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Private Case Studies

Mia & Dexter: A Story Testimonial

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We have two cats almost 21yr old Mia and Dexter who is about 5 yrs old. Dexter adopted us about 3 and a half years ago . He has always been a very nervous and skittish cat . He wouldn’t even stay inside the conservatory without the door remaining open when having his food. As time went on we had to introduce him inside as we were moving house from London to Yorkshire November 2014. He coped well with the move and adjusted to being a complete house cat. However he continued to be very nervous and wary of strangers. Running away upstairs as soon as the door bell rang before they even entered the house and would gingerly reappear only after they had left. 

Three weeks ago as I write, myself and the cats had our first reiki session with Sue. My partner had brought Dexter into the room but it was up to Dexter whether he stayed or not. He was behind one of the sofas but at least he stayed in the room. Sue centred the reiki on the cats initially. Eventually  Dexter appeared and was clearly responding although he was still a bit wary of Sue and moved back if she moved towards him.

The second treatment started with me. About 10 minutes into it Dexter appeared and jumped up onto my knee – he never sits on my knee! He was so relaxed and content. At the end of the session he rubbed his head against Sue’s hand then licked her fingers. It was so lovely to see him so comfortable with someone other than my partner and myself. It made me feel very emotional. 

Third session started with Dexter standing beside the sofa watching Sue giving reiki to me. He very quickly jumped up onto my knee this time and was enjoying every minute. Towards the end my other cat Mia also decided she wanted to join in this time and also jumped up onto my knee. Despite getting on well together they have never sat together like this. She had shown some interest in each session getting out of her bed briefly but Dexter was the one who was the most receptive.

The other day a total stranger visited us. Dexter was upstairs on his bed. He usually stays there if visitors are here. After about 10 minutes he appeared looking relaxed and interested in our visitor. I picked Dexter up after a few minutes. He is usually tense but was relaxed and happily stood on my knee. Then he got off going to sit right next to the visitor and enjoyed having his head stroked. We were totally surprised by all of this. Then when the visitor stood up and walked towards  the kitchen, Dexter ran after him ! I truly feel Dexter has turned a huge corner and I am certain it is due to Sue’s reiki treatment.

For myself, I find the sessions very relaxing. I have had ME for nearly 20 yrs which I find has exacerbated especially over the past 5 or 6 years. I feel fairly tense a lot of the time more so since losing my mother 7 months ago. So it is good to have the tension lifted for a little while. I was also amazed when Sue detected very painful areas of my body as she hovered her hands during the treatment.

I admit that I have been sceptic in the past about this type of thing. But seeing what it has done for Dexter is proof that it really does work. A human can say it works for them whether it does or not but an animal doesn’t pretend or imagine.

I highly recommend Sue who is a lovely lady and refreshingly positive and passionate about  the wonderful work she does.

Janet

Reiki supports Tabitha’s recovery from Sudden Onset Blindness

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“Rescue cat Tabitha, who is about 15 years old, went for her annual vet check with no issue identified other than a little required dental work. The following morning, we had a shock when we saw her. Tabitha’s pupils were huge – filling the whole of her eyes – and she
stumbled on the doorstep. 

An immediate emergency vet visit resulted in a diagnosis of Sudden Onset Blindness with suspected detached retinas in both eyes. She was admitted to their hospital and treated for high blood pressure. I was worried that she would be blind for the rest of her life, but our own vet who saw her the next day was more hopeful for her sight than the emergency vet had been. She was treated with blood pressure tablets.

After about 36 hours after the initial eye problem was noticed, her pupils began to look more normal and she stopped bumping into furniture.

Further blood tests led to hyperthyroidism being diagnosed, probably linked to the eye problem and medication was prescribed. Our vet believed she had partially detached retinas, and/or a mini stroke may have occurred.

Her eyesight and behaviour soon appeared to return to normal and she resumed her happy disposition, enjoying life, particularly going out in the garden, snoozing and eating.

She has always appeared to enjoy Reiki when I have offered it to her previously and she seems very relaxed with it. So, very soon after she lost her sight I asked if Tabitha could receive weekly Reiki from Friends Of Baxter Animal Care Distant Reiki Group. I am very grateful to all who have sent Reiki to Tabitha. I believe it has helped in offering relaxation, comfort and reassurance to her and has supported the healing which has taken place.

I am so pleased that she has her sight back. Our vet says that her blood pressure is looking good now and that he is very happy with her.
She is a lucky cat”

Jenny

Reiki Supports Sammy’s Recovery

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Sammy is a sweet and gentle, elderly Labrador and after struggling to breathe he was taken to a veterinary hospital. Being in an unknown environment must have added to the distress caused by his condition and a late-night call was received in which Reiki was requested for him.

Reiki was sent straight away to support Sammy’s veterinary care and treatment. Energy flowed, slowly initially and then increasingly. His anxiety could be felt from hundreds of miles away but gladly it reduced and a sense of relaxation followed. Animal Communication was used briefly to explain where he was, what was happening and how it came to be that Reiki was being offered to him distantly.

In the morning Sammy’s owners fed back, delighted that he’d been picked up from the hospital. He was better than expected. Stents had been fitted. A smile all round .

However, two days later, another late-night call urgently requested more Reiki. Sammy had not reacted well to the cortisone and his owners were naturally worried and upset. Immediately Reiki was sent and the heat and tingling in my hands indicated the energy flow. After half an hour, intense tiredness suggested he would be asleep. Further Reiki was offered to Sammy for a little longer. Animals always take the lead and we allow them to take as much energy as they wish, if and how they wish.

The following morning Reiki was readily taken and energy flowed consistently. The energy feeling was less stressed … much more relaxed. Relaxation is the most common response to Reiki and a very positive one. When we or animals relax and sleep, our body in its best state for self-healing and tissue repair.

 Shortly afterwards Sammy’s owners provided an update: “Sammy asked to go outside at 3 am and did his business, drank, ate and was in a much better mood again. He’s just eaten again. He is MUCH better. 1000 thanks. We will no longer be giving him cortisone”

The veterinary check-up three days later also brought good news: “Everything is fine… completely fine 😊. Sammy is in a good mood again. Thank you for your great support”.

A further message, just two weeks after Sammy went into the hospital, brought the best news of all. “He is great again and can breathe normally for the first time in years. We are so happy!!

Reiki Reduced Squeaky’s Separation Anxiety

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Reiki Reduced Squeaky’s Separation Anxiety

Our cat Squeaky who is 10 years old came to us 7 years ago from a rescue centre with separation anxiety as a result of her earlier life experiences. Consequently, we can never leave her for more than one week a year in a cattery whilst we have some holiday because she gets so distressed.

Although she has had excellent care at the same cattery, each year she is very anxious during her stay and is terribly ill in the car on the journey home & often takes a day or two to settle back home into her usual routines.

This year we asked Sue of Friends of Baxter Animal Care to send her some distance Reiki to help Squeaky’s anxiety whilst we were away and with the car journeys to and from the cattery. 

Treatments were sent to Squeaky before our departure on the morning we went away and during our holiday.

Squeaky was less distressed than usual going to the Cattery and upon collecting her we were delighted to see how relaxed & calm she was, compared to the stressed little moggie we normally find. In addition, on the car journey home she lay down calmly in her carrier seldom offering even a cry of complaint. Once home she skipped out of the carrier & went off to check her territory with her tail held high as though nothing had ever happened. We are used to her being sick on the way home and in an anxious state for 24 hours until she settles again. The success of the distant Reiki not only meant Squeaky’s experience during her separation from us was far less stressful but her journey home was far more comfortable too.

Both Squeaky & us will certainly agree to booking some distance Reiki with Sue again when we next have to leave her due to the positive effect it had….thank you Sue.

Alan

Reiki Gives Tiff Her Freedom

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Reiki Gives Tiff Her Freedom

Tiff is an eight-year-old Old English Bulldog who spent the first 7 ½ years of her life living in a small crate in a puppy farm. She was called Bulldog 51. She didn’t even have a name. Due to being kept in a crate she broke all of her bottom teeth off trying to chew her way through the metal.

When Bulldog 51 was originally rescued she was placed in foster care. She was spayed to ensure she endured no further pregnancies and required a major tummy tuck as her tummy was on the floor. As if this wasn’t enough she was diagnosed with a prolapsed womb for which additional surgery was necessary. She was diagnosed with Scoliosis of the spine, had scars all over her body and was terrified of going outdoors, presumably due to the fear of repeatedly being mated on the rare occasions she was taken outside.

In her first home Tiff refused to go outside and so was sadly put in a choker collar and dragged. This caused a nasty and very sore bleeding hole in her neck and added to her fear of the outdoors. Due to all of her fears the first foster carer tried to return her but was unable to do so as the charity responsible for saving her had closed due to lack of funds. This is when I heard about her. Seven-hour round trip or not I felt emotionally compelled to give her the love and care she deserved and needed, and I became her new foster carer with the intent to adopt her.

After a thorough vet’s check when I was advised that her neck would always be scarred and that she would need surgery for her back, I drove her home. Once inside, Tiff was too frightened to go out again. She took quite some time before would even go into the hall way, let alone down the stairs to the front door and outside again. 

I tried for up to four hours a day to help her, using high reward treats such as chicken but this had little effect. Then Sue (from Friends Of Baxter Animal Care) offered to give her some Reiki. Tiff had run away when anyone had knocked at the door until now but when Sue arrived she went towards her to say hello. I also noticed that she looked happy when her Reiki session started.

After the first session she went into the hall and down the first set of stairs then came back for a deep contented sleep. Following the second session dramatic advances were clear for all to see. I couldn’t believe it! After over two weeks of refusing to venture out she tootled downstairs and outside. The third session resulted in her being confident to roam around and she has since then happily gone out at least three or four times a day and enjoys going for walks, saying hello to neighbours and has made good friends with another dog. She was transformed in just four weeks and her neck has healed perfectly with no scarring too. Without the Reiki I don’t know if I would ever have got her to go outside. I am extremely grateful and so impressed with Reiki that I booked onto one of Sue’s courses to start learning this wonderful therapy myself.


Lots of love, licks and tail wags 

Libby and Tiff

How Reiki Changed Ruby’s Life

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How Reiki Changed Ruby's Life

I first met Ruby in February 2018. She was up for sale and located in a busy town centre setting, I rode her out in the town centre and was very happy that she was a very calm horse and totally unphased by anything.  Having bought her on a four-week trial, it was apparent that she was extremely frightened on arrival at our home, troubled by the open spaces with nothing but countryside in view.

She backed away from anyone entering her stable.  Trying to put on her head collar was a major task.  She also had extremely bad scabs on her lower legs, from standing in deep mud for a long time and she refused to let us touch her legs, pulling them away from us. On one occasion when I was able to get close enough to place a finger-tip on one of her legs, she kicked out at me in pain. I felt close to tears for her.

When I finally managed to get a head collar on her, I took her for a very short walk down our driveway and she was clearly struggling in this new environment, puffing away and looking panicked. She then leapt with all four feet off the ground when three noisy geese took off from a neighbouring field. Even the neighbour’s small cat was eyed with a huge amount of suspicion in fear that it might attack at any moment.  Her anxiety levels were so high, she gave the impression she could “explode” at any moment. I was having to keep myself calm and breathe deeply so as not to add to her worries.  She was even disturbed by meeting new people. One friend said to me that she looked as if she were saying “have you come to take me away from here?”.

 I contacted Sue at Friends Of Baxter Animal Care in a desperate bid to ask for Ruby to be added to the group distance Animal Reiki sessions, to try to help Ruby settle into her new life.  I have previously used Reiki for myself when I burnt myself out in a very stressful job working long hours and also on a previous rescue horse, with huge success. 

A one to one distant Reiki session was agreed for Ruby first and within just a matter of hours it was apparent that Ruby was benefitting hugely. Her whole personality changed – it was as though a switch had been flicked on! She no longer stood at the back of the stable worrying when we approached, she stood initially just behind her stable door, peeping over the door at us and waiting patiently for her food. After a further session, Ruby stood waiting for me with her head hanging over the stable door, all excited to see me and I got the most incredible neigh from her. Putting her head collar on was suddenly incredibly easy. As I held it up to her, she put her head into it!  She led to and from the field calmly, even when one of our own large fluffy cats was having a “wild” moment chasing something right past her feet!  It was apparent she was beginning to feel safe now and she had shavings (her bedding) stuck to her coat so she had been lying down to sleep in her stable of an evening, which is a huge sign that she felt secure. 

After the third one to one session, on three consecutive days, she even allowed me to bathe her desperately sore legs with warm water and antiseptic, something I previously had not been able to even get close to doing.  She has continued to allow me to gently rub cream into her legs without kicking out and has continued to improve following the group distant healing sessions. 

I was initially sceptical about Reiki before I knew anything about it but having benefited from Reiki myself and seen it help a previous rescue horse, I immediately sought Reiki for Ruby.

Over the years, I’ve witnessed; and been guilty in my earlier years; of “muddling” along with a horse, blaming an issue on a learnt or character “trait” and have heard a lot of horses described as “naughty”, when in reality, something is genuinely wrong and we are guilty of not understanding what that might be and therefore not looking at the greater picture and what we can really do to address it.

A lot of horse owners are sceptical (as I was initially) about the benefits of Reiki, mainly because they don’t understand it. Something unknown can be frightening when we don’t understand the benefits of it. It’s not something we can see administered like a medicine for example.  We have progressed massively over the years as horse owners and now have access to a much broader knowledge of the benefits of correct diet, good management, training and medical advances. 

After what I’ve experienced, I believe Reiki truly is something that should be in every horse owner’s “tool kit”, so that as guardians of these amazing creatures, we really are doing everything we can to help our beloved four-legged friends.

With love

Helen (& Ruby)

Reiki Helps with Butler’s Confidence

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“6 month old Butler joined a home of related shihtzus at 14 weeks of age. He settled well although he was quiet and didn’t play much, appearing to lack enthusiasm. He soon became clingy to me and needed the reassurance of one of the other dogs to go for a walk, otherwise refusing to move. After 4 reiki treatments he was more animated and playful; and whilst not overly enthusiastic about going out by himself he is more confident”
Fiona

Reiki Helps with Butler’s Confidence

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“6 month old Butler joined a home of related shihtzus at 14 weeks of age. He settled well although he was quiet and didn’t play much, appearing to lack enthusiasm. He soon became clingy to me and needed the reassurance of one of the other dogs to go for a walk, otherwise refusing to move. After 4 reiki treatments he was more animated and playful; and whilst not overly enthusiastic about going out by himself he is more confident.”

Fiona

Reiki Supports Biscuit to Gain Focus

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“Biscuit was a young 6 month old puppy.  At his first championship show he demonstrated very excitable behaviour, he showed concerns for the other dogs around him despite attending ring craft sessions and he generally lacked focus to a point of being disruptive in the ring.

Following Sue’s four distant reiki treatments we attended his second championship show 10 days later. His attention and focus was massively improved to the extent that he gave an appropriate performance and in doing so qualified for Crufts 2017.

Since then he has won 3 Best Puppy in Breed at open shows and had several strong placing in Puppy Stakes classes.

He is still very much a fun puppy but he clearly now shows a clearer focus and attention.”

Fiona

Reiki Helps Bucket to Overcome Noise Sensitivity

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“Bucket (shihtzu) is generally a very confident show dog at both indoor and outdoor venues. However as a puppy he was spooked by a noisy dustbin wagon whilst attending a show at the NEC. As a result he has been too frightened at this venue to even go into the ring on 2 separate occasions.

In preparation for Crufts 2016 I contact Sue who has worked with Bucket previously to help with noise sensitivity to loud speakers and unexpected noises. As a result of his 2 treatments leading up to Crufts we were able to exhibit and be short listed in his class.
I felt that he was happy and confident on the day despite the noise and acoustics in the hall which in the past had totally made him upset and very unsettled.”

Fiona