Let's start at the beginning...
To make a very long story short ... I love animals. I always have and I always will. I was involved in rescue for quite some time and still on occasion will rescue a stray who has made it's way to my home (or street). I could never let an animal in need suffer or feel alone. I am an active member of Purrfect Companions of Norfolk Cat Rescue. It brings me a lot of joy to see the difference just one person can make in the lives of stray, unwanted and feral kitties.
I've always known that I would need animals in my life to truly be happy. They have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. As silly as it may sound, my best friends were my furry pals. They were always there for me to lend a listening ear, to provide a shoulder to cry on, to give kisses and nudges. They didn't judge me and loved me for me. Suffering from depression from an early age made simply living life quite difficult at times. I was lucky to be diagnosed and treated early on since it runs in my family and my parents knew the symptoms. But without my pets, I know getting through those "down days" would have been much more difficult, if not impossible.