21/04/2025
Sometimes it is emotionally challenging for me to speak to some rescued animals; the trauma that they experience can easily break them. I try to counsel and help them understand and come to terms with what has happened to them, as well as any losses they may have suffered on their journey to freedom.
I hadn’t heard about Jabari before I was asked to speak to him, but his name intrigued me, so I googled the meaning. The name Jabari means "brave" or "fearless" in Swahili, ultimately originating from the Arabic word "jabbār", meaning "ruler”.
As I connected with Jabari, I felt a sense of being content. Still, I also felt incredible sadness coming from him. I greeted him and asked if he was happy, and he replied: "Yes, I miss my mom sometimes, but it's okay, I just wish I knew what happened (to her)". His mom would be a constant theme through his reading, the sense of loss often overtaking his thoughts. He was referring to a dog who was a strong female, motherly figure; she was extremely important to him. Upon enquiring whether he had been found with his mom, his human rescue mom said that he had been rescued alone, but that they felt that he had been left where he was, but that it was not where he initially lived.
I mentioned how much I loved his name and explained what it meant.
"Thank you, me too"
*Do you know what it means?
"I am sure it's something nice"
*It is, it means brave and fearless, that's what you are.
"It's what I am trying to be"
*It's who you are, and I can tell you now that you will become it.
"I am scared of the past repeating itself. I know I am meant to be good and strong, but I feel so worried about what will happen to me”.
His rescuers and carers wanted me to relay how much he was loved, to which he replied, “I know I am loved, do you think I will stay? I'm scared I have to leave."
The hope was to find him the perfect home, and I explained that one day he would find his forever place, the place where he would always be safe and loved, where he would never be hurt again. A kennel life was safe, and he was happy and cared for, but he deserved a loving and happy home with a person or family who would cherish him as his rescuers do.
"And my mom, what about her?"
"No one person ever loved me till now. Just my mom"
*We don't know where she is. I am so sorry, I cannot tell you, maybe one day you will know, but it's not the time yet. One day, far from now, unfortunately.
Despite Jabari being content and happy, there would always be a hint of sadness because of his dog "mom". And I couldn't give him an answer to help him.
His confidence needed to be built back up, there was so much hurt and uncertainty with him, it was so sad. And even though my abilities don't allow me to see the future, for some reason, I could see him doing agility. So, I wasn't sure if it was a flash of a past life or a future to come. I recommended starting training with him to boost his confidence. He was an old soul; he just didn't realise it yet.
I heard that he had been found with a gunshot wound in his chest and that he had been kept in an empty house, filled with faeces, with no food or water. His rescuers wanted to know who hurt him, and he described what he called the “little bad man” looked like – the horrible perpetrator who heartlessly tried to kill him and thankfully failed.
To lighten the mood, we chatted some more, and when asked who his best kennel friend was, he showed me a man with a huge smile. I felt so happy when I saw him; that was his bestie, Thando.
We also asked if he liked his toys, and whether he knew that the gifts were brought to him to show him how important he was:
“I was worried about them, and then I liked them better. I like things, but I feel bad having so much, can't I share?"
*Those are for you; everybody gets spoiled. Everyone is brought special presents, and all the toys are with love for each dog, so don't feel bad that you don't share; you don't need to share.
"Okay, I feel better about that now"
*Good, you deserve it.
I asked about his favourite treats, and I could taste something hard that turned soft, like rawhide. It turned out that he got sinews to chew on, and he liked the feeling of it going from hard to soft, in his words: "I make that happen" So proud of the achievement and magic of softening sinew.
"Can you tell everyone that I am happy? And I am loved?"
*I will most definitely tell them. You are so special and brave.
"Yes, I am"
*You will be fine, you have the best people any doggie could ever want. You are destined for great things. Sometimes, we need to have a bad past to have a great future. And I see greatness.
"Yes, I am Jabari"
*Yes, you are Jabari.
I decided to read his rescue story after the session, and I was absolutely horrified to see what this poor boy had been through; he still had a long way to go with another possible surgery coming up. Jabari would be okay and he would find his wonderful forever home where he would be cherished, loved and never want for anything ever again. But the most important thing is that his name cannot be changed when he is rehomed; it is a part of him now.
For Jabari’s First stories, visit these links:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Bjnunw531/
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1E2G1dFvdG/
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19Dn5TW2q3/
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1HAXx726oa/
For donations towards his care, kennel fees and surgery, please contact Nicole on 0837801664
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