Stroke survivor breaks barriers to become confident ambassador

Emerging from an extended period of social isolation, Caitlin described her life as “quite lonely”. When the twenty-something heard of Happy Paws Happy Hearts, the idea fit like a glove. 

“I’ve always loved animals, and I knew a few support workers that took participants... I knew I wanted to head into maybe a volunteering role, just to get out of the house and meet some new people,” Caitlin says. 

Caitlin didn’t grow up around dogs, so she was initially wary and unsure of her feelings towards them. However, she always had a ‘soft’ spot for Corgis – an animal she hoped to work with during her sessions. 

“On my intake interview, I got to meet Cheddar (the Corgi named after the TV show Brooklyn 99). I was so excited because I hoped I would get to see a Corgi, and the second I walked in the door, Cheddar was there... it was just a dream come true,” she says. 

After waiting patiently for a slot, Caitlin joined the ‘Handle’ In-Shelter program. In her sessions, she got to work with dogs and even target train a pig.  

“It was so wild, different and out of this world. If you told me two years ago that I would get to train a pig, I would have said, ‘you can’t train a pig!’”  

Pictured: Caitlin target training a pig at RSPCA Wacol.

Working her way through the ‘Handle’ program, Caitlin was invited to join ‘Explore’ – an employment pathway program for participants ready for return-to-life pathways. After graduating from the program, Caitlin was crowned the first ever Happy Paws Happy Hearts Ambassador; a title she wears proudly. She says she “shouts from the rooftops” about how much she loves Happy Paws Happy Hearts! 

When reflecting on how much she has changed in her time at Happy Paws Happy Hearts, Caitlin says she probably wouldn’t have had the confidence to wear the badge of ‘ambassador’ two years ago. 

“I don’t think it was something I ever thought I could do. I’ve become a different person in terms of my confidence and my people skills. I’ve gotten to interact with all kinds of different people and animals,” she says. 

“Just the amount of education I’ve received has really changed my outlook and changed my ideas on how I want my future to look. I’m definitely a dog person.” 

“Happy Paws Happy Hearts helped me enrich my own life, not just the animals around me.” 

Caitlin says attending Happy Paws Happy Hearts gives her “all the warm and fuzzy feelings”. 

“The joy you get from coming here and interacting with all the different cuties... you just can’t match that joy anywhere else,” she says. 

“I just love how accommodating everyone has been. They make it easier to have a good time. I think the fact that you can get out of the house and spend time with animals and fantastic trainers, and really absorb all the information, is great. It changed my life.” 

Since taking the title of ambassador, Caitlin has taken on media opportunities like a champ. She was recently interviewed by 9Honey, telling her inspirational story and encouraging others to get involved in HPHH.  

Caitlin wants to continue spreading awareness around the benefits of HPHH for people living with disabilities and mental health challenges. She also wants to caution young people that they can have a stroke at any age and that it’s not “just an old person problem.”