Animal Welfare, Veterinary Outreach and Healing Energies for your Dog

In this episode of The DogPod, I talk to Olivia Pozzan, a vet, writer, adventurer, and reiki master.

Olivia shares her experiences working with animal welfare organisations, veterinary outreach projects, and her knowledge of healing energies for pets.

She has worked with an Arabian prince in the Middle East, on remote outback cattle stations, and been part of a camel expedition in the heart of Australia. Olivia's passion for animal welfare led her to work with the RSPCA in Queensland and lead her own veterinary outreach project in Cambodia.

She also shares her love for writing and her work as a freelance writer for Lonely Planet and the Veterinarian magazine.

Olivia Pozzan

Energy Healing for Your Dog and Cat Book

Animal Welfare
Paw Patrol Cambodia

Vets Beyond Borders

Animal Assist

Free the Bears

RSPCA Queensland 

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Drop me a line at hello@wildheartpets.com.au.

Transcript

Animal welfare, veterinary outreach + healing energies 

[00:00:00] 

[00:00:00] Introduction

[00:00:00] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: So today's episode, we are going to be discussing the big, big topics about animal welfare, and we'll also be talking about veterinary outreach projects and also for something a little different, some healing energies and how to apply them to healing your pet. So today's guest is Olivia Pozzan. Olivia's a vet, a writer, an adventurer, and a reiki master as a vet. She's worked for an Arabian prince in the Middle East, worked in remote outback cattle stations, and has been part of a camel expedition in the heart of Australia. One of Olivia's passions is animal welfare, and she currently works with the R S P C A here in Queensland.

[00:00:42] So welcome, Olivia. 

[00:00:43] Olivia Pozzan: Thank you, Suellen, and thank you for having me on the show today. 

[00:00:47] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: And you've lived an amazing life. And I know there's lots and lots of little things in there, but is there anything extra that you'd like to share today? 

[00:00:55] Olivia Pozzan: It's actually a little bit off the beaten path from my veterinary career.[00:01:00] 

[00:01:00] I have a parallel career as a writer and I have written for Lonely Planet since about 2007. And, actually writing has been a huge passion of mine all my life. And I write also for the Veterinarian magazine, the Veterinary Edge Magazine, and interview interesting people in the field of conservation and science and animal welfare and write articles about them.

[00:01:24] And also, my writing passion led me to write a book. 

[00:01:29] Working as a vet at the RSPCA

[00:01:29] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: I thought having you here today with your breadth of knowledge in animal welfare and animal veterinary outreach, why don't we start with your role at R S P C A in Queensland? 

[00:01:41] Olivia Pozzan: Yes, I've been with the R S P C A for probably about 12 or 15 years now, and my role there is mainly treating animals that suddenly find themselves without a home.

[00:01:54] And the bulk of my work is de-sexing, plus treating medical conditions [00:02:00] to get animals, you know, healthy and ready for adoptions. And that might entail, they might come into the shelter with medical conditions that need to be treated, or, conditions that need surgical intervention like they might need, a diseased eye removed or, you know, dental extractions from disease teeth, any lumps or bumps that might need removal so that then we can get them as healthy as possible and off to adoptions.

[00:02:27] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: The focus of this podcast is dogs. So if I just speak about dogs, you'll know why. But with the dogs, are they usually seized by the R S P C A, or are they just found wandering? What's the bulk of the dogs that actually end up with the R S P C A? 

[00:02:43] Olivia Pozzan: I'd say the bulk are strays.

[00:02:46] Usually councils will have, brought in off the street, and then they've made their way through to the R S P C A. We do get quite a few surrenders. So like, people's living [00:03:00] conditions change and, They might not, for example, at the moment there's a, a real rental crisis and people are struggling often just to live.

[00:03:10] And if the rental properties won't allow them to have dogs and they have no other, avenue, then we're the next resource that they can, they can utilize and at least try and get their beloved dogs to another home. We also do get inspectorate cases, but that doesn't make up the bulk of our intake.

[00:03:29] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: And with the dogs that you do find there, that in strays is there any breed that predominates? 

[00:03:37] Olivia Pozzan: More the larger breeds. You'll find the, you know, the small white fluffies generally. There's a, a different relationship I find that people have with the small white, fluffies, that they're, often looked after.

[00:03:51] I don't want to say that they're looked after better, but they're, they tend to be a little bit more pampered. Uh, they're usually kept indoors, [00:04:00] close to the, you know, close to their guardian or the pet carer. A lot of the larger dogs, they can easily jump a fence, they can just go wandering and

[00:04:10] I guess that they're easier to see on the street if they're wandering around. And that's, either they're called in by the general public or the rangers that are patrolling with streets 

[00:04:22] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: I know up here, higher up on the Sunshine Coast where I am, all the white fluffies go to a different location than the larger dogs.

[00:04:30] So the larger dogs go to a place in Doonan. And the white fluffies go somewhere else. And I, I understand from talking to people at the R S P C A, those smaller dogs get adopted a lot more quickly than the larger dogs. 

[00:04:44] Olivia Pozzan: Yes. The smaller breeds are very popular. They can fit across a whole range of households from, you know, like an older person to a small child; a lot of the larger breeds can be a bit more boisterous.

[00:04:58] So, you need an [00:05:00] active person or couple or family to be able to meet the needs of a larger dog. So that's why I think a lot of the smaller breeds have an easier time getting adopted because they can fit a broad range of households. 

[00:05:15] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: And you mentioned that a lot of your work was to sexing. So if they're strays, are they puppies that have been dumped, or are they just

[00:05:23] people who haven't had the means to get the dogs desexed. 

[00:05:27] Olivia Pozzan: Both. Both. A lot of people even now, don't desex their animals. And that's, you know, one of the reasons we have such a, an explosion, of, you know, too many dogs, too many, um, unwanted dogs. You know, that's why we have the shelters.

[00:05:43] A lot of people do do the right thing, but there's a lot that still aren't, being responsible pet owners and, you know, that might also come with the case of, they're not looking after their pet as well in that they're not keeping [00:06:00] them, inside their yard allowing them to go wandering, and that's when they get picked up.

[00:06:05] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: And have you found the problem has increased since Covid, 

[00:06:09] Olivia Pozzan: Yes, definitely. Definitely. Particularly as I mentioned earlier about, the housing crisis or people not being able to afford to even pay rent and they're living in their cars now or couch surfing and can't afford to look after their dogs.

[00:06:27] Animal Welfare in Australia

[00:06:27] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: It's a terrible situation on the community pages. Locally, we get people saying, can anybody rehouse my dog? Because I have to go to a place that doesn't accept pets. So it is a big problem at the moment. One of the questions I had written down for you was, why does animal welfare continue to be an issue in Australia today?

[00:06:47] So we hear some awful stories, you know, overseas where animals are in being held in very poor conditions for Chinese medicines or, or this sort of thing. Obviously, that [00:07:00] extreme doesn't happen in Australia, And we've heard about the housing crisis and the strays, but why do you think animal welfare continues to be an issue in Australia?

[00:07:10] Or, or is it a big issue? Is it improving? 

[00:07:13] Olivia Pozzan: I think that it is improving. I think it has evolved over the years at one time. Dogs, you know, more animals in general, weren't regarded as sentient beings at all. You know, people didn't think that they had feelings, could feel pain or fear or affection or love.

[00:07:30] But, I think that as the reality, like a lot more people, have come to that realisation that animals do have feelings and with that realisation comes a drastic improvement in animal welfare. I think that in my case, in the shelter, I see welfare issues, but it's mainly due to negligence through ignorance or lack of education rather than intentional harm or cruelty.

[00:07:56] There is still that element. You know, there are dogs that are used in [00:08:00] dog flights. Like intentionally. But, I would say 95% of the, the cases that do come through, is mainly just due to negligence or again, as I said, a lack of education. And I think that people might believe that animals should be well cared for.

[00:08:18] But sometimes they aren't because people don't understand what that particular animal needs to enjoy. A safe and happy life. You know, you, you've got the basics to cover, which is shelter, food, water, an animal that's free from pain or suffering, and that can express their own, you know, natural behaviours.

[00:08:39] And on top of that, our companion animals and dogs, in particular, have evolved to seek for and require positive interactions with us. You know, not just supply their basic needs, but if you don't spend time, you know, with your dog, they'll probably develop very unwanted behavioural issues.

[00:08:59] Like [00:09:00] separation anxiety, tearing up the yard when you are out or not giving them attention. So I do think the animal welfare issue has evolved, but also the needs of the dog has also evolved. 

[00:09:15] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: Yeah. And I understand some countries, like I believe Spain was the last one I was aware of, have actually legislated that pets are sentient beings and they have certain rights and people will get fined, if they don't look after their pets in the required way.

[00:09:32] Olivia Pozzan: I'm not up with that, but it's a great thing. 

[00:09:35] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: Yes. That's what I thought. So it is good to hear that, animal welfare in Australia, is probably under control would be a fair thing to say.

[00:09:44] Olivia Pozzan: Well, there's still always room for improvement. There's still always need for education. It's certainly nothing at all, like what you see in the developing world. 

[00:09:53] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: And that takes me to the developing countries. I think everybody who's travelled has seen [00:10:00] homeless dogs and cats roaming the streets in various countries.

[00:10:04] And I know some of them are trying to improve that situation, but what's been your experience? 

[00:10:10] Animal welfare in developing countries

[00:10:10] Olivia Pozzan: When I was, doing a lot of writing for Lonely Planet and doing a lot of travelling and, travelling in developing countries, that's when I saw the, um, cruelty neglect that, animal suffering developing countries and that actually inspired my path into animal welfare.

[00:10:26] And you know, you've got to also understand that in many developing countries where people are fighting to meet their own survival needs, then animal welfare takes a big step down in their list of priorities. Even when the survival needs are met, there is still a big difference in how animals are treated compared to how they're treated in the developed world.

[00:10:48] Generally, in places like Australia, the UK, America, we see our pets, our dogs, as extensions of our family. And [00:11:00] this just isn't the case in developing countries. Often they're either a work animal or if they're not providing any sort of work, then these dogs are just living on the street.

[00:11:12] They're, they're surviving on scraps and fighting for space and having little or no positive interaction with humans and, in some Buddhist and Hindu countries, a dog living on the streets might be considered to be living a hard life due to that animal's karma from actions performed in a former life.

[00:11:33] So there might be a reluctance of people to help that animal because of not wishing to interfere with those karmic forces. But my own personal opinion is that you know, loving-kindness, which is a Buddhist tenant, Means showing compassion and kindness to anyone in need whether that's human or animal.

[00:11:53] And again, I think it comes down to education is the key to changing attitudes towards animal welfare. [00:12:00] And I think that when people really understand that animals are sentient beings and they feel pain and they feel affection, and they have emotion. Then that's the key element to a person showing these street dogs and, living rough, showing compassion to that being.

[00:12:21] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: There is an element of making a living or making money from animals in some cases, isn't there? I listened to a presentation that you gave, and I think you mentioned Sun Bears ..?

[00:12:32] Olivia Pozzan: Yes. And animals that are used, for like traditional Chinese medicine, in the Sun Bear that you mentioned in particular, they live in some horrific conditions. They're often just kept in cages where they can't even turn around. And, and the reason that they're kept is so that, bile can be extracted from their gallbladder, which is then used for a number of purposes in Chinese medicine. And it's, uh, very [00:13:00] inhumane the way that the bile is collected. Sometimes it might be that, they're just stabbed in, in the gallbladder with this bamboo tube and the bile collected, or they might have an indwelling catheter inserted, not under any hygienic conditions. And then it's sort of turned on like a tap whenever it's needed. And to keep the bears from harming any of the handlers, they'll often have their teeth just sawed off or snapped off.

[00:13:29] But, you know, not, not under, dental, you know, surgical extractions. It'll just be hacked off. And they're in constant pain from that, those broken teeth. Psychologically, they, I mean, they, they're kept in these cages for 20 years at a time, you know, they can live up to 30 years, so, psychologically, they go mad in these cages.

[00:13:52] It's absolutely horrific. What can be done, you know, what is done. There is a big movement Free the Bears that is helping the sun bears [00:14:00] in those situations. 

[00:14:01] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: That's a horrific story. It makes my skin crawl every time I hear it. It's awful. So with the dogs and some of the street animals, that's obviously more of a neglect situation or a cultural belief.

[00:14:14] But with some of the other animals, there is a financial and element too, the way they're housed and treated, which is horrible. 

[00:14:23] Olivia Pozzan: Yes. And like, even, even like donkeys or animals that are used for, carting things or maybe even to cart tourists around, they can, um, be poorly treated.

[00:14:36] Taking too heavy a load, not having no wounds treated. I saw that quite a bit with donkeys. 

[00:14:42] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: In terms of your role in the veterinary outreach work that you do in trying to help this welfare situation, what sort of things have you done?

[00:14:53] And I just want to delve into your trip to Cambodia, but you've obviously done more than one trip, so [00:15:00] what have you done? From a veterinary capacity, 

[00:15:03] Veterinary Outreach

[00:15:03] Olivia Pozzan: I've volunteered with an organisation called Vets Beyond Borders, which sends Australian vets to different parts of the world. I helped out in India and in Sikkim in particular.

[00:15:17] With Vets Beyond Borders, it was, again, de-sexing street dogs. Treating any medical conditions that needed to be done, usually under a trap, neuter release program because the street dogs are living on the street. So we needed a team that would trap the animals. Sometimes these dogs, they're not friendly, so it's, you can't just walk up and put a leash on.

[00:15:39] And then release them back into their area, into their little territory. And, the whole idea is to try and stop an explosion, you know, in the population. And at the same time, when they come in for de-sexing, they get vaccinated, particularly against rabies in certain countries. And also wormed [00:16:00] because most of these street dogs have got tickborne diseases.

[00:16:04] They've got distemper. Distemper, which most people in Australia won't see a case of this distemper because most of our dogs have been vaccinated for so many years, whereas distemper is still pretty rife in Southeast Asia. So I've done work with Vets Beyond Borders, but I've also done some solo animal welfare missions and that sort of combined with my travels because when I was travelling for writing, I'd often see these 

[00:16:33] street dogs and cats and just go and, try and find the local animal welfare group to see if I could just help out for a, a little bit of time. And it might, might have only been a day or two. And then I ended up doing some work in Cambodia and, When I saw and made some really good connections with some of the in-country animal welfare groups, and they really needed more of a hand.

[00:16:58] So then I put the word out [00:17:00] to some of my friends and colleagues and got a team together. Three vets and three vet nurses. And in 2019 we went to Cambodia on a veterinary outreach project that I put together, and we desexed and treated over 200 dogs and cats at that time. So it was pretty successful.

[00:17:20] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: And you weren't working under lovely, clean hygienic conditions like you see in a vet surgery or a vet practice were you? Some of the photos were quite eye opening! 

[00:17:34] Olivia Pozzan: Just basically underneath the tree on top of a, you know, whatever. Somehow make a table out of a board across, you know, a couple of planks, and, we did, um, have the access to the local vet's, sterilizer, which was great.

[00:17:49] So we were able to sterilise all our, all of our equipment and the local vet, he came on board and, and he was helping us, and we were helping him as well. But yes, it [00:18:00] wasn't like we had a nice hospital where we could do all of our surgery. I think that when we were doing a lot of our de-sexing, it was in the pagoda grounds.

[00:18:12] The pagodas are the monasteries. There's a lot of the stray dogs and cats are usually dumped at the monasteries and, so they're sort of bed by the monks once a day when they're fed, but nobody really looks after them. So in Cambodia it's a little bit different because the street dogs sort of basically live at the pagodas.

[00:18:36] Whereas in places like India, they're actually living out on the street all over the place. 

[00:18:41] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: And what do you do in terms of anaesthesia? Because I don't remember seeing in your photos any anaesthetic equipment 

[00:18:48] Olivia Pozzan: We didn't have a gaseous anaesthetic machine, which is what you would be thinking of.

[00:18:53] So our surgeries are all performed under an anaesthetic that was administered intramuscularly, and it [00:19:00] gave enough time to do the surgeries that we needed to. 

[00:19:03] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: So you didn't have to intubate them at all? 

[00:19:05] Olivia Pozzan: No. No. There was no gas anaesthetic machine to be had over there and, often in field conditions the intramuscular anaesthetic gives us good a cover.

[00:19:18] They usually just take a bit longer to wake up, than when you're using gas. 

[00:19:22] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: With those developing countries, you mentioned that they have their local animal welfare groups. How are they funded, if at all, and where do they get the resources that they need to do the work that they do.

[00:19:35] Olivia Pozzan: Most of the ones that I've come across in developing countries, they do a wonderful job in fundraising. Just relying on donations. Most of them do not get any government support, so it's really word of mouth. Constant fundraising through their social media profiles. Just getting the word out, reaching out to [00:20:00] people like me to see if I would come and help.

[00:20:03] So, they do it tough. They rely on a lot of donations, and in fact, I would encourage anybody who goes travelling, if they're travelling to the developing world, to reach out to any of the animal welfare groups to see if they need anything brought over. It's not necessarily always veterinary drugs and medications that they need.

[00:20:25] They also might need food, you know, like, dog food or, they might need, dog leads or other things that people can actually take over with them. 

[00:20:35] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: That's a really good practical suggestion. And Vets Beyond Borders, do they always liaise with the local animal welfare groups when they do their work?

[00:20:45] Olivia Pozzan: Yes. Now, Vets Beyond Borders is a registered charity here in, in Australia. So they've got a, a much broader scope of, a bigger profile and, you know, one of the, the bigger organisations, whereas many. Animal welfare [00:21:00] groups in these countries, they're often just run by one or one person, one or two people.

[00:21:07], A case in point is in Cambodia and Siam Reap, Paw Patrol Cambodia was the, the group that I liaised with, and that's run by an Australian, an Australian girl who's been over there for, probably about, eight or nine years. And she started this off by just going to the pagodas and taking food to the animals.

[00:21:28] Seeing which animals needed any veterinary attention, taking them to the local vet and back, and then fundraising to get, vaccinations, worming and tick control medication. And, so she's constantly going around to the pagodas and treating them, you know, vaccinating and, giving the worm and tick medication and, it's amazing, how dedicated a lot of these, you know, animal welfare warriors really are because they've put their own life on hold, to, you [00:22:00] know, help out animals that are in need.

[00:22:01] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: Now you mentioned a very practical solution for people who do travel. If they could contact the local veterinary welfare organisations and see whether they need anything like simple things like dog food or dog bowls, what else can people do to help? 

[00:22:19] Olivia Pozzan: They can support animal charities. there are not just the local in-house ones, although I think that that's often, you know, you are making a direct difference to that particular area or country. If you make contact with those animal welfare groups there. But if you are not sure on that, then there are animal charities like Vets Beyond Borders.

[00:22:42] Another good one is Animal Assist, which was actually set up by a vet nurse friend of mine, and she focuses on Southeast Asia. She supports the Bali Animal Welfare Association as well, has taken a lot of donations and medications [00:23:00] over there. I think that's the main way of helping with the in-country animal welfare groups.

[00:23:08] Also, like when people travel, they can spend a day or two just helping out, you know, the animal welfare groups. I know that's what often happens. Like with Cambodia, they're always welcoming people that'll come along to help feed the animals in Thailand, I know it's some of the sanctuaries they, like, they take volunteers even if they're only there for a day or two to help clean out any of the dog kennels, take animals for a walk, give them a bath.

[00:23:36] Energy Healing in Cats and DOgs

[00:23:36] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: All right, let's pivot a little bit. You mentioned earlier that you are a writer, you've been a travel writer, and you've written for Lonely Planet, and, but you've also written your own book. Is this the only book you've written, Olivia? 

[00:23:50] Olivia Pozzan: It's the only published one.

[00:23:52] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: Okay. So your book's called Energy Healing for your Dog and Cat, and it's a hands on guide [00:24:00] to boosting your pet's happiness, health, and vitality, which sounds terrific. Do you want to, share a little bit more information about that? 

[00:24:08] Olivia Pozzan: Sure. It's a practical guide for pet owners, to develop an understanding of energy healing, what it is, how it works, and how to use it on their own.

[00:24:19] Pets, you know, I've written it for dogs and cats, and it's a simple guidebook and. It's the first part of the book explores the anatomy of the body, whether it's human or animal, and it's a model. So it's a model of the body that takes into account a non-physical component to our physical bodies.

[00:24:40] We are more than just, you know, flesh and bone. We have an energy field, and, um, this energy field is comprised of a number of subtle bodies vibrating at different frequencies of our energy. And we can see the physical body because it's the densest, vibrating layer or frequency of energy.[00:25:00] 

[00:25:00] So if after laying this foundation of the human or the animal energy field, then it's easier to understand how energy healing techniques can affect the body as a whole. Because if we are vibrating at different levels of energy, than energy healing. It makes sense that energy or different frequencies of vibration can have a physiological effect on our bodies.

[00:25:28] And you know, the idea that we are more than a physical body has been well-known in Eastern philosophies for thousands of years and was once accepted in the West but fell out of favour during the age of Cartesian science in the 17th century when there was a real split between science and religion, where science was focused on the body and religion took care of the soul or, or the spirit or the energetic components of the body.

[00:25:57] So it basically just reduced us [00:26:00] to just that biomechanical model of just the physical body. So this is sort of old but new information. And with energy healing, it involves a transfer of energy from the healer to the patient. For example, when, in the case of touch or massage, there are little energy centres and the palms of your hands that can aid this transfer of energy. Like when you're doing reiki, for example, but not just with touched, there are also, essential oils, flower essences, even crystals have energy frequencies or vibrations and because they have different, vibrations, the different levels of vibration can affect

[00:26:48] different elements of your, energetic field, the subtle bodies in the energy field? I think with like essential oils, the aroma, you know, it's absorbed through mucus [00:27:00] membranes of the nose and has a, an impact on the olfactory centre in the brain, which is in the limbic region, or the emotion mediating area of the brain.

[00:27:10] And so that explains why smell could have such an effect on your emotion, memories, and your behaviour, and can cause a physiological response, you know, like altering heart rate, respiratory rate, muscle tension. So the first part of the book deals with that, and then I delve into the energy healing techniques, which includes touch as in massage, reiki, Tellington, T touch, light and colour therapy, sound therapy, crystals, and flower essences, and all of these techniques, the energy healing techniques a dog owner can learn from reading my book. 

As to why I wrote it, I wanted to reintroduce the concept that health is the natural [00:28:00] order of things. I think that we rely too much on modern pharmaceuticals at the expense of our own body's natural healing ability. I mean, our immune system is really good at maintaining a healthier equilibrium. And I think the pharmaceutical industry has discouraged the use of alternative or natural therapies that have been used for hundreds and thousands of years. And instead, I promote an integrative approach to healing, which, you know, includes both conventional and the alternate practices to provide a more holistic paradigm.

[00:28:35] And the other reason I wrote it was to encourage pet owners to become more involved with their pet's healing process. People love their animals, and, you know, they loved their dogs. And love itself is an energy vibration. It's a powerful healing force. So I'd like more people to direct this powerful healing force towards their dogs when they're, you know, sick [00:29:00] or unwell.

[00:29:01] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: That's really interesting and it's a point you made about conventional medicine and conventional veterinary science as opposed to a more integrative approach. Is sort of in line with my thinking too, because I think in conventional medicine and a little bit in veterinary, they're so quick to prescribe like, there's a treatment path isn't there? And all these other things aren't really taken into account.

[00:29:26] And do you think that's because people haven't got the time to invest in doing those things, or do you think people are just not aware that there are other alternate, supporting therapies that you can be doing? 

[00:29:38] Olivia Pozzan: I think that there might be a vested interest by the big pharma, the pharmaceutical companies.

[00:29:44] It's major billions of dollars each year, and they don't want people utilising natural, healing techniques that have been used for ages. Otherwise, you know, they're just trying to channel people into [00:30:00] using pharmaceuticals. And, uh, one of the ways they do that is by discrediting natural therapies that have been around. 

[00:30:08] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: That's very much my experience too, and I actually have worked in the pharmaceutical industry, so I know exactly what you're talking about. 

[00:30:17] Olivia Pozzan: Right. 

[00:30:18] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: So can you give us a specific example of how you would use some of your, healing techniques 

[00:30:25] Olivia Pozzan: Yes. And, I just want to say too that the energy healing techniques can be used when a dog's sick, but even when they aren't, They can use the techniques in the book to give their dog an energy tune-up, if you like.

[00:30:39] And I'll describe a few ways that, uh, a person can check to see if the energy flow through the body is in balance or not. And if the energy centres in the body are in balance and if they're out of balance because often they'll go out of balance, for a while before an actual. physical manifestations of [00:31:00] disease show up.

[00:31:00] So if they're out of balance, then these techniques that are outlined in the book can restore proper functioning, you know, energy function, and keep the dog in optimal health. So a couple of specific examples. If somebody has a dog that's prone to motion sickness, pressure points on the back of the carpus or the wrist area that can be pressed that will help to prevent motion sickness, and I give an indication in the book where these are. Or, the dog could be given some peppermint essential oil prior to travel.

[00:31:40] Not, not orally, but just, either, smelling it or applying it to the skin. And, there's a couple of other, like ginger flower essences as well, a grieving dog. Say somebody has a, a dog who, the other doggy companion has passed [00:32:00] away. Or even if the person companion has passed away. And they could also benefit from essential oils like lavender or bergamot to help with stress and anxiety, or rescue remedy, flower essences, or a lot of hands-on, um, massage, reiki, are hands-on work, I think that one of the most powerful healing techniques is touch.

[00:32:26] And touch in various forms, but with focus and intent. Not like a massage while you're thinking of the grocery list; there's no intent in that, but focus on healing, on what that dog needs. That can actually be a very powerful force. And it acts like a connection when your etheric body and the dog's etheric body are melded as well.

[00:32:54] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: I'd imagine it'd be a very strong bonding time. And I'm always fascinated by pet's [00:33:00] reactions to you practising yoga. And I don’t know whether it's just being on the floor, but Ben always comes over, and there's something about just that energy of practising yoga that I think they find really appealing.

[00:33:16] Olivia Pozzan: I found that whenever I meditate, my cat would come from wherever he was and come and sit right next to me, and they can really pick up. Your alpha brainwaves, which is happens when you're in a state of meditation or when you're going to do yoga, most likely going to do alpha brainwave sphere, and they can really respond to that, dogs or cats. And they like that energy. And, I think that it's, it's like, yeah, they're sort of psychic, aren't they? They've got some psychic abilities. Telepathic abilities as well. 

[00:33:55] I also find that when I'm using reiki, reiki or [00:34:00] massage, the dog will tell me, what pressure to use.

[00:34:04] They'll tell me if it's working or not. If it's not working or they don't like it, they'll just get up and move away. You know, most of the time they'll just, you can feel them relax. They might even go to sleep, and that's a really good indication that this is having some healing effect.

[00:34:23] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: That's great. I'll have to get a copy and do a bit of reading. Just on essential oils too, I guess people need to be a little bit careful because not all essential oils are safe for pets. 

[00:34:35] Olivia Pozzan: Right, exactly. And particularly cats. Like if you've got a cat household, you don't want to use essential oils.

[00:34:42] A lot of cats, they lack an enzyme to break down terpenoids. So a lot of essential oils can be toxic to cats. But even if you, are treating your dog, if you've got a cat in a household who is friends with the dog and might want to lick them or whatever, [00:35:00] you've got to be very careful about using essential oils on dogs then in the household, particularly, if you are using a diffuser. Dogs, there are some essential oils that are toxic. They can tolerate most of them quite well, but I wouldn't. If anybody's wanting to use essential oils, then they should really consult a veterinarian that's, been trained in aromatherapy and not just go out and grab some essential oils and start using it on their dog, because although something is natural doesn't mean that it's not toxic.

[00:35:34] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: And with the proliferation of diffusers and all those sorts of things in the house, it's something that I'm conscious of, and people need to be aware of that, you know, you can be like spraying little droplets of these essential oils into your house, and not all of them may be good for your pet.

[00:35:50] Olivia Pozzan: No. And particularly when you realise that a dog's olfactory sense is so much more superior than [00:36:00] ours. They can detect, you know, the, the faintest, hint of an aroma. So it's going to have a more profound effect on them than it actually has on us. 

[00:36:09] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: Yeah. So get Olivia's book to know what she's saying, and consult your vet who's trained.

[00:36:16] Alright, I think that brings us to the end of all the questions I had for you, Olivia, but it's been a really very eye-opening chat. It's been great to hear about your animal welfare work in other countries and also your book too sounds just really intriguing. So I just wanto to say a big thank you for your time today.

[00:36:37] Olivia Pozzan: Thank you Suellen, that's been great. Thank you for letting me share some of my journey and to talk about my book as well. 

[00:36:45] Suellen - Host of The DogPod: It's been great fun.