From the moment of our birth, we all seek connections – connections that make us feel alive, loved, and secure. For me, many of these connections came in the form of pets. Since I was young, I've been surrounded by the purrs of cats, the playful barks of dogs, the chirping of birds, and the presence of horses. Each of these animals has brought joy and love into my life in their own unique way.
However, it was during the toughest periods of my life that I truly realised the incredible value and seemingly healing power of pets. For persons who don't own animals, or haven't had traumatic life experiences, this post might seem far-fetched. Even for people who know me as a stoic fitness fanatic and former athlete, they may be surprised to read what I have to say. I promise you; I mean every word.
When I was 18, I lost my first cat to a spider bite, leaving a feeling of sadness and loneliness that I had not yet experienced in my life before. But destiny, in the guise of a kind-hearted family friend, sent me a picture of a cat up for adoption. That was how Barbar, my ten-year-old feline friend (son*), came into my life. He wasn't just a replacement; he became an anchor, and a very cute distraction during a difficult time.
Between the ages of 20 to 28, my life was pretty turbulent – a sea of stressful experiences to be more precise. It was around the age of 26 that I rescued Billie, a talkative, cute, and clingy tortoiseshell cat (she's actually walking around my keyboard while I'm writing this – so please excuse the typo's).
Not long after adopting Billie, I lost a family member to suicide on Christmas morning. To this day, it's still an experience that has had a profound impact on my life, and the flow on effects, compounded by ongoing work and life stressors, has often felt insurmountable.
But even in the darkest moments, when the world seemed bleak and my own thoughts turned ominous, it was my cats that became my lifeline. It's something that seems far-fetched, but for one cat in particular (Barbar), to break from his typical "I'm too good for pats and affection" attitude at moments that coincided with my lowest points, seems like more than a coincidence to me.
I really believe that cats (and many other animals), have the ability to sense pain, suffering and stress, and to actively comfort their owners. It certainly was apparent for me, and it felt as if one moment of eye contact and my stress was understood. The simple act of locking eyes, talking to, or being around them both, would momentarily erase the burdens of my world. Everything else was a distant memory for those moments!
At each moment when my life felt overwhelming, beyond insufferable, the mere thought of Barbar and Billie – being left alone without me, imparted a feeling of guilt which immediately pointed my focus towards overcoming my grief and being around for them. The realization hit me hard; I owed it to them to keep going, to stay strong. They had been my unyielding support, giving me the strength and love I needed.
Obviously, family and friends play a large role in this too; however, there was something about leaving behind my animals, which really struck me. Each and every day, they had given me their company – their fate tied to mine, it felt, and they gave me 100%. How could I, in turn, not give them the same, and subject them to a fate outside of my control. Would my actions result in them being separated, and adopted into less than adequate homes? The list of questions and "what-ifs" was so long, it distracted me from thinking about the other stressors in my world.
This profound bond with my pets is one of the inspirations for me to be a co-founder of "COMPETIBLE". It's not just an organisation; it's a dream, a vision and a cause deeply connected to my life. We envision a world where every shelter animal finds a loving home, where they become the silent healers, the unconditional lovers, and the loyal companions that everyone deserves. No animal should face the grim fate of euthanasia because of circumstances beyond their control. With "COMPETIBLE", we hope to bridge the gap between lonely hearts and longing animals.
Our dreams for "COMPETIBLE" are vast. We hope to not only rehome animals but to reshape societal perspectives on shelter animals. By shedding light on the unmatched joy and solace they can bring, we want to reduce the allure of breeders and make adoption the first choice. Furthermore, we dream of building a community – a community where pet owners can share their stories, seek advice, and constantly be reminded that they're not alone in their journey.
With every pet rehomed, with every tale of bonding shared, and with every life saved, "COMPETIBLE" takes a step closer to realising its dream. A dream where every animal gets to share its gift of unconditional love, and every human gets to experience the life-altering magic they bring. We hope you'll join us in turning this dream into a reality.
With the sincerest gratitude,
Zach, Billie and Barbar.
