Caritas Bakhita House is a safehouse for women who have been enslaved, exploited and trafficked. It is currently home to 11 women, aged between 22 and 70, from 11 different countries and a black-and-white moggy called Marley who offers them comfort and hope as they rebuild their lives.
Karen said: “Often Marley placing a gentle paw on our guests’ legs is the first kindness they’ve experienced in years. He has this incredible gift of empathy, knowing instinctively who needs him. We adopted Marley four years ago and I think he’d suffered abuse as he is terrified of men aged around 30. So he recognises our guests’ trauma. One woman was in such distress she couldn’t speak to us, only to Marley. But, because she trusted him, over time we were able to build a bridge and reach her.
Marley, who is seven, is also staff supervisor, security guard, patrolling the grounds, and chief gardener. Nobody is allowed to touch his patch of daisies! In art therapy he’s a popular muse and one guest even composed a song for him. At 7pm staff and guests sit down for dinner together, like a family, and Marley joins us. He’s the fluffy heart of our home.”
Adopting cuddle monster Marmaduke pulled Janice out of the deep depression she fell into after the trauma of working as an emergency medical technician at Manchester Arena on the night of the May 2017 attack. Eight-year-old Marmaduke’s constant companionship and noisy demands for cuddles and treats have brought the joy and laughter back into Janice’s life.
Janice said: “My advice to anyone struggling with their mental health is: ‘Get a big orange cat.’ I honestly don’t know whether I’d be here today without Marmaduke. After the Arena attack we were all given medals but I beat myself up thinking: ‘Could I have done more?’ Living on my own and coming home to a dark, empty house at the end of a night shift I felt very alone. I lay in bed, the sirens and screams replaying in my head. I was spiralling.
Then I visited the local animal rescue shelter, just for a look. Marmaduke strolled up to me, rolled on his back and we bonded immediately. After he arrived, I didn’t need any more counselling, I talked to Marmaduke when I felt low. He knows when I’m upset, on the anniversary of the attacks, for example, and sticks with me like glue. I’m so grateful to him.”
Rachel Lockhart and her children, Zayn, nine, Reeva, six and Harlow, three, were going through a tough time when they chose a fluffy white kitten from a local litter. Even though she’s only just turned one, beautiful Lily is an old head on young shoulders, watching over the children with almost motherly concern.
Rachel said: “Lily is three quarters Maine Coon and beautiful inside and out. When she was a kitten, she looked like Marie from The Aristocats and now she’s like Duchess. She shares Duchess’s love of music too, gracefully walking along the piano keys, picking out tunes with her paws. When Lily joined our lives, I’d just lost a relative and Harlow had been diagnosed with epilepsy.
Lily is so attuned to Harlow’s needs. Her epilepsy takes the form of absent seizures during which she blanks out for a few seconds. Afterwards, Lily sits with her, providing comfort. She also instinctively knows how to help Zayn who has ADHD and autism. When he’s stressed, Lily calms him down by pressing her paw on his head. And Lily’s best friend is Reeva, she sleeps at the bottom of her bed. We are so lucky to have her caring for us all.”