My name is Karen Kelly and I am the Macmillan Health & Wellbeing Coordinator in the South-Eastern Trust. My job is to provide information and support to people affected by cancer about some of the wider issues that affect them during this challenging time. One of the areas that we help people with is with the care of their pets. We meet people at different stages of the cancer experience, but for those of whom we meet that have an incurable disease, we know that knowing their pets will be looked after beyond their lives is important to them. On some occasions, patients will reach out to us as they near the end of their lives and that was the case with this lady. This lady was a beautiful person with a lot of strength of character, and there was a lot she wanted to achieve with the remainder of her life.

When I first discussed the idea of Rosie’s Trust, this lady was reluctant, as she had rescued and adopted many of her animals from the streets. Rosie’s Trust not only had to be accepted by her animals, but by her too.

We then met this lady who was receiving palliative care and was really struggling to look after her pets, and also really struggling with the guilt that comes along with knowing that you’re not caring for them the way you want to. We spent time with her, we got to know her, we got to know her pets so that we were able to identify the needs that she had and the support that she required. We know that people sometimes can be reluctant to put the care and wellbeing of their beloved pet into somebody else’s hands, and we are so aware that it’s a huge leap of faith.

Our volunteers are extensively trained. We spend a lot of time ensuring that when we send someone into somebody else’s home, we have done that in the most responsible, risk-free manner. Once Rosie’s Trust became involved, it was clear to see that this lady’s comfort was increasing, and her mind was put at rest. She could now focus on managing her disease and living her life.

I was matched with this lady who had been referred to us by Macmillan. She was initially reluctant to use us, but as we got to know her, and as we worked with her pets, she obviously had great peace of mind from that, and it allowed her to focus on her own wellbeing and her treatment.

We strive to find suitable volunteers who can support the person, handle the pet, and allow that relationship to blossom.

Whilst at work one day I received a phone call from the lady, she told me that she was in hospice, and she wanted me to call and visit. I called to see her that day, and we talked about a range of issues. Central to that was how her pets were doing and how she felt about the care that Rosie’s Trust had provided. It was lovely to see that this lady was particularly content in relation to her animals. She said that she felt that Rosie’s Trust had built up a lovely relationship with them, and felt confident that when she was no longer around, they would be well looked after. Shortly afterwards, she passed away, and it was wonderful to know that her needs had been met.