By Ron Latevola

It started as a typical Saturday for me at the Caribou Pet Rescue (CPR), typical being a misnomer as I never know what will greet me upon my arrival. I have been volunteering at the rescue for 2 years using my Reiki abilities to benefit the animals. On this particular day, my Reiki services were requested for a 2-week old kitten. Not only had her mother abandoned her, but also she had tried to end the kitten’s life. The kitten was struggling to live and had not been eating,

I hesitated at first as my experience with kittens gave me the opinion that Reiki, especially hands-on Reiki, was too much for them. They would usually turn and walk/run away upon the onset of a session. I held the miniscule feline who struggled to keep her eyes open and offered her Reiki. She fit in the palm of one hand (with room left over) and quietly soaked the Reiki in.

After about 10 minutes, I suggested we should try feeding her. The staff prepared her nourishment and handed me a syringe to feed her with. To my delight, as well as the others’, she eagerly accepted it, aggressively going after the food-filled syringe, time after time. Once she was sated, we put her to bed to rest for her next feeding.

Things were looking good, but of course, the next challenge was literally around the corner. In walked a young couple carrying a cardboard box. In it was a ferret, or at least what resembled a ferret. They said they found it in their yard and had no idea what to do with it. It was just laying there at the bottom of the box, its fur matted and dirty. In fact, the couple did the right thing by bringing it to CPR. They took it out of the box and set it on the ground. It laid flat and then slithered like a snake, not using any of its limbs. I picked it up, it was as light as a feather and I could feel every bone in its body.

Not having any experience with ferrets and seeing that it was in obvious distress, the staff phoned their vet tech for advice. They were told to hydrate it and feed it kitten food. While they were getting their advice, I set the ferret in a cage with a cup of water and started offering it Reiki. It crawled to the side of the cage where I was and laid against the bars, barely alive, fighting for life and absorbing all the Reiki it could. After a short while, it crawled to the water and lapped some up, returning to the previous Reiki site when done. After resting a bit there, the ferret crawled over to his food dish and dropped his head into the bowl, eagerly taking in food. He eventually rose to his feet ( a first since arriving) and continued eating. He was enjoying his first meal in who knows how long. Although still not using his hind legs, he seemed to gain strength and stabilize. The staff hydrated him with 4 injections. I continued the Reiki for a while. As I left, he was still using his front legs to hold himself up and eat. A natural name for the ferret seemed to be “Freddie” and so he assumed his new identity.

I left the shelter that day with a little extra bounce in my step, feeling happy for the ferret and kitten and knowing I had a hand (no pun intended) in saving a life or two that day.

Upon my arriving home, I couldn’t wait to tell my wife (a Reiki Practitioner) of the day’s happenings. A little later, driving home after dining out, she announced unsolicited, “I guess we could go check Freddie out.” I amiled as I never suggested to her that we should take Freddie in, nor did I ever mention my chosen name for him, referring only to “the ferret”.

It was love at first sight for her and Freddie came home with us. As we live in rural America, doctor, dentist and vet appointments don’t come easy or promptly. It would be 3 weeks before they could see him. In th emeantime, we made a couple of trips to Wal-Mart (again, rural America, few options) for a decent cage, food, etc. He was eating up a storm and was dragging his hind legs less and less. He slept a considerable amount, tiring after eating or spending a couple of minutes exploring his surroundings. He received Reiki from both of us daily, some days more than once, and would just lay there, soaking it in. Improvement was seen daily-he gained weight, strength and stamina.

At his vet appointment, it was discovered he had ear mites. A dose of Revolution took care of that. The vet also believed Freddie to be an older ferret based on his gumb color and condition. He might also have a vision problem. If he indeed does, it sure hasn't slowed him down as he now runs happily through our home.

Slowly, but surely, with TLC, Reiki and proper nutrition, Freddie has found a new lease on life, and life is good!

About the Author:  Ron "Liomsa" Latevola resides in Caribou, Maine. He is a Usui Reiki Master, an Ordained Priest in the Correllian Nativist Tradition, Ordained Minister in the Universal Life Church and a Witch School mentor. He can be reached at RevLiomsa@maine.rr.com .

---