Laura was uncertain about whether to adopt a cat, until she met Giles
It took me a long time to decide to get a cat, and just as long to adopt after I had decided. When I saw Giles, any lingering uncertainties I had disappeared.
Laura Pettenuzzo
Laura Pettenuzzo (she/her) is a disabled writer and mental health and disability advocate living on Wurundjeri country.
Latest by Laura Pettenuzzo
'I was lucky': How social media helped me find community in my teens
Laura's struggles as a teenager were helped by friendships forged online. She wonders how things would have looked if a social media ban existed then.
'Pebbling' keeps me connected with friends when I'm exhausted
When the thought of a phone call is too much for me, I can still manage to send an image or video to a friend as I let myself unwind.
I used to avoid being in photos. Now they remind me I belong
Laura has never liked how she looks in photos but a realisation of what she was missing out on has changed how she sees them and herself.
Kevin the cat was a lifeline at the loneliest time of the year
Pet sitting Kevin was a favour for a friend but became a blessing for me.
My local bookshop is where I can embrace both my love of reading and the allure of my safest place
My local bookshop gives me a sense of serenity and safety. There is nothing better than being able to immerse myself in its warmth, especially on Love Your Bookshop Day.
Nic has cerebral palsy, just like me. Through her I found sisterhood
Until I realised there was a global cerebral palsy community and, specifically, before I met my friend Nic, I'd never had a close friend whose life experiences aligned so closely with my own.