We are honored to have interviewed Christine Barnett, lover of dogs and pet therapist.
K9 Cuisine: What is your story-how did you get into helping animals?
Christine: Since the day I was born, I have always had a dog. As an only child, I counted my dogs as my best friends. My dog passed when I got divorced, and I was on my own with no animals. About 5 yrs ago, I received a surprise Christmas gift…a kitty, which was my first cat and a total surprise to me. I immediately loved her. She was a rescue and had been living as a stray at the animal shelter. She had been picked up off the street , homeless and pregnant at only 1 yr old. At the shelter, they gave her an abortion. When she was brought to me, she put her head on my chest and fell asleep. She slept for almost 3 days straight, walking only to eat and visit the litter box. She seemed emotionally and physically exhausted.
Having this close relationship and basically nursing a grieving mother back to emotional mental health made a huge impact on me and my understanding of animals and their feelings. Soon thereafter, I decided to go to a volunteer orientation at the San Francisco animal care and control where I found a tremendous need. I started working with Give a Dog a Bone, which is a quality of life program for long term, legal custody dogs. These are the forgotten dogs, the neglected, abused, brutalized, forced to fight and breed. Many people do not know about them, however anytime someone is hurt, dies, is arrested, jailed, cited for cruelty – we take these dogs. While its the most heartbreaking thing I have ever done, it is also the most important thing in my life. Many have to be euthanized, but i give them endless love as long as they are with us (and beyond – I never forget any of these dogs). This morphed into working with Grateful Dogs Rescue, a group of angels who rescue dogs slated for euthanasia. Many of the dogs in Give a Dog a Bone are rescued by GDR, and I have been able to continue my socialization and healing work that starts in the SF ACC and then ongoing after they make it out of the shelter. It’s wonderful to see the dogs outside in the real world!
K9 Cuisine: What is the secret to your success with the your business-how have you gotten to where you are today?
Christine: I am a Reiki specialist and perform energy healing for people and animals. My secret? I found my passion. My calling is to be a friend to the animals. I volunteer, take classes, and I have become a Reiki Master and a Spiritual Animal Healer.
K9 Cuisine: What makes you different?
Christine: I will never stop trying to make a difference in the lives of all animals and of all the people who have a connection with an animal. It could be as simple as talking with someone on the street and telling them that they are a wonderful guardian to their animal – this causes a mental shift for many who see animals as possessions and people as owners. I take every opportunity to better the lives of animals. I am also a licensed psychotherapist and have helped people deal with their issues for years. I believe that my background as a mental health clinician and my current spiritual practice of Reiki allows me to help people and animals from both a scientific and spiritual perspective. I am always seeking additional ways to help. I incorporate Tellington T Touch with the Reiki I do on animals, which is slightly different from what others do.
K9 Cuisine: What is it about dogs that you love?
Christine: Dogs are so zen – right here, right now. I admire their ability to forgive and trust, and find this to be the most incredible quality any being can carry. People hold grudges- dogs are the embodiment of love, compassion, joy, lightheartedness, and simplicity. Even if they have been abused, starved, or beaten, when you come to them with a loving kindness and a soft voice, their little tails start thumping.
K9 Cuisine: What is the neatest part about your work?
Christine: Helping people and animals open the only thing that really matters – love. It’s so rich to bring animals and their guardians to a place of understanding one another and respecting one another. Animals and people can have amazing experiences of the simplest, purest nature, and it is astounding. This is something I love to see: joy. Playing in the shelter park with a dog who never learned to play and seeing them bounce and chase after a ball is an uplifting feeling. Another very important part of this work is helping animals cross over. This is an indescribable experience and I am always deeply honored to be part of the transition from this life to the next realm.
K9 Cuisine: How can people find out more about you and your work?
Christine: I have a new website featuring my reiki practice and also my reiki products: www.SassyMonkeyReiki.com. You can also visit the sites of Give a Dog a Bone http://www.gadab.org and Grateful Dogs Rescue http://www.gratefuldogsrescue.org.
K9 Cuisine: Tell us a little about you!
Christine: I am Christine Barnett, MFT and DD, and a working and licensed psychotherapist for the past 10 years in SF, CA. My love for animals has been lifelong and my current focus is on spiritual animal healing (both in person and distant) and in co creating more effective human/animal relationships. I am an Usui Reiki Master who has received approximately 200 attunements to date. I am an avid animal rights advocate on many fronts from local city government to national and international issues. My specialty is in energetic healing of emotional and physical traumas and with animals crossing over. I am currently studying for my Doctorate in Metaphysics. I also a vegan chef and am more than happy to share my recipes to save more animals!
Congrats. Chris! It’s wonderful what you are doing and I’m sure very rewarding. Nice article!
Could you recommend any specific resources, books, or other blogs on this topic?
I would recommend contacting Christine Barnett directly. I’m sure she has great information and resources for you!