The other day, while interviewing a woman and her feline companion for a regular feature I write in the Toronto Star, the subject of animal welfare and advocacy came up.  During these exchanges, interviewees often ask about my background, and how I came to write Pet Psyche – a lighthearted take on the questionnaire made famous by French novelist Marcel Proust in which pet owners answer on behalf of their furry friends.  On this particular occasion, Kara expressed her desire to get involved in animal advocacy in some capacity but confessed she had no idea how or where to begin.

My journey to the animal welfare pursuits in which I’m involved today actually started as a result of a rough patch in my career.  To quell a growing dissatisfaction with my professional life, I started to look for something to be passionate about outside of the boardroom, while figuring out my next career move.

Being a senior manager leading a team of 14, I was removed from the creative, hands-on involvement in the business – one of my passions – so enrolled in a magazine writing course at a nearby college.  Also, I had often toyed with the idea of fostering shelter animals, and decided it was time to look into that in earnest as well.

A few days later, at the end of yet another long meeting, I overheard a colleague mention how well the two rescue dogs she was fostering were doing.  Eager to hear more, I decided to hang back and listen in on the conversation as the rest of my colleagues hurriedly took their leave, smartphones a blazing.

It was that simple decision – to join a conversation – that opened up an entire world to me.

Meredith recounted the story of one of her canine charges – he was found chained to a fence post in a cemetery, left there to die.  And while I still feel gutted every time I come across a story like this, I knew I wanted in.  I knew I was ready to get involved.  Meredith later sent me a link to the C4P Animal Rescue newsletter and as soon as I saw it, realized I’d been a subscriber a few years back, but for some reason didn’t renew when my e-mail coordinates changed.  I re-subscribed, and in the first copy I received, I came across a cat who needed fostering.

                                                                                                                                         Charlotte’s rescue photo

There was something about her face that resonated deeply with me, and after a brief e-mail exchange, one detailed application, and a follow-up phone conversation later, ‘Charlotte’ was in my care.  Within 24 hours I knew I had to adopt her.  I also realized that, while fostering wasn’t going to work for me (I already had three rescue cats), myriad ways to get involved were opening up.

It was in that same newsletter that I also came across a link to Farm Sanctuary, the largest farm animal rescue organization in North America.

And so began my journey into animal welfare and advocacy, and my love affair with compassionate living.