LON'S NOTES -- HARRY MASSAGE SESSION #7
June 11, 2009 -- 1:00pm
Session number 7, and the first with one of Harry's adopters. (Harry spent his first night with them last night.) My original plan was that new parent and me would be on opposite sides of the massage table, and Mary would be in the background. After a minute, Mary and I realized that this was probably not going to work, as he was very focused on her and it became a distraction. Mary left the room and we proceeded. He was a little fidgety today which I attribute to all the changes he has experienced in the past 20 hours. Also, he seemed very happy today which made him a little hyperactive. However, early in the session, he lay down and rested his chin on the table. (Today's improvement.) He did this a few times. The new owner received massage instruction and tips from me. All seems very good. We will have another session next Thursday.
LON'S NOTES -- HARRY MASSAGE SESSION #6
June 4, 2009 -- 12:00 Noon
Before we start the massage, I hand a treat to Harry. He reaches out and licks it a few times making me drop it to the floor. He considers, but does not eat. Mary reaches for it. Then he eats it. We begin the massage.
He's a little looser today not as tense. He appears happy today. It's also easier to do points on his right side he's not guarding it as much.
Ht7 is easy on both sides. Mary's observations of changes at home: 1) he's exploring more space in the apartment before he was fearful of entering some areas and corners; 2) he seems a little more independent not bad, not good, but in a neutral way. No improvement with being outdoors and with the cat. TODAY'S BREAKTHROUGH: At the end of the session, I kneeled 4 feet away from him, holding out a treat. He came to me, TOOK IT OUT OF MY HAND without fear, and ate it! GB20, Ht7, St36
LON'S NOTES -- HARRY MASSAGE SESSION #5
May 28, 2009 -- 12:00 Noon
We no longer need any preparation time before our session--he is totally accustomed to this routine. I can start massaging him right away and he's quite comfortable. I used more pressure on him today--he was fine with that. Again, he did not take a treat from me before the session. He did acknowledge me, though. During the session, he looked back at me a few times. A couple times we almost touched nose to nose. Right side appears to be a little more sensitive than left. He seems to guard his right side more. Doing acupressure points on the right side is not as easy as the left, but he is MUCH easier than he was at first. Huge appetite. Digestion very good. For the FIRST time, Harry ate a treat (after the session.) I held it out to him; he licked it; I set it on the floor; he ate it. Mary says it's the FIRST time he's eaten a treat anywhere outside her apartment. Acupressure points: GB20, Ht7, Liv3, Ki3
LON'S NOTES -- HARRY MASSAGE SESSION #4
May 21, 2009 -- 12:30 PM
Our 4th session and Harry and I are sorta pals now. Being a little shorter
on time today, I needed to start right away. (The previous 3 sessions, we
all took about 20 minutes beforehand to settle into the room, talk, etc.)
Before we got him on the table, as I have each time, I handed him a treat.
He didn’t take. On the table. He seemed totally comfortable with me. A few
times he plopped over on his side. Because of his advanced trust, I was
able to work in more detail today; more detailed work on face and neck,
and around eyes. Worked under the front legs (armpits), which seemed to
relax his whole leg, so I was able to easily straighten his front paws out
to make Ht7 EASILY reachable. A few times I had to pick him up to center
him on the table and he didn’t react at all. After the session, when he
was on the floor, I offered another treat, he walked up to me and came
VERY close to taking it. Mary was very surprised as he is not yet doing
that for her outside the apartment. Overall, he was very good for me
today, but he was more restless than the last couple weeks (mainly during
the last half of the session). We realized that this may be due to Mary
giving him more than the usual amount of outdoor time (they were both
sitting on the bench outside the Clinic for about 5 minutes—he wasn’t
happy). Mary reports that his appetite is good and digestion is much
better. We went back downstairs to the first floor of the Clinic and hung
out at the bottom of the stairs for a few minutes. Mary noted that for the
entire time, he was sitting at my feet. It appears I’ve succeeded in
gaining his trust. Acupressure points: Ht7, GB20, GB34, Liv3.
LON'S NOTES -- HARRY MASSAGE SESSION #3
May 14, 2009 -- 12 Noon
Improvements in all areas, except for relations with Amelie. (Mary says
that is worse.) We began today with Mary NOT holding Harry—just me and
Harry. He was fine. His body was much more relaxed from the beginning of
the session. No reactions of discomfort. A quieter day at the Clinic, so
he was not as distracted by noise, and his focus was not so fixed on the
noises that did come up. Toward the end of our session, he turned to look
at me, giving me full acknowledgement, then moved toward my face as if to
kiss me. He stopped and turned back. I’ll accept that. Same acupressure
points as last week: GV20, GB20, Ht7, Liv3.
LON'S NOTES -- HARRY MASSAGE SESSION #2
May 7, 2009 -- 12 Noon
Everything Harry did today showed improvement. Mary was parked right
outside the Clinic, but Harry still did not want to be out-she carried him
in. We go to Room 5. Harry was much more at ease in the room. He did not
stay under the bench and was comfortable being out with us. He did not
seem intimidated by me (but still wouldn't come to me to accept a
treat-Mary says the only time he will accept treats from her is in her
apartment). Like last time, I wanted us all to hang out and talk before we
got him on the table. Again, I want to use my voice, the vibration of it,
purposely to put him more at ease with me. As we're talking, Harry pays
more attention to sounds outside the room (within the Clinic). He sits and
stares at the door. Mary says he does this a lot a home. It's as if he's
waiting to see who might enter through the door next (one of his former
abusers?). After about 15 minutes, we get him on the table. He looks at
me-I hold out my hand-he takes a good sniff. Very nice acknowledgement of
me. Mary sits on one side of the table (Harry's head side). I stand
opposite, with Harry's hind quarters to me. This time, Mary is not holding
him-it's just Harry and me. Start with TTouch down the sides of the spine,
beginning at the head. 3 passes each side. Then hands-on for a couple
minutes. Massage work on head and acupressure points GV20 and GB20. I'm
able to massage his shoulders easily. He hasn't made a complaint so far,
but I will hold off going for Ht7 for right now. A few passes down back
with varied strokes-hips-femoral muscles. All good. Then I have Mary
distract him by working his head-this is so I can do Ht7 and so he can
take his focus away from the outside noises. Ht7 on the left leg is easy
to get to-much easier than last week. Right leg is not so easy. Mary
attempts to extend his carpal joint, but he keeps it tightly curled. (She
says he does this at home also.) I do more shoulder work and some gentle
rocking-then I get into his arm pit with the medial edge of my index
finger. This loosens him up a bit and Mary is able to extend the leg and
I'm able to get to Ht7 on this side. I added acupressure point Liv3 today
and had to struggle a bit to get there. Again, much easier on left side
than on right. At the end of our session he is happy, energized and seems
very excited to see the leash. Mary has stated that he always acts like
he's very excited to go out, but is still fearful being outdoors. I wanted
to see how easily he would leave the Clinic. He went through both doors
without too much coaxing. Though he was hesitant and looking around
(tractor trailers were passing on Atlantic Avenue Highway), he made it
across the sidewalk to the car on his own. Excellent and encouraging
session. Acupressure points: GV20, GB20, Ht7, Liv3.
LON'S NOTES -- HARRY MASSAGE SESSION #1
April 30, 2009 -- 12 Noon
Mary carried Harry (say that 5 times fast) from the car, a block away,
into the Clinic. She said he was tense with the fear of having been
outdoors. I escorted her up to Room 5 and let them hang out there while I
finished some front desk business - best to use that time for Harry to get
used to the room. I join them in Room 5 and wonder how he will do there
because of all the windows offering an outdoor view. I talk with Mary -- I
say some words to Harry - I want him to hear my voice and feel the
vibration of it. I bend down a couple times and call him, but he will have
nothing to do with me - he stays by Mary. I offer him a treat - he won't
come near me. After 30 minutes, it's time to take the plunge and place him
on the table. I offer another treat on the table - he's not interested.
Mary is on the other side of the table with Harry's head. I'm behind
Harry. Begin with TTouch circles down sides of spine. Several passes of
this and no adverse reaction from Harry. I explain to Mary that I will be
happy if I can work the top of his head and around spinal region - working
legs today is unlikely, and one of the acupressure points I want to work
is Ht 7, lateral aspect of carpus. I teach the point to Mary. It's not
long before Harry shows signs of decreased tension. After 10 minutes, he
suddenly releases his body, and plops over on his right side. I'm
thrilled: 1) that he submitted like that and 2) that he did it so soon.
This "submission" is a sign of trust and his willingness to be worked on.
Continued passes down spine - direct pressure; direct pressure with glide;
compression; circles. Started gently in case he has some hidden pain
pockets as a result of his abuse. No discomfort reaction from Harry. I'm
greatly encouraged and begin applying more pressure. Also, start to brave
the legs - work shoulders and femoral muscles. Rather easily, I'm able to
work my way to Ht 7. (I had Mary holding/massaging his head during this to
distract him.) Very mild reaction to the point - a little squirmy upon
stimulation. Though he never seemed concerned about the windows looking to
the outdoors, he was very alert to sounds from outside the room.
Acupressure Points (also taught to Mary): GV 20, GB 20, Ht 7, St 36.
