See Lali's heartwarming story featured in the September 2006 issue of Dog Fancy Magazine!

Lali came into the Berkeley shelter with terrible bite wounds to her face and ears. The rest of her body was covered with old and new bites, cuts and scratches, and she was blind in her left eye. The skin on her elbows looked as if she had never had a soft place to sleep. The staff guessed that perhaps she had been used for bait by people who fought pit bulls. It also looked as though she had had puppies sometime in her past. The staff asked me to focus on Lali that day, as she had become the shelter favorite, winning everyone over with her loving disposition. Timid but curious, Lali came to the front of her kennel as I sat down to offer her Reiki. The numerous stitches on her head were a moving testimonial to her difficult past. She was trembling and unable to relax, pacing back and forth. I introduced myself to her and let her know she was in a safe place now, with wonderful people who were there to help her.

As I began the treatment, Lali began to relax almost immediately. After about ten minutes, she lowered herself onto her side and laid her neck and head out onto the ground, taking a big sigh and closing her eyes. She yawned and stretched her legs so that all four of her pink feet were touching each other. One of the staff of the shelter noticed this uncharacteristic behavior from the inside of the kennel and came around to the outside to check on her. When she saw me she said with a smile, "Oh: I should have known you were here! She never gets that relaxed!" It was just another example of the amazing way Reiki can bring peace to an animal in any situation.

I continued to visualize her inside of a peaceful bubble of Reiki healing for about 30 minutes. In addition, I sent Reiki to her situation, for that bubble of peace and healing to follow her into the future. As I finished the treatment, Lali awoke and came to the front of the kennel to solemnly lick my fingers as if to say, "Thank you for the Reiki!" I had the strong intuition that somehow, despite her difficult life up to this point, Lali held no bitterness towards humans. In fact, she had a gigantic heart waiting for the right family to come along to love.

I began doing distant Reiki regularly for the highest good of Lali's situation. I hoped that she would find a home where she would be appreciated for her great inner beauty. And where she would not be seen as "disabled", but rather loved for her many special qualities.

About three weeks later, Amelia at the shelter emailed me with the wonderful news: Lali had been adopted by a new, loving family. Amazingly, the family had come into the shelter looking for a companion for their one eyed Bulldog. When they saw Lali, they knew it was the perfect match! I have continued to send Reiki to Lali for an easy and joyful settling into her new family. And thanks again, Reiki!