres and were always German shepherds.
Her family helped her to do Furrytails up and often helped out to give Carol a break.
“She put everything into Furrytails,” said sister Chris. “There were no rules or opening times as such — she would just say ‘come whenever’.”
Carol spent eight years running Furrytails. “She was too kind and it eventually got too much for her,” said Chris.
She also helped out the Greyhound Rescue charity, providing accommodation for some of their dogs which were waiting for forever homes.
In 2019 she decided to raise money for Smokey Paws — a non-profit organisation working to donate pet life-saving oxygen masks to the UK’s fire services and first responders.
“We were all very proud of that and she got great feedback from it,” said Chris.
Through social media, Carol continued to help people with advice and support on anything dog-related, particularly helping to find lost dogs and transporting rescue animals to new homes.
She also helped Mackenzie Leder to set up Cumbria-based Kenzie’s K9s, an animal search and rescue group, and was a keen supporter of Eden Animal Rescue.
“We were very proud of how brave she was,” said Chris. “She was a fighter and she was a very positive person.”
Carol leaves mum Mary, sister Chris, nieces Sharon and Hannah, an uncle, Brian, and cousin, Victoria.
Her funeral was held on Wednesday at Eden Valley Crematorium, Temple Sowerby, with arrangements by Jill Glencross.
Donations in memory of Carol are for Ani-Mel Haven, a rescue centre for all animals based in Silloth, and Morgan’s Dog Rescue, of Alston.
