A woman has told how touch therapy helped transform her rescue dog that had previously been abused.
Dog healer Hilda Kalap rescued the Jack Russell from an animal shelter in Devon four years ago.
Challenging pooch Fudge had been abused by her previous owner, who had forced her to wear an electric collar.
Her physical and emotional trauma meant she was “dominant and aggressive” towards other pets.
After practising an energy healing technique called Reiki on Fudge every week for two years, she has transformed into a “completely different dog”.
“The difference is amazing,” Hilda said.
Fudge now runs off-lead with other dogs in the woods, doesn’t become agitated at strangers and is “really calm in her eyes”.
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In 2017, Hilda visited a Devon rescue centre in the hopes of finding a family pet, along with her two daughters.
And they were over the moon after spotting a Jack Russell at Animals in Distress , who they fell in love with 'at first sight.'
“I remember the fourth dog in the kennel came running towards us excitedly,” Hilda explained.
“Her eyes were bright, her tail was wagging and she licked my hand immediately.
The nine-year-old female Jack Russell named Fudge was not your typical rescue dog - she had almost a decade’s worth of deep-rooted issues.
Fudge had been brought to the rescue centre three months prior, after trying to escape from her abusive owner.
Hilda said: "I was told they had electrified their garden fence and put an electric collar on her, to stop her from escaping."
“Though it didn’t work - the last time Fudge attempted to escape, she was hit by a lorry and left injured.”
As a result of the abuse, she would jump at the slightest touch or noise.
The centre described her as a “challenging” dog - and Hilda could see exactly why on their first walk.
“She would bark, pull and tug, and run rings around me in her lead,” Hilda said.
“But I explained to the staff that I was a dog healer, and I thought I could calm her down. I promised to persevere.”
On dog walks, Hilda initially struggled to control Fudge’s reactions as she would become “dominant and aggressive” with other dogs.
“She actually hooked herself onto the noses of two dogs the first week that I adopted her, and I had to prise her off,” Hilda said.
Hilda hired a temporary dog trainer to help socialise Fudge and teach her how to behave around other dogs.
Then she began practising Reiki, also known as touch therapy, on Fudge every week.
Reiki is an ancient healing technique that helps to rebalance the energy in the body to heal physical, mental or emotional trauma.
Hilda said: “I told myself that I was going to help keep Fudge calm, then I’d guide my hand just above her body.
“I’d beam my calm energy over her head, eyes and back.
“Within 15 minutes, she’d have absorbed it all.”
Whenever Fudge was agitated, Hilda would practice Reiki to calm her down.
It took about two years for Fudge to change her ways - and now she’s a completely different dog.
“Fudge’s hackles used to stand up when she saw other dogs,” Hilda said. “After 18 months, her hackles stopped completely.”
Now, Fudge is “really calm in her eyes” and “completely and utterly trusts” her new owner.
“The difference is amazing,” Hilda said. “Now she doesn’t flinch at touch or noise.”
Fudge is even able to go out with a Cheston dog walker Caroline, once a week, and enjoys running off lead with three other dogs in the woods.
“She is a welcome, confident part of the pack,” Hilda said.
Hilda’s calm presence instantly makes Fudge feel calmer.
“I have professionally healed dozens of animals, from horses to dogs,” she added.
“I can communicate with animals and understand what they’re saying. It is something I would love to do more.”
