Posting days: Sunday and Wednesday and, sometimes, maybe, extra ‘news flashes’!

June 29th 2016

My friend A., a vet’s daughter, has always been an animal person. She stayed with Isis soon after the adoption and looked after her for two days. Hairy One is always pleased to see her.

A. has recently studied Reiki for people and animals, and offers Isis a session. I am dubious, not because I doubt A.’s proficiency, but because Isis, as we know, is not disposed to be still and calm for an extended period of time. But I am swayed by Polymath who thinks it could be very good for Isis.

A. arrives and, in due course, Isis, who is snoozing between walks, strolls into the front room to greet her. I draw the blinds to dim the light so that the session will not be interrupted by angry snarls and twirls. After a few pats and strokes, the contrary pet strolls off back into her den. Typical, A. and I laugh.

Oh dear. This is will not be a smooth run.

But contrary pet returns, sits on the rug between the two humans, and receives gentle strokes with equanimity.

She’ll get antsy any minute, I think.

But she doesn’t.

She lies down, then stretches full length on her side. Every now and then she gives what sounds like a contented sigh. She certainly looks contented, out flat, still, except for little stretchy paw extensions every now and then.

She lies there, utterly relaxed, for forty minutes, while A. touches her gently from head to foot.

I am delighted. This is my irascible Isis, who snapped at two of my friends when they dared to attempt to fuss her in her house, and who accepts treats from her park humans but shies away from their touch.

I didn’t think for a moment, of course, that Isis would bite A., one of her best human friends, but I  was pretty sure that she’d not tolerate more than a stroke or two.

Polymath thinks that for a dog who is still very wary of touch, the Reiki session must have been a very positive experience.

We’ve booked A. for another session next week.

Isis came from the Aeza cat and dog rescue and adoption centre in Aljezur, Portugal. For information about adopting an animal from the centre, contact kerry@aeza.org or  www.dogwatchuk.co.uk