An ode to the animals who shaped me
I wasn’t the firstborn in my family, my first dog was.
Her name was Jo, a fluffy Maltese, and she was my very first teacher.
Jo taught me gentleness. She taught me kindness. And perhaps most importantly, she taught me how to slow down and find joy in the smallest moments, like napping in the warm sunshine. She set the tone for my life with animals long before I ever realised that animals would become my life’s work.
Not long after Jo, my family finally agreed to let me have my own puppy. I was six years old. Her name was Gracie- a small, golden rescue pup we found at a market. She was pure sunshine, inside and out. Soft, kind, and quietly joyful. Jo adored her, and I grew up beside the two of them- two souls far too good for this world. Looking back now, I realise how incredibly lucky I was to have them as my first animal teachers.
As the years passed, many animals found their way into my life. Each one unique, each one leaving their mark. Dogs, cats, hamsters, horses… and even a very wild bunny. Every relationship brought lessons in patience, communication, trust, and compassion.
After school, I studied art direction. I loved art and design almost as much as I loved animals, but in hindsight, something was missing. While it may not have been the path I ultimately stayed on, it shaped how I see the world — teaching me to observe closely, think creatively, and understand the importance of environment, detail, and emotional nuance. These skills still live alongside me today through freelance work and quietly inform how I work with animals.
Three few years ago, I felt an undeniable pull back to my roots. I knew I needed to work with animals, not just alongside them, but in service of them. That calling led me to study animal behaviour, where everything began to make sense. Shortly after qualifying, I felt the need to deepen my understanding even further, and began my journey into animal osteopathy – learning to support animals not only emotionally and behaviourally, but physically too.
Today, I share my life with a rescue dog, two rescue cats, and three horses. all with stories of their own. Alongside this, I also foster kittens for Kitten Clinic, a non-profit organisation started by my mom and two close friends. This work is incredibly close to my heart. Many of these kittens would not survive without early intervention, dedicated care, and advocacy – and being part of their journey, from fragile beginnings to healthy futures, is both humbling and deeply meaningful.
They continue to teach me every day. Gentled Animals exists because of them, and because of Jo and Gracie – the ones who started it all.
