Reunion with a cherished pet

Reunion with a cherished pet

I had a lovely surprise mid-morning. I unexpectedly heard a knock at my front door, and when I went to answer the knock, I was momentarily nonplussed. A bearded tradie in shorts, boots, shirt and hat was standing there. Then he spoke, and recognition flooded in – it was Darren, from Freshwater Creek between Geelong and Torquay—a 40-minute drive away.

Darren adopted my lovely English Staffordshire terrier, Maisie, about four months ago as she was getting just a little too much for me, and, while Darren had stayed in touch, sending regular pics and video clips that showed Maisie’s transition to her new home (on 20 acres!) was seamless, I had not seen her since.
It just so happened that today Darren was doing a job at a house in my street!

He had taken Maisie for a run and swim at the beach and now she was resting in his car while he worked.

Darren said he wasn’t sure how I or Maisie would react, but ‘Would you like to see her?’
‘Oh, yes, please!’

My heart was jumping up and down with joy as I accompanied Darren to his vehicle several doors down, and he opened the door and lifted Maisie out.
Her tail wagged so fast! We hugged and hugged some more.

Seeing as Darren still had some work to do, he put Maisie’s lead on and I walked her home—she wanted to come inside the front yard and into the house, and yes, she found the cats’ dishes (she always liked to clean them out!), and then we sat in the garden outside where I took some pictures to make the most of the moment. My heart was purring. I gave her a dish of water, and after a drink, we walked back to Darren, and Maisie went from me to Darren completely without fuss, and he put her back into his vehicle.

Darren and I hugged, and I said, ‘Thank you, you have made my day’.
Darren loves Maisie as much as I do, and it shows in the way Maisie can pass from one of us to the other, tail-wagging all the way. She was taking this all in her stride.
I had been reluctant to visit Maisie, even though I missed her deeply and knew I was welcome, in case I burst into tears and wanted to bring her home.
Now, however, I know I can see her, hug her, and let her go. More importantly, I know she can see me, enjoy hugs, and then return to Darren (see picture).
Relief! I’m an extra happy pumpkin today. The circle of love is complete.

Special bond between people and pets

My heartfelt thanks go to Cherished Pets cherishedpetcare.com.au for organising Maisie’s smooth transition from one home to another. Cherished Pets is more than a veterinary clinic — as its website explains, it is a social enterprise dedicated to providing exceptional veterinary services and compassionate community care.

The philosophy is that when we care for animals, we care for people. And when we support people, we help animals. This interconnected well-being strengthens the bond between pets and their people, building healthier, more compassionate communities.

Cherished Pets Foundation, established in 2015 by veterinarian Dr Alicia Kennedy, aims to ensure that the life-changing benefits of a healthy human-animal bond are accessible to all, regardless of financial or social barriers. The Foundation provides interconnected veterinary and social services that support pets and the people who love them, fostering healthier, happier communities.

Bridging the gap between human health and animal welfare

As a unique dual entity, Cherished Pets comprises Cherished Pets Veterinary Care — the world’s first certified B Corporation veterinary service — and Cherished Pets Foundation, a registered charity committed to a social mission. The compassionate team of veterinary professionals, veterinary social workers, and dedicated volunteers works to bridge the gap between human health and animal welfare.

By safeguarding the well-being of pets and their owners, the Cherished Pets team empowers people facing vulnerability, promotes healthier lives, and strengthens community connections. This approach works towards a future where the human-animal bond drives positive social change.

Overall, the vision is a world where the human-animal bond creates and contributes to developing connected and healthy communities.

Addressing needs of pets and their owners

By addressing the needs of both pets and their owners, Cherished Pets supports people’s health and wellbeing and prevents loss of companionship, increased isolation, exacerbation of mental health conditions, and even the risk of harm to people or their pets.

The team also helps to prevent the need for costly downstream interventions such as emergency veterinary surgeries, prolonged medical treatments, or surrendering pets to shelters, which can have significant financial and emotional costs for pet owners and society.

I am ever-grateful to Dr Kennedy and her team for their understanding, empathy and compassion in arranging for my precious Maisie to be rehomed from one loving environment to another.