Conversations with Bentley: How Free Spirit Animal Care Supports Born Free
For Free Spirit Animal Care, supporting animals and animal charities has been part of owner Clare Metcalf’s life and work for many years.
Clare has worked as a professional Animal Communicator for more than 20 years, alongside more than 30 years as a Homeopath and Healer. Through her work, she supports people and their animals, teaches Animal Communication through the Free Spirit Academy, and writes and publishes on subjects close to her heart.
She has also always found ways to give back, supporting animal charities and small rescue organisations through her professional work and creative projects.
But one particular animal inspired a very special project.
Clare first became involved with Bentley, a black cat, when she was asked to communicate with him following his death. What began as a single session developed into a 12-year journey of communication, during which Clare and Bentley’s owner explored ideas about animals, the connections we share with them, and their relationship with the world around us.
Over time, Bentley’s messages and teachings became the inspiration for a book.
In 2024, Clare and Bentley’s owner published Conversations with Bentley, the Cosmic, Conservationist Cat, bringing together what they describe as Bentley’s perspective on life, the natural world and the concerns he had for the future of the planet.
From the beginning, there was also a clear intention that the book should give something back to animals.
“As the book is an insight into Heaven from the animals’ perspective, and also the animals' concern over the state of Earth, His Mum and I always knew we'd donate the sales to an animal charity.”
The charity chosen was Born Free Foundation, an organisation Clare has supported since its inception and whose work protecting wild animals and promoting compassionate conservation reflects her longstanding passion for animal welfare.
According to Clare, Bentley chose Born Free as the beneficiary of the book.
“Bentley chose Born Free to be the beneficiary of ALL proceeds from sales of his book.”
The result is a project where the story of one animal is helping to support the protection of many others.
For Clare, charitable giving is not something that began with Bentley. She has donated a proportion of her earnings to animal charities throughout her career, while also creating crystal jewellery to raise funds for small, no kill rescues.
Her wider giving continues through her professional work, merchandise and handmade jewellery, with different initiatives supporting animal rescue organisations and causes.
But Conversations with Bentley has created a particularly meaningful way to support Born Free, turning the book itself into an ongoing source of funding for wildlife.
Clare promotes the charitable purpose of the book through her website, newsletters and Bentley’s Facebook page. She says the response from clients, students and customers has been very positive, with some inspired to support Born Free themselves.
For Clare, the giving is simply an extension of the work and values that have shaped her career.
“It's probably the reason I'm still working! I've been an animal lover all my life, and can't even contemplate retiring when so many still need help.”
The relationship with Born Free also led Clare to Work for Good. When she approached the charity about making regular donations from the proceeds of the book, Born Free directed her to Work for Good.
The simplicity of the process has been particularly important to Clare.
“Work for Good has just made the entire process incredibly simple, and I'm useless at tech! I have had no challenges at all.”
Clare believes businesses and sole traders have an opportunity to give back in whatever way they can.
“I think as businesses and sole traders we do have some responsibility to give back in any way we can, either practically or financially.”
For Free Spirit Animal Care, that giving is part of a lifelong commitment to animals and animal welfare.
And through Conversations with Bentley, that commitment has taken a particularly personal form: a book inspired by the relationship between a woman, a cat and the ideas they explored together, now helping to support wildlife through Born Free.
Key takeaway:
Free Spirit Animal Care shows how a deeply personal project can become a meaningful way to give back, connecting Clare’s lifelong commitment to animals with ongoing support for wildlife through Born Free.
To learn more about Free Spirit Animal Care and Conversations with Bentley, the Cosmic, Conservationist Cat, please visit their website.