11/15/2023 0 Comments Dog Massage – A Hope FulfilledIn 2011, I chose learning “therapeutic dog massage” as one of my “retirement” projects. I love dogs and being with them has been transformational in my life. I enrolled in an eight-month course at the Bancroft School of Massage. The teaching focused on anatomy, understanding dog behavior, and traditional massage techniques. My hope was to be a healing presence for the dogs, their owners and myself. However, I did not have a specific plan of what to do with my newly acquired skill. The first three years after graduation was simply learning the trade. I massaged hundreds of dogs, all sizes and shapes, in a variety of settings including shelters, doggy daycares, veterinary clinics, and in their homes. By year four, I started teaching classes to dog owners and began searching for my niche. By year six, I found that my calling was accompanying many elderly dogs and their owners all the way to the rainbow bridge. It was, and is, very soulful work. I discovered that owners are quite different. While they all love their dogs (who else would hire a dog massager) some were rarely at home while I massaged their dog. (I had the entry code). Some were in the house working on something else, while others stayed with their dog and me throughout the entire one-hour massage. Lisa, Bella’s mom, was always present for the Bella’s massages. Since I visited every Wednesday for two years, that makes 100 massages or 100 hours that we all spent together. Week after week, when I returned home, I would tell Catherine how much I enjoyed the experience, and I shared many stories about Bella and Lisa. When Bella passed, Catherine suggested that we invite Lisa and her husband, Jim, to our house for a “celebration of life” for Bella. Lisa’s letter captures so beautifully the hope I had when I started this whole adventure. October 31, 2023 Dear Catherine and David, Jim and I are so grateful to you for the kindness that you have shown us. You welcomed us into your home with a huge hug and lots of understanding about what we are going through. We consider ourselves lucky to have been supported by so many in the loss of our girl, yet you are the only ones getting a personalized letter and here’s why: David, how can I ever thank you enough for giving Bella so much of your time, talent, and love? You came here very week without fail and not only helped Bella, but helped me too with your incredibly positive view of the world. Looking at my calendar, I found that your first visit with us was on October 13, 2021, before Bella’s tumor was even found. I called you on the advice of someone I didn’t even know, as she was not taking any new patients and had heard good things about you. I could not have dreamed that her advice would change the lives of Bella, Jim, and myself. You had never traveled as far as Haverhill for one of your patients, but you told me that you’d give it a try and see how it all worked out. In my opinion, it worked out pretty darn well. Thanks you so much for taking a chance on a dog so far from your normal circle of travel. Bella needed help and you answered her call. Toward the end of our two years together, (almost to the exact day; we met you on October 13, 2001 and Bella passed on October 10, 2023), you helped me as much as you helped Bella. You gave me your opinion on how you felt Bella was doing each week. That gave Jim and I incredible confidence that we were doing the right thing by keeping her with us. Others may have thought differently due to her bad limp and their lack of knowing her. They didn’t have your expertise and didn’t know Bella the way you did. I wanted to say all this to you on the day that Jim and I visited you and Catherine at your home, but I knew I would sob to the point where I was no longer intelligible. Never did I imagine I would find a friend during an exceptionally tough part of my (and Bella’s and Jim’s) life. Most people run in the other direction. So, thanks once again. We feel truly blessed to have you in our lives. With much Gratitude and Love, Lisa, Jim & Bella (in spirit)
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David FeldmanDog walker, Dog Mediator, Father, Husband, Categories |