Tina Franklin is a SARA Teacher based in Washougal, Washington (near Portland, OR). She offers remote and in-person Reiki sessions. She spends her extra time volunteering at the West Columbia Gorge Humane Society, and with Fences For Fido. Fences For Fido is a non-profit that builds free fences for dogs that are chronically chained or living in small enclosures outdoors. They also provide insulated dog houses, dog food, and spay/neuter. In addition to having her own Animal Reiki business, Tina is also a Horticultural Therapist who works in skilled nursing, assisted living, and memory care communities using gardening as a therapeutic modality. Tina loves to travel, garden, bake, hike, kayak, & go white water rafting. She lives with her amazing husband Cason, two sweet hilarious pit bulls, two geriatric cat siblings, and five naughty goats.
United States
Kelly McDermott-Burns
Since 2004, Kelly McDermott-Burns of HeartSong Reiki and HeartSong for Animals has been bringing heart-centered healing to people and animals in central Vermont and around the northeast. Kelly has trained in the Let Animals Lead® Method of Animal Reiki with Kathleen Prasad and is a Certified Online Teacher and a Teacher of Excellence. Kelly has also trained with Frans Stiene of the International House of Reiki and Hyakuten Inamoto of Komyo Reiki do. She is a certified End of Life Care for Companion Animals Doula and a certified Meditation and Mindfulness Teacher. In addition to volunteering Reiki at Rutland County Humane Society, Kelly has taught the Let Animals Lead® Method at many shelters in the Northeast.
Hannah Setu
Hannah Setu has been an educator in health, dance and wellness for over 40 years. Since 1991 she been a health practitioner in massage, reiki, hypnosis and over the last several years has been drawn to working within the animal wellness field after discovering Kathleen’s Animal Reiki Source. In the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex she founded the longest running Reiki Share (twice monthly Meetups since 2011) to introduce Reiki practice to the public. Her business is located in Hurst and has a classroom for Reiki instruction. Her home includes 2 doggies, Boogie and Bowie plus Teto, the wise and awesome kitty who tolerates her boisterous terrier brothers! Hannah is available for in-person as well as distant reiki sessions for our animal friends be they furred, feathered or finned.
Mary Martinez
Mary Martinez is a SARA Practitioner and a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer, based in San Antonio, Texas. She spends her extra time volunteering as a Reiki provider with VETTRIIP.org, a nonprofit volunteer service organization that provides innovative methods such as Therapeutic Massage, EFT, Energy Techniques, Chiropractic Adjustments and Acupuncture to relieve stress and chronic pain for veterans, active duty service members, their families and service providers. She also volunteers with a local dog rescue Heart of Texas SPCA in Boerne, Texas.
Lisa Hughes
Lisa Hughes is a SARA Teacher. Lisa started her Reiki journey after adopting two rescued puppies (one who is visually impaired) and found Animal Reiki Source. She has been an SARA Practitioner since 2014. She believes that every being needs to be “balanced” with the universe and with the support of her husband and mother she founded a holistic animal business in Crawford, Texas. In her practice she offers in person/distance animal Reiki and Bach Flower Essence Remedies to animals and humans. She resides with her husband and three dogs Hunter, Ryder (pictured and not puppies anymore) and Bandit, who are all rescues. When she is not providing services to her clients, she is a high school special education teacher.
Laura Thomas
Laura Thomas is SARA teacher in South Carolina. She believes in being of the highest service to animals and honoring all animals as teachers and healers. Laura currently volunteers with Cotton Branch Farm Sanctuary and a local kennel/trainer who works with dogs from shelters to make them more adoptable. She is a lifelong horse lover and especially loves teaching Reiki for Horses. In addition to her animal Reiki and communication practice, Laura owns a pet and farm sitting business. She teaches and practices in the midlands of South Carolina and is open to travelling to teach classes. She shares her farm with many rescued animals who are her greatest teachers.
Kimberley Harrington
Kimberley Harrington is a Scranton, Pennsylvania based SARA Animal Reiki Teacher along with being a registered pharmacist. She was thrilled to attend SARA teacher training with Kathleen Prasad at the Catskill Animal Sanctuary in New York State where she was quite taken with the personalities, forgiveness, and love of the animals who reside there. Sharing Reiki with animals and their caregivers has been pivotal in her life as she found they are partners in healing in Oneness. Through her Reiki business, she volunteers with local shelters, sanctuaries, rescues and an aquarium sharing Reiki and compassion with all animals and their caregivers. She teaches and practices throughout Eastern Pennsylvania and is available to connect worldwide with distance Reiki. She feels all animals deserve respect and to be on this planet walking alongside of us as they are true teachers and gifts.
Leah D’Ambrosio
Leah D’Ambrosio is a meditation teacher, animal advocate, and co-founder of the Shelter Animal Reiki Association (SARA), a global nonprofit dedicated to supporting animals and their caregivers through the Let Animals Lead® method of Animal Reiki. Since launching in 2008 with just 28 members, SARA has grown into a worldwide community of over 400 practitioners who have helped thousands of animals through meditation, volunteer hours, and charitable giving—contributing nearly $1 million to shelters and sanctuaries.
Leah has been teaching Animal Reiki for over 17 years and is a Let Animals Lead® Teacher of Excellence and certified Meditation and Mindfulness Teacher. She has taught at organizations such as the Humane Society Silicon Valley, The CARE Foundation, Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary, Keepers of the Wild, and Pregnant Mare Rescue. Her approach empowers people to build peaceful, healing relationships with animals, both domestic and wild. Leah donates 25% of her class fees to animal welfare organizations and lives in Portland, Oregon with her two dogs, Nica and Shrek.
Karren O’Sullivan
Karren O’Sullivan lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She believes in the healing power of animals and being in service to the community of shelter and sanctuary animals along with their staff and caregivers. As a Reiki III practitioner and teacher, she is committed to living her passion by offering Reiki healing to animals of all kinds in gratitude for their service to humanity. She is open and willing to discuss travel options for teaching SARA Reiki classes and providing both in person and distant Reiki treatments for pets. In Karren’s spare time, she volunteers at the City of Tulsa Animal Welfare Shelter.
Mariann Smith
Mariann Smith is SARA Teacher residing in Rockaway Beach, New York and offers in person treatments to both humans and animals in Rockaway and all five boroughs. Mariann was trained in the Japanese Art of Reiki by Frans Steine of the International House of Reiki and trained in Animal Reiki by Kathleen Prasad of Animal Reiki Source. She is a member of the Long Island Reiki Connection and manages a non-profit animal organization/rescue whose mission is to raise awareness to the plight of all creatures as well as our moral and ethical obligation to care for them. She offers classes in both Japanese Reiki and Animal Reiki for those looking to care for both humans and animals; and particularly those who care for feral cats and other homeless animals.
Tenney Gravatt
Tenney Gravatt lives in the Hudson Valley of New York State. She has been compelled her entire life to be an advocate for all animals. When she started her Reiki journey thirty years ago, she knew it would be a modality for which to base all others. With even further study of Reiki and becoming a Reiki Teacher she found her purpose as a practitioner and teacher of the craft so others could share Reiki with animals in need. Facilitating a harmonious life for her animal clients and their people with Reiki is what she loves to do every day. Tenney is a practitioner of Reiki with animals (“Let Animals Lead” method), a Reiki level trainer and a Reiki with Animals trainer. She also volunteers at a local equine sanctuary.
Jeanne Clune
Jeanne is an Animal Reiki Teacher/Practitioner from Mount Kisco, NY. She received her Animal Reiki training with Kelly McDermott-Burns, and has completed her Usui Advanced Reiki Training. She is the Behavior & Enrichment Coordinator at the SPCA Westchester. Jeanne offers Animal Reiki classes and monthly Animal Reiki Circles for the SPCA volunteers. She is also the owner of a business which offers Animal Reiki and Gentle Obedience Training for SPCA Animal alumni.
Jeanne is a forever animal lover and has shared her home with a variety of wonderful animal angels. She also enjoys visiting animal sanctuaries when she travels. In South Africa, she had an amazing experience offering Reiki to cheetah cubs. After several minutes of meditation, she opened her eyes to find first one, then all six, licking her palms. Cheetah tongues are great exfoliators!
Briana Clements
Briana Clements is a member of SARA who lives and works in New York City. Briana enjoys helping all animals – young or old, wild or domestic, living in a forever home or still looking – and their human companions. Her favorite place to volunteer Animal Reiki is at Animal Haven, an amazing no-kill shelter in Manhattan that has been saving lives since 1967.
Sheryl Schlameuss Berger
Sheryl Schlameuss is a Reiki Master Teacher in Old Bethpage, (Long Island) New York. She offers Reiki sessions for both people and animals, as well as both Usui Reiki classes and Animal Reiki training. She volunteers with Forgotten Friends of Long Island Animal Rescue, an organization that is dedicated to rescuing some of the neediest, most difficult cases, ensuring they receive focused care and rehabilitation, and then placement in forever homes.
George Belev
George Belev is a founding member of SARA and has been practicing complementary therapies since 1997. He is a Usui Reiki Master/Teacher, Shinpiden Animal Reiki Master/Teacher, Healing Touch for Animals Certified Practitioner, a Pet Massage Instructor, and a Certified Healing Touch Practitioner. George is co-founder of a business that offers cooperative, energy-based modalities to people and animals in Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties. George is the certification director for Healing Touch for Animals/Komitor Healing Methods (HTA/HKM) and is on the advisory and education councils for the International Association of Animal Massage and Bodywork (IAAMB). He is a Pawsitive Partners Prison Program Dog Trainer (Monty’s Home, Wilmington, NC) and Canine Good Citizen Evaluator.
Rachael Beuchler
Rachael is a SARA Practitioner living in Santa Fe, NM. Rachael was originally drawn to Reiki as a healing modality for herself. Through her self practice and compassion, Rachael started seeing calming effects on her animals. She then took Animal Reiki with SARA East Coast Director Kelly McDermott-Burns and was active on the Board of Directors of the Vermont Reiki Association. While in Vermont, Rachael volunteered at the Central Vermont Humane Society and took many trips to volunteer at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah. In Santa Fe, Rachael is a staff member at the Santa Fe Animal Shelter and enjoys “being Reiki” while at work. Rachael is also a Certified Professional Dog Trainer.
Pat Barnett
Pat Barnett is a SARA teacher located in Santa Fe, NM. Pat has had a life-long love affair with animals, especially horses, dogs, and cats. She offers in person and distance Reiki sessions for people and animals. She also offers Reiki and Animal Reiki classes for individuals who want to learn the practice. Pat and her partner Tony share their home with Sasha, a blue Pit mix, who spent most of her first 5 years in shelters – the last 2 1/2 years at SAVE.
William Stevens
Bill Stevens is a Reiki Master who has practiced Reiki for twenty years with a focus on people dealing with life threatening illnesses. More recently he has also studied with Kathleen Prasad as an Animal Reiki practitioner and teacher. He presently lives in Asbury Park NJ, works with the VNA Hospice as a Reiki Practitioner, and has volunteered at both the local Humane Society and the SPCA in offering Reiki to their animals. He also maintains a private practice to respond to both human and animal needs with the goal being to encourage people to learn Reiki to care for themselves and their pets.
Jamie Lee
Jamie Lee is a Las Vegas, Nevada based Animal Reiki Teacher and believes animals are our teachers and healers. Besides being certified as a SARA teacher, she is certified in small animal massage, color light therapy, and veterinarian aromatherapy. Helping animals is her dharma and the vision of her Animal Reiki business. She volunteers for Hearts Alive Animal Rescue, All One Family Animal Sanctuary, and RoosnMore Animal Sanctuary. In addition to teaching Animal Reiki classes, she is available for in person and distant sessions for all species of animals, and the people that love them.
Jane Joy Sparks
Jane’s great love for animals has lead her to the practice of Reiki. A long-time horsewoman, she also volunteers at the Humane Society of Western Montana. Jane is available to travel to your shelter or sanctuary to teach staff and volunteers the benefits of Reiki. She strongly believes that animals are our teachers and wishes to share the knowledge she has gained.
Linda Rogers Crabtree
Linda is a SARA teacher living outside the Boston area.
Czammy, Linda’s first equine teacher and partner, is the reason that Linda studied and practiced to become a Reiki Practitioner/Teacher and to create her business in 2007, with the intent to offer Reiki to equines and all animals, and to teach Reiki to humans so that they can support the well-being of the animals in their circle of life.
Linda has volunteered at Lucky Horse Equine Rescue, Tomten Farm and Sanctuary, and MSCPA at Nevins Farm. Linda offers Animal Reiki and Meditation classes at equine assisted services centers to support the equines and humans on the therapeutic team.
Linda and her spirit horse and dance partner, Ka.Wa, have fun together doing groundwork and trail rides, and simply being together.
Amber Shaner
Amber is dedicated to animals, nature, and energy work. After studying all four levels of Reiki for humans, she completed Animal Reiki Teacher training through Kathleen Prasad. Currently, Amber is an Animal Reiki practitioner and teacher practicing in Naperville, Illinois. She enjoys giving back to the community by sharing Reiki with multiple animal rescues and shelters. Amber’s mission and passion is to offer Reiki to all animals in need to promote a loving balance of well-being.
Deanna Iris Sava
Deanna Iris Sava is a SARA teacher based in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. She has completed 4 levels of Usui Tibetan (Western) Reiki, plus Level 3 (Shinpiden) of Usui Reiki Ryoho with Frans Steine. Deanna also completed 3 levels of the Let Animals Lead Method of Animal Reiki with both a student of Kathleen Prasad’s and later with Kathleen. In addition, she has taken other Animal Reiki classes with Kathleen and Leah D’Ambrosio. Deanna shares Reiki on a voluntary basis for dogs, cats, horses, and farm animals at various shelters, sanctuaries and rescue centers in Illinois, including The Buddy Foundation (no-kill shelter), Stardust Animal Sanctuary, and Hooved Animal Rescue & Protection Society (HARPS). Deanna loves all animals, nature photography, dancing, and crystals.
Kimberly Leilehua Digmon
Kimberly is a SARA Teacher/Practitioner who was born and raised on Oahu. She started her Animal Reiki journey in 2008 and has studied with Kathleen Prasad since 2009. In 2010 Kimberly was certified as a Reiki Master Teacher in Usui Reiki Ryoho. She loves working with domestic and wild animals and supports several animal foundations around the world. Furthermore, Kimberly has a holistic animal business that provides Reiki treatments (in person and distant), Homeopathy, Animal Communication, Scenar Therapy and Photo-Led Therapy. When she is not working, she loves to travel and continues her education in healing modalities. She has volunteered at the Oahu SPCA and the Heaven Sent Horse Sanctuary. She is a fur parent to two cats called Nanea and Mana.
Allison Chun
Allison Chun lives in Hawaii on the beautiful island of Maui. She is a Level III Reiki Practitioner/Teacher and owner of her own wellness center for animals and companion people. Her favorite places to share Reiki with animals are Haku Baldwin Center and Maui Humane Society. Allison offers in-person treatments on Maui island.
Marylou Laughlin
Marylou is a Reiki Teacher and Practitioner in Granby Connecticut. In 2000 she was certified as a Master/Teacher. In 2010 she studied Animal Reiki with Kathleen Prasad and Shinpiden Level III Usui Reiki Ryoho with Frans Stiene. She is a certified wildlife rehabilitator and volunteers at Safe Haven Wildlife Rehabilitation. She is available for in person Reiki sessions in the Hartford Springfield area as well as distance sessions for domestic animals and their caregivers and also wild animals. She teaches classes in Granby and around the world.
Leonora Velasquez
Leonora is a SARA teacher based in the Boulder/Longmont Colorado area. She is an active volunteer with Evergreen Animal Protective League. Other volunteer activities include being a Reiki provider for cancer patients through another local non profit organization. Leonora enjoys traveling the world, often to enhance additional skills as an energy worker. Leonora resides in Longmont with her family which includes several canines and often includes foster pups. Reiki instruction or in person and distance Reiki sessions are available for animals and their people.
Kathy Edwards
Kathy Edwards is a SARA Teacher who was born and raised in the San Francisco area. She has studied with Kathleen Prasad since 2010 and recently opened her own alternative animal health business. She currently volunteers in San Mateo County and is available for in person and distant treatments.
Kathleen Prasad
Kathleen Prasad is founder of Animal Reiki Source and president/co-founder of the Shelter Animal Reiki Association (SARA). A Reiki practitioner for over 22 years, Kathleen Prasad teaches and shares the healing benefits of Reiki meditation for animals and their caregivers. Kathleen has created the Let Animals Lead® method of Animal Reiki, based on traditional Japanese Reiki meditations and specific techniques to build trusting, respectful relationships with animals. This method represents the world’s first specialized, extensive and professional curriculum in Animal Reiki and meditating with animals for healing.
Cindie Ambar
Cindie Ambar has been practicing Reiki since 2009 and was certified as an Animal Reiki Teacher by Kathleen Prasad in 2012. She is also an animal communicator. She has extensive experience with traumatized animals and volunteers at Pregnant Mare Rescue in Watsonville, California, REINS Sanctuary in Hollister and takes on pro bono clients from other shelters and sanctuaries. Her life’s purpose is to be in service to animals and she recognizes them for the sacred, sentient beings they are. She offers distance Reiki sessions and teaches in person classes in the Santa Cruz County area.
Shelley Seitz
Shelley is a Reiki Practitioner/Teacher in Little Rock, Arkansas. She initially studied Reiki as a way to help support the shelter animals she’s volunteered with for over 20 years. She began study of Usui Reiki under Tacey Reese, and shortly after, found and studied with Kathleen Prasad, learning her Let Animals Lead® method of Animal Reiki.
When not working with shelter animals, Shelley is available to support animals and the people who love them. She’s experienced with animals ranging from cats, dogs, birds, and horses, to reptiles and exotic animals, and offers in-person and distant Reiki sessions.
Rescued animals, and especially pit bulls, hold a special place in her heart. She shares her home with her husband, 2 rescued pit bulls, and their feline sister.
Vanessa Gomes de Pina
Vanessa Gomes de Pina is a SARA Teacher & Practitioner based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Vanessa grow up in Brazil surrounded by a variety of animals species and truly believe they are teachers of love, humbleness and compassion. Vanessa got her certificates for Veterinarian Reiki I and II in Brazil with Ricardo Garé and her Animal Reiki III certificate from Let Animals Lead® methodology with Kathleen Prasad. She spends her extra time volunteering at local animal shelters or with her neighbors trying to help animals and their lovely people to heal themselves. Vanessa loves to travel with her husband Abel and once traveling she practices Reiki with all the animals she meets. She speaks Portuguese, Spanish and English and is available for in person and for distant sessions.