It is my honor to present an interview with Gail Pope, Founder and President of BrightHaven, Healing Arts Center for Animals in Santa Rosa, California. For more information about how you can help BrightHaven, please visit www.brighthaven.org.

Kathleen: Could you tell readers a little about how BrightHaven came into being and your vision of its mission?

Gail: In 1986, when I came to live in America with my husband Richard, two children and various animals, I had no thought of working with animals. I had a long career in the travel industry and planned to continue it. Finally my daughter and I opened our own business and I promised 3 years of my life to it – as I told her I knew I had to do something “more” with my life and this was definitely NOT it!

Just before the end of that 3 years I visited a sanctuary for cats in Southern California. I was impressed to see so many cats living peaceably and happily together, but not so impressed by their standard of living or healthcare. I went on with my ordered life for one more week – until at 6:30 am one Monday morning on the freeway traveling North with my daughter Kirstie – I almost drove off the road as I said “I KNOW what I want to do with the rest of my life.” I drove to work – called Richard and we began house-hunting right away. That is the kind of man he is – wonderful.

A year later we moved into our new house in a beautiful canyon area and got to work – rescuing cats – all cats – all ages – all sorts – and for all manner of reasons.

I was lucky to get a job with a wonderful vet called Doug Coward who has since become one of our best friends. It quickly became clear that our house was filling with elderly unadoptables brought home from work with Doug’s blessing to avoid euthanasia and there was little time to work at finding homes for young ones, or nursing pregnant Mum’s or sick kittens…There was soooo much to do.

After two years we closed our doors to all but those over the age of sixteen years or some with a recommendation for euthanasia. We determined that we would love them and give them our home to be theirs for life. The ensuing years became our training in the world of natural medicine to which we were so lucky to be introduced early on. We learned many kinds of natural healing methods until finally accepting a natural diet and homeopathy as our cornerstones for achieving happiness and balance, with love of course being the single most important ingredient!

After almost twelve years BrightHaven is becoming well known as a healing arts center for animals through our seminar and workshop programs, which are designed to help people better care for their animals as we invite well-known practitioners from many walks of natural health to join with us to offer our knowledge to the community.

Finally, the BrightHaven dream is to expand and work towards making this country a place where elderly, sick and disabled animals are not treated as disposable items, but rather as a respected part of a caring society, consequently helping to make the world a better place for all of us.

Kathleen: What is your approach to the healthcare of the animals in your charge?

Gail: As mentioned love is always served as number one – closely followed by diet and homeopathy. Because we realize that a balance of all things may be needed, we choose different therapies for different animals which may include such things as flower essence therapy, Chinese medicine, herbal medicine; including both Western and Chinese, Cranio Sacral, Bowen, Acupuncture, Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation and of course last but never least Reiki.

Kathleen: How have you seen Reiki fit into the BrightHaven dynamic?

Gail: For me personally, Reiki has been a huge revelation and I am so very happy that it has finally been introduced into my life. I have long been aware of what I have always termed my hot hands and healing power therein, but never knew what to do with it. After taking level 1 Reiki all became clear and I felt that I had been waiting for Reiki all my life.

At BH we believe in balance in all things to promote healing. I have seen Reiki work wonderfully as an adjunct to other therapies to promote an attitude change to one of upliftment and joy,as well as a readiness to eat for a sick animal or to give courage for the journey ahead as well as relief from pain during that journey. Reiki is a very powerful form of medicine that can find its way to exactly where it is needed. We see the changes afterwards and do not necessarily know them in advance!!

Kathleen: Can you tell one or two stories about how you've seen Reiki heal at BrightHaven?

Gail: Gosh there have been so many...

We have observed often that when Kathleen comes to just sit in a room that, after a few minutes, the animals will approach her to ask for treatment. They will sit calmly beside her or demand her lap but they leave us in no doubt of their desire for healing. When Kathleen is teaching a workshop by demonstration there will always be three or four cats perched upon the recipients as they knowingly share in the essence of Reiki: Grady stands behind and bawls at the top of his voice (discouragement or refusal? we know not) but as the session begins Grady can be seen in the very same spot curled fast asleep!

Some obvious mentions of healing here at BrightHaven have to be those of:

• Tigger – Cat – 19 years - winding down to die – a skeleton – diarrhea (IBD). He was maintaining on homeopathy, but after Reiki has put on almost 2 lbs. in weight, has not had diarrhea for weeks and curls on chairs all over the house, whereas previously he stayed in one room and never ventured out.
• Mick – Cat 12 yrs. - Also IBD – long term homeopathy patient. Chronically sick but responding well to homeopathy physically, but then glum, despondent and unwilling to join in anything. This was the one example of Reiki that almost backfired on us: After treatment, Mick LIT UP so much that he was everywhere – stealing food and making himself a complete nuisance!!
• Ollie – 20 year old Dachshund recovering slowly from his usual treatment for a recurrent meningitis attack - suddenly became possessed of new energy and vitality and has been seen lately bouncing for joy in his wheelchair!
• Charlie - A sad and depressed girl – barely responding to homeopathy and refusing her food for several meals….responded to Reiki by happily devouring her dinner with a newfound healthy appetite several weeks ago. She is still eating well and back again on the natural diet which she had refused to eat!
• Grady – a recent BH miracle boy – in hospital with a pyothorax – in an oxygen tank – chest filling with poison – pronounced not strong enough for surgery...Yes – You got it!! He had surgery – recovered and with the help of Reiki is now home and starting afresh on his ninth life!
• Crystal – As Crystal approached the end of her life she was loved, quite well balanced, pain free and accepting of her situation. Sadly she could not quite escape the fear she held for the journey ahead of her. With the help of Reiki she became more stable and became composed and relaxed until she finally left us in peace and joy in the comfort of my arms.
• Beauregard – Constitutionally cared for by homeopathy and fighting a mass in his ear at the tender age of 23. Beau has always been strong – a tough guy to be feared and revered. Lately Beau was withdrawn and clearly feeling his loss of status as a BH leader – thought by all to be winding down and sad……Not so – after Reiki Beau lit up again and was to be seen chasing madly through the house again playing as well as greeting newcomers and escorting them around his castle!!

The other particular mention I would like to make is how I have seen how Reiki helps so amazingly during the transition process – and this can mean a period of minutes, hours, days, weeks or even months. I see animals approaching death become more relaxed and comfortable and ofttimes decide to remain with us longer as they achieve a deeper sense of well-being. We have seen how Reiki goes exactly to where it is needed and during transition it can calm, comfort and even energize and heal the being in order that they can pass more easily.

Kathleen: Speaking about animal sanctuaries at large around the world: how can you see Reiki supporting this work?

Gail: Oh in many ways – It is so helpful for animals who are grieving, or stressed or painful or even just those who are unused to new surroundings. It helps ground them and give them strength and courage to go on, as well as healing from within for their highest good.

Kathleen: Do you have any suggestions for my readers who wish to approach a sanctuary in their local area and offer Reiki?

Gail: I think that “the proof of the pudding is in the eating” – as my Grandmother used to say!!! I would tell them to just go do it!! The results that are seen - and very quickly too - will soon outweigh any skepticism or lingering doubts.

Kathleen: Thank you, Gail for taking the time to answer my questions. I know your insight and knowledge will be so inspiring to readers!