By Laurie Hall 

I have always had a pet. I grew up on a farm with lots of them. After high school, I went to college to be a veterinary technician and worked in the field for many years. Life took many turns after that but I always had a pet or pets. 

My pets are my life. They help me keep calm, comfort me when I'm upset or down, entertain me when I need it. 

They require me to care for another life. No matter what is happening in my life, they depend on me for food, water, shelter, affection, and care. It's not an option. They need me to be able to buy their food and feed them on schedule. My dog needs to go outside and for walks. My cat needs litter changes and brushing.  

Caring for them requires me to have a routine. Getting up, going out, and doing errands like grocery shopping help me when things are rough. Even if I feel like I can't do those things for myself, I remind myself that I need to do them for my pets. 

My dog Sammy is seven years old. He came from a family an hour west of Toronto. They couldn't keep him because he upset their older dog. He was a busy little four-month-old terrier. I knew he was the one when I saw his picture. I drove to get him the next day and he's been with me ever since. He's a character! He’s my first terrier — I've usually had large dogs. It was a learning curve trying to train a terrier! He weighs twelve pounds but he thinks he is a Very Big Dog.  

I have a medical letter for him to be an emotional support dog. It's not the same as a service dog, so the laws don't apply. It is up to each place you go. He's been to my doctor’s office, to five different hospitals, and shopping. Most people are very kind. 

My cat is a big orange tabby cat. I've had him since he was four months old, too. I found him at Animal Services for adoption. I've had many cats over the years, but orange tabbies are my favourite because of their personalities.  

His name is Frodo and he is half teddy bear and half clumsy, clingy clown.  

Frodo is 19 years old. He is definitely showing his age physically but his personality still shines through. He still likes to stand on my head at 4 a.m. just to make sure I know he's there.  

I lost my other cat two years ago and didn't want to make Frodo endure a new kitten, so it's nice that Sam and Frodo are best buddies. They play and roughhouse all the time. Frodo can still win! 

I met Mark [Dwyer, CMHA Toronto’s Program Manager for the Housing First Program and Strengthening Communities in Scarborough] in the building I was living in 2022. He was a true lifesaver for me. When he approached me about the Pet Care Crisis Program, I was interested immediately.  

My biggest fear is that if I get hurt, hospitalized, or if anything happens to me my pets won't be cared for. When I was younger, I always had friends I could call in an emergency. Now that I’m in my 60s, my social group is much smaller. Some people can't drive or they live too far away. 

In the building I was then in, I saw people get assaulted and taken to hospital. People died during COVID and also because of the rampant drug crisis. Sometimes, people disappeared for months to go to jail. It made me even more fearful that an emergency plan for my pets would be a priority.  

I am so happy and grateful to CMHA Toronto for creating this program. It gives so many of us comfort to know that, no matter what, our pets will be taken care of in a crisis.