I have been working at an Animal Shelter lately (Animal Humane of New Mexico), working with dogs that are timid, shy or otherwise difficult to place in a new forever home. Recently, a young dog came in who was shot in the jaw and left for dead. The folks at the shelter named him “Casino” because he was found wandering around a Casino just outside of Albuquerque. I was asked to do some Reiki energy work on him because he was obviously in a bad way. Because he was young and such a sweet dog, the vets in the shelter had taken the time, effort and expense to rewire and reconstruct his jaw.

My friend Lisa, the behavior specialist, mentioned that she hoped that he would get adopted in spite of being a black dog.

I had never even thought of such a problem, but she informed me that black dogs, especially big, black dogs are often very difficult to place and the last to be adopted in shelters all around the country, if at all. I couldn’t believe it or didn’t want to, however, it appears to be true. Check it out at Black Dog Syndrome.

“Black dogs are commonly the last, if at all, to be adopted. Destined for death in many shelters they are passed up for whatever the reason.”

Release the Unconscious Social Contract

Prejudice runs deep and is often very unconscious. As children, we read about about black cats and Halloween, and buy into the superstition before we’re even old enough to understand what it means.

The old Sacred Cow that says

“White means good and black means bad”

has been part of the archetypal mythology for far too long. I hope you’ll join me in releasing your agreement to continue supporting it in any way. Just look at the Soul Contract Circle below and affirm to yourself -

“I release any social agreements or conditioning that discriminates against the color black in whatever form it takes.”

Then play our Sacred Cow Tipping Game to see how truly detrimental these kinds of superstitions and prejudices are to a society. While you are playing the game, you’ll get an opportunity to envision a different kind of world for yourself and others – including “Casino”.

PS. Casino is looking for a temporary foster home while his jaw heals – if you can help him or any other shelter animal by fostering, contact Animal Humane at (505) 255-5523 or your local Animal Shelter.

SOS

When I’m working with the dogs, I use Formula #Two and Three from “Soul Oriented Solutions – A Handbook of Formulas to Use in Times of Emotional Crisis” often.

Formula #Two helps to heal the broken spirit of a dog and help him recover from the trauma of being abandoned.

Formula #Three is good to use on dogs that are all wound up, confused or just all over the place.

All I have to do is go through the formula as I pet or massage Rover and imagine that the symbols are being placed all over the dog. I’m always amazed at how easy it is and how they really respond!

Not only that, but if you are at all intuitive, you will probably get some messages about the dog and how you can help him even more. I really want to encourage you to use the formulas in SOS to help your dog calm down naturally.

SOS was named Winner in the 2008 New Mexico Book Awards.

Purchase this helpful Reiki Energy Healing Manual for animals and people here>>

Rheanni Lightwater © 2009