Meeting some old friends at TOLFA

The Tree of Life for Animals (TOLFA) is one of my favourite places in the world !
It is a special place. You can feel the love as you walk through the gates.

Animal hospital and rescue centre TOLFA saves thousands of animal lives a year while supporting the local community. Founded by Rachel Wright a vet nurse (awarded the CEVA Welfare Veterinary Nurse of the Year for her tireless work and creation of Tolfa ) is also a deeply spiritual person seeing not just the physical body but the soul of each individual animal that passes through the gates of Tolfa, many animals who would have been deemed unsaveable have been given a second chance by being lucky enough to arrive here instead of facing an uncertain future on the streets. As well as receiving the best medical care available they are nurtured back to full health, with complementary therapies playing an increasingly important part in their rehabilitation. My first visit to Tolfa was in 2010 and I have to say it was lifechanging - I now teach on 'The Healing Paws Retreats' run by Tolfa and last year 2013 Tolfa became an official SARA Shelter. I would strongly encourage animal professionals ; Behaviourists, Therapists, Reiki Practitioners, Communicators, to pay a visit to these amazing animal teachers - they are so open to interacting and communicating with us you will never look at an animal the same way again. The street animals of India are waiting for you .....

Here are just some of the permanent residents at Tolfa

Mouse
Ok I was a bit disappointed when all I got a bit of a tail wag when I arrived at Tolfa (after a years absence) before he went off about his business. It was for the best, my last memory of him was as I was leaving in a taxi, he had squeezed out of the main gates and was trying to get in with me and I always felt guilty about that.
However, after a couple of days he was my shadow again !
The beauty of Reiki is that once you have had that 'energy conversation', as Kathleen describes it, with someone you have a heart connection. Even thousands of miles away at home in Scotland I can connect with Mouse, and have often been aware of his intense stare during my meditations. But this is a first for me - to have him recognise the Reiki energy rather than me personally ! He resumes his place at my side for the rest of my visit, I don't like to point out that it is a little bit inconvenient at times.

Click on Mouse to see him when he arrived at TOLFA

Click on Twiggy to see her when she arrived at TOLFA

Twiggy
Twiggy was my first Reiki dog last year. She was severely emaciated and had to be carried out of her kennel to get some sun and fresh air. She has turned into a beautiful dog with a lovely personality, a permanent  resident at Tolfa.

Barbie
Little Barbie was so shut down she avoided human contact at all costs. One of our SARA students and regular volunteer at Tolfa, Maria Sanchez, persevered with offering Reiki to Barbie every day and in the end tranformed this little dog's life.  She is still very nervous of men but is such a happy soul it was hard to get a photo of her sitting still, she is a whirlwind of wagging tail and doggy kisses.

Click on Barbie to see her when she arrived at TOLFA

                    Dave                                               Bella                                        Shantaram