WHEN Kathy Kay first got involved with the RSPCA she wanted to "change the world" -- the world's treatment of animals that is.

She says: "I thought I would see big changes in my lifetime, a whole better deal for animals, but it hasn't happened yet."

The big changes Kathy hopes to see are not, you would think, too unrealistic. All she wants is to see animal cruelty stamped out and far fewer strays on the streets.

It is difficult to imagine there could be anyone more dedicated to animals than Kathy, who is the RSPCA's Bolton branch administrator.

Her love of animals started when, as a child, she pestered her parents for a dog.

She was refused a large animal but was able to have the almost obligatory budgie and fish. Then, in her teenage years, she bought some mice.

"My parents were incredibly sensible and I realise now, as an adult, just how sensible they were.

"It would not have been practical to have a dog, and I am now very grateful to them because it has made me realise the responsibilities of looking after a pet.

"I think my pets are more precious to me now because I wasn't allowed to have one when I was a child."

Since becoming an adult and marrying husband Graham, Kathy has more than made up for it. She currently has three dogs, two cats -- all rescued animals -- and a tank of tropical fish.

Although she works full-time, 54-year-old Kathy says she makes it up to her animals by spending huge amounts of time with them when she is at the family home in Bromley Cross.

"I enjoy being with them. We have some lovely long walks."

Kathy's work is incredibly stressful and it is difficult to say when her working day ends and her "spare time" actually begins.

"People ring me at home with problems. I was not feeling too well at Christmas and looking forward to spending some time in front of the fire when I got a call to say a horse was loose on Moss Bank Way.

"As soon as I got the call I didn't feel ill any longer. I guess the adrenaline kept me going because I knew I had to do something to help."

Kathy, who has two children -- Steven, aged 27, and 24-year-old Louise -- has been associated with the RSPCA since offering her services to the charity as a 16-year-old and ended up helping out on "flag days".

It was the next best thing for the young Kathy, who had wanted to train as a vet.

"I couldn't train as a vet because I wouldn't have been able to cope with putting animals to sleep."

In her early 20s, Kathy became a member of the local RSPCA committee and for 20 years was a volunteer worker. For the past 10 years she has been a paid-for, full-time employee.

"Charities have moved on from the days when volunteers popped in for a couple of hours here and there when they could manage it," she says.

"We have to run things more like a business."

But the vital ingredient all RSPCA workers -- volunteers or otherwise -- must possess is a love of animals.

Sad cases regularly arrive at the office in St George's Road. A cat with a horrendous skin condition, due to neglect, was recently taken into the care of the charity.

"I do take my work home with me. I get distressed and find it hard to switch off sometimes."

Kathy's passion for animals is something that affects every part of her life. She became a vegetarian after working on an RSPCA campaign which aimed to prevent halal meat from being served in Bolton schools and, where possible, she buys products that have not been tested on animals.

"Sometimes it is difficult to find out if something has been tested on animals. With cosmetics it is fairly easy."

She vehemently promotes animal welfare, has no time for unscrupulous dog-breeders, and would love to see the day when animals are given a better deal.

She would love to see little, if any, need for the RSPCA foster homes where unwanted or ill-treated animals are cared for, and would be thrilled if neutering could eradicate the problem of stray cats.

It may be an impossible dream but it is something Kathy and her hard-working team are aiming for.

Until then, there is still work to be done -- and lots of it. The telephone rings and Kathy has to deal with an elderly woman who wants a puppy.

"I have to explain to her, as kindly as possible, that really she should be looking for an older dog as it would be a wonderful, and very grateful, companion.

"We have lots of older dogs that need re-homing. They would love to live out the rest of their lives in comfort and with love."

Love is something Kathy knows plenty about. Her love for animals is inspirational and her dedication makes her a champion of creatures who cannot speak for themselves.

Perhaps she has already made that big difference to animals that she longed for as a teenage RSPCA volunteer-- simply by caring.