The skinny bedraggled Rottweiler was seen wandering down Rt. 611. A concerned woman stopped her car and opened her back door. The dog jumped in, settled himself, and sat waiting patiently for his journey to continue. He was brought to an animal rescue called Waggin Tails. Despite newspaper ads and flyers, nobody claimed him. He was taken to a vet where they found he had Heartworm Disease and Hip Displasia. He was treated for the Heartworm Disease and was given a temporary home at the Waggin Tails Sanctuary. He was named "Guinness."
For months we had been using the Waggin Tails office for Animal Energy Clinics where people bring their animals for anything from an Animal Communication session, Energy Work, and Acupressure, to massage, with all proceeds going to Waggin Tails. One day, I asked Carol, the founder, if there were any animals at Waggin Tails that would benefit from a massage. She told me about Guinness.
It was a beautiful Saturday morning when I pulled up to the Sanctuary. The breeze, the low humidity and temperatures in the low 70's gave a much-needed respite from the stretch of hot, humid weather we were experiencing. Under an old maple tree sat the Rottweiller still and watching intently as I got out of the car. As I approached with a blue blanket in hand, Guinness stood up slowly while his little nub of a tail twitched wildly back and forth. Carol introduced us and Guinness sat on my foot, rested his head on my thigh, and looked up at me with a wide toothy grin. It was love at first sight.
I put the blanket down and asked Guinness to come and join me. He sat next to be and I began the massage. He melted into it in record time. It has been my experience that there are places some Rottweillers don't want you to touch (and it varies from dog to dog, like the ears or the paws) and they WILL let you know. For this reason, I go very slow and watch the dog's reactions closely, especially with a first time massage. They need to get to know me, and I them.
Guinness was unlike any other dog I have ever massaged. Within seconds he slid down and rolled on his side and there was no place on him I could not touch. He allowed me to massage his ears, paws, painful hips, and even his gums! The energy was flowing through me to Guinness and I could feel gratefulness, love and peace flowing through him to me. That Saturday morning, as I sat under that maple tree on the blue blanket with the once powerful but gentle dog's head resting in my lap, I was given a glimpse of heaven. In those moments nothing else existed for me except Guinness, the maple tree, the blanket that matched the sky, the summer breeze and the energy of unconditional love.
After that day, I went to the Sanctuary twice a week to massage Guinness. Within a short time the volunteers reported that he was able to take longer walks then before and seemed to feel better. It felt good to know the massage and energy treatments were helping him. I loved seeing his reaction when I would walk in the door with the blue blanket. As soon as that blanket hit the floor, Guinness was on it, most times lying on his back with his paws waving in the air until I gave him a belly scratch. Once the scratching was over, he rolled on his side, closed his eyes asking me to begin.
The hot humid weather was back with a vengeance when I arrived at the Sanctuary for my appointment with Guinness. I walked it the door and he was lying in the living room of the old farmhouse and he didn't move. He didn't even pick up his head when I called out his name. Laura one of the volunteers said he didn't eat the night before and thought it could be the weather. I was worried because I knew the treatment for heartworm could damage other internal organs and survivors of heartworm disease had to be monitored closely. The heat wasn't helping. Laura called Carol and it was decided I should take him to the vet hospital. With some coaxing, I got him into the back seat of my car and off we went. It turned out that he had a severe bladder infection and several days in the hospital with IV fluids and antibiotics (along with prayer and long distance energy channeling) put him on the road to recovery.
The next time I saw Guinness, he was much like his old self, very happy to see the blue blanket and me. In fact, he was doing so much better, I decided to take him for a walk in the field next to the farmhouse after his massage. As we walked and he marked every bush and leaf he passed, we had a conversation. He loved the name he was given, and he liked the Sanctuary. It was so much better then being on his own but he wished people would be around more. I told him that everyone was looking for a home for him so he could be with people who loved him all the time. We talked about why I could not take him, even though I wanted to. Besides 2 dogs, I have 6 cats and Guinness HATES cats. He couldn't understand why in the world I have those horrible creatures in my house, but that was my choice. He said, "Humans sometimes do stupid things."
Not long after our conversation, a couple who had just lost their Rottweiller to cancer came to see Guinness. They fell in love with him (who wouldn't?) and applied for his adoption. They were approved. I went to the sanctuary to give Guinness a massage before they were to come and get him. I was feeling a little sad thinking how much I would miss him but happy that he finally found a home. The couple came just as we were finishing up. They sat and watched while Guinness enjoyed his last massage at the Sanctuary. They saw how much he loved it and asked me if I would consider coming to their house and continuing his therapy. Of course I agreed and they took my number. They brought a brand new collar for him and put it on. Carol and I told him how handsome he was and gave him a hug as he sat smiling next to his new "mom." I watched them from the porch as they walked to their car. Guinness looked over his shoulder and I heard him say, "I love you Vyolet." He knows I love him too.
