When we think of who or what supported us during eating disorder recovery, we may think of our friends, family, teachers, internet or in-person communities, doctors or other healthcare workers. But we can’t forget our pets who have helped us through difficult days too - those furry, fuzzy, feathery, scaly friends who are always there for you no matter what.
So, we wanted to give a shout out to you and your pets, and how they supported you towards recovery. Thank you to everyone who sent us their pet pictures, and without further ado, get ready for some super cute photos and some very heart-warming stories below!
Bex and her cat Dora
‘Dora came into my life in the middle of a very long and lonely inpatient admission in 2022, as a gift from an incredibly thoughtful patient on the ward whose family were homing 5 kittens, and until that point I had no idea that one tiny animal could keep your entire little world turning.
For me, one of the most difficult parts about long hospital admissions had always been returning home – whether on periods of leave from the ward, or upon discharge – to a place that held so many years of difficult memories, and associations with being so very poorly there. I’ve always found it hard to admit this, but walking through the front door of my own home had begun to fill me with this indescribable sense of dread, and at times this led to me returning to the ward earlier than planned. As if by magic, Dora’s arrival into my little world changed this almost overnight. I began begging for more leave to go home to spend time with her, and I’d count down the days until each weekend when I would dive through my front door, so full of excitement and so full of life.
Today me and Dora are the very best of friends, and I wish so much that I could tell you about all of the little ways she has made my life feel like it might just be worth fighting for. She distracts me from the darkness, she reminds me of how it feels to laugh until it hurts, she wipes away my tears with her scratchy little tongue, and she makes me feel like the most loved person in the whole wide world when she trots down the garden path to meet me each day.
Until Dora came along in 2022, I hadn’t managed to make it a whole year out of hospital since 2013. Today I’ve been out here in the world for 2 whole years and 2 months, and without even knowing it, that little cat has played the biggest part of all in helping me reach a milestone that once felt so far out of my grasp.’
Furry friend Teddy
‘When I was very ill with anorexia nervosa, I was encouraged to make a list of motivations to recover. Amongst being able to return to university, live independently and get out of hospital, was the aim to have a puppy to love and care for. I held onto the hope, and in February 2022, my dream came true. I knew as soon as I first visited Teddy that he was going to change my life. He was calm, curious and made me feel so at ease when I had him in my arms. Teddy and I look out for each other. I know I need to fuel myself in order to take him for long walks in the countryside, and he knows when I’m upset or triggered and can comfort me (he often comes and nestles under a blanket with me when I’m struggling).
Teddy has taught me to take life less seriously, and to enjoy the little things like a walk in the woods or at the beach. I got Teddy as a support dog, and he has more than lived up to my hopes for him. He’s not just my therapy: he’s my best friend. I can’t imagine my life without him and owe the life I am currently living to him.’
Jasmin and her dog Joey
‘In May 2023, I hit rock bottom; my eating disorder was at its worst and I was consumed by depression. I was so low. My mum suggested that a puppy might help me find motivation and distract me from my mind, and that’s when I was given my cockapoo, Joey.
Joey has helped me so much in my mental health recovery. He distracts me when I’m finding it hard to get out of my head, he comforts me when I’m sad, calms me down when I’m panicked and stressed, and he reminds me of the good in life. I need him as much as he needs me. I truly don’t know what I would do without him, I love him so so much.’
Thank you so much to everyone who sent us their stories and photos. If you would like to share your pet pictures and how they have supported you in recovery, please send to us through our blogpost submission.
Now we’re off to go and find an animal to pet!
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