Guinness

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  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
antibotics (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.