Shelter Animal Reiki Association: Changing the Story of Homeless Animals
New handbook published by Shelter Animal Reiki Association guides Reiki practitioners through the process of volunteering at their local shelter

SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA (June 10, 2009) — It’s no secret layoffs and foreclosures have animal guardians giving up their animals at a record rate, and shelters are bursting at the seams. Plenty of enthusiastic volunteers want to help out, but many don’t know where to start.

A new nonprofit organization, the Shelter Animal Reiki Association (SARA), has published an exclusive handbook to fill that need. The Animal Reiki Handbook: Finding Your Way With Reiki in Your Local Shelter, Sanctuary or Rescue, published in April 2009, offers everything Reiki volunteers need to get started, including an overview of the organization, mission and code of ethics of SARA; an introduction to animal Reiki; guidelines for working within shelters; and considerations for treating in a variety of environments.

“Shelters are often an animal’s last hope and a chance at a new life,” says director Kathleen Prasad, who runs the organization with fellow directors Leah D’Ambrosio and Caly Lehrer. “But for some animals, the stress of being in a kennel is almost unbearable. With Reiki, I’ve seen amazing healing responses—imagine watching a loud kennel full of hyperactive, stressed-out dogs transform into quiet, peaceful naptime space. The Animal Reiki Handbook is one way to get more people out there helping the animals who need it most.”

SARA aims to boost adoption rates in shelters nationwide by reducing stress and supporting healing in homeless animals. The mission will be achieved via a standardized roll-out of animal Reiki programs in shelters worldwide and the creation of an unprecedented global information resource for practitioners and facilities that assist animals in need.

For more information about The Animal Reiki Handbook, visit animalreikisource.com.

For press inquiries, please contact:

Charlotte Jensen
310-293-0695, publicity.sara@gmail.com

About the Shelter Animal Reiki Association: Reiki to the Rescue®

Reiki is a holistic Japanese energy healing modality that promotes stress reduction and relaxation. SARA was founded in May 2008 to support the growing number of Reiki practitioners who wish to establish programs in their local shelters. SARA’s goals are to: Teach and foster an understanding of energy healing; provide a standardized approach to implementing professional animal Reiki programs for shelters, sanctuaries and other facilities that assist animals in need; document the effects of animal Reiki on individual animals and the possible effects on shelter and rescue statistics as a whole; serve as a worldwide information and referral resource for Reiki practitioners, shelters, sanctuaries and other facilities that assist animals in need that wish to incorporate an animal Reiki program; and educate the public, shelters, sanctuaries and other facilities that assist animals in need on the benefits animal Reiki can provide to animals in need and their human caretakers.