HI! My name is Rochelle, I am the person behind Paw and Soul. I have a wonderful husband and two teenage children that we are incredibly proud of! At the moment we are lucky to be guardians to our fur family of 7-year-old cat Jasper and a 4-year-old cat Ellis, 2-year-old Sophia and two of her 11-month-old kittens, Rose and Blanche.
My whole life, I have had the very good fortune to live with and be a guardian to many animals: dogs, cats, fish, birds and guinea pigs. As well as the opportunity to foster a couple of adorable bunnies. I spent 4 years volunteering many hours a week with a farm animal sanctuary and now volunteer in various ways including on the board of directors for Boomer’s Haven - Animal Rescue & Sanctuary. To say I’m an animal lover, would be an understatement. They truly are my world.
The desire to contribute to making animals’ lives the best they could be, led me down the path to cat sitting. I finally decided to take my love and passion for animals and offer others the quality care I expect for my fur family. I get to spend even more time caring for some of those I love the most.
I also know too well, the excruciating pain of grieving the deaths of my beloved animal companions, as well as animal friends I have cared for and love. The death of my animal companions has truly changed me forever. Having someone who can sit with me in my sorrow, accept and validate the pain and array of emotions losing a beloved animal companion has brough to me, has been such a gift for my pet loss journey. I wanted to walk with and support others in their pet loss grief, like those people have done for me. Through the years of anticipatory grief and the eventual death of my soul cat Trinny, she helped me build the courage to make pet loss grief coaching a reality.
Related Education:
Grief Educator Certificate with David Kessler ~ Spring 2024
Center For Petloss Grief, LLC ~ July 2024
Walks and Wags Pet First Aid ~ August 8, 2022
Feline Behaviour and Psychology Diploma ~ April 2022
Feline First Aid Diploma ~ April 2022
“An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.”
- Martin Buber
Mission
To support pet guardians as they navigate their grief when anticipating or following the loss of their beloved animal companion, helping them to find a path to where their love takes up more space than their pain.
Vision
To create a society that acknowledges and embraces the profound grief associated with pet loss, and treats animals with the compassion and respect they deserve.
Values
Compassion, Kindness, Love, Integrity, Respect
These values represent how I strive to live my life, both personally and professionally. I aim to set a positive example by prioritizing these values in everything I do and how I conduct myself in the world.
