General News
22 August, 2026
More than a pet: the power of companionship
FOR people experiencing challenging times, the companionship of a pet can provide more than just a friendly face at the end of the day.
Phoenix Animal Rescue Horsham director Carolyn Stow said animals could have a significant impact on a person’s psychological and physical well-being, providing companionship, routine, and comfort when it was needed most.
“As pets demand attention and connection with humans, this aids a person in focusing on another living being even in their darkest hour,” she said.
Ms Stow said animals were also unique companions because they offered acceptance without judgement.
“They accept their humans as they present,” she said.
“They listen without judgement, and they don’t reveal secrets.”
She said animals could often sense when their owners needed comfort, knowing when to move closer or give them space.
The responsibility of caring for a pet could provide another opportunity for social connection, with the animal serving as a natural focus for conversation.
“Caring for a pet brings daily routines and gets people out of bed,” Ms Stow said.
For dog owners, walking their pets can offer another opportunity for social interaction, with the animal serving as a natural focus for conversation.
Ms Stow said the organisation was also frequently seeing more people harness-training cats and taking them into the community, including on walks, in cars and even to work.
One young adult’s experience with Phoenix Animal Rescue demonstrates just how meaningful the bond between a person and an animal can really become.
After previously fostering with the organisation, she agreed to take on one of its particularly timid cats, spending months patiently waiting and working to gain his trust.
As time progressed, the cat began to open up to her, eventually forming a strong bond that led her to formally adopt him.
Ms Stow said the cat entered this young adult’s life at a time when she was feeling lost as she navigated changes in her life.
“He gave her consistency in being responsible for providing him food, cleaning his litter tray, and brushing his coat,” she said.
The relationship provided companionship and structure for both of them, with the once-unsure cat now described as happy and confident to greet people entering the home.
Ms Stow said the story represented why finding the correct match between an animal and its owner was essential.
“The matching of a pet is incredibly important. Not only for the pet but also the human,” she said.
She encouraged people considering adoption to think carefully about whether they had the time, capacity, and finances to meet an animal’s needs throughout its life.
Phoenix Animal Rescue Horsham operates through a community foster-care network, with animals placed in foster homes rather than housed at a central shelter.
The organisation is seeking additional foster carers to provide veterinary care and food for animals while they are in foster care.
For people unable to commit to long-term pet ownership, fostering can offer a way to experience the companionship of an animal while helping provide a second chance to a pet in need.
Ms Stow said Phoenix Animal Rescue focused on ensuring that every adoption was the right fit for both sides.
“We are very consistent with our approach of matching the pet with the people/family, so it is mutually beneficial,” she said.
In many cases, the organisation offers a foster-to-adopt trial period, allowing families to experience the responsibilities of pet ownership before making a long-term commitment.
For Phoenix Animal Rescue, a successful adoption is not about finding an animal a home; it is about creating a long-lasting relationship where both the pet and its new family can thrive.