One March day, Toby, a 14-year-old Staffy-Lab cross, collapsed outside my home. It was a heartbreaking moment. His mum, Denise, was understandably distressed, unsure of what to do. I knelt beside Toby and gently worked with him until he started to come back around and was back on his paws again. As we chatted about Toby, Denise shared she wanted to do everything possible to make Toby’s time as comfortable and happy as they could be.
I began seeing Toby and remember one visit when he was curled up on the sofa, his body stiff and tired, and he lacked the energy to get up or greet me. Denise shared how that day he had not been himself. He was off his food and not showing much interest in anything. As a devoted pet mum, she wanted to give Toby the best support she could during this stage of his life, but she wasn’t sure where to start.
That’s where I came in.
My role was to help Toby feel more at ease and to show Denise how to provide gentle, nurturing support that would make a real difference to his everyday life.
As the session unfolded, I worked closely with Toby and Denise, focusing on creating a sense of calm and relaxation. By the end of that visit, the change in Toby was remarkable. He began moving more freely, sought out his toys, went to eat his food and even headed into the garden—things he hadn’t shown interest in earlier that day.
Denise was overjoyed to see her boy brightening up and feeling more like himself. She later shared how much Toby continued to improve: relaxing more, enjoying his meals, and seeming genuinely content. One particularly touching moment was when she used a calming wrap (see resources if you have not seen these in action). I’d introduced the wrap previously during a thunderstorm. Instead of hiding or trembling, Toby laid on the sofa, completely at ease.
For me, this was about providing the techniques to support Toby every day. Denise told me how much she appreciated being able to help Toby herself to find comfort and relax with the techniques shown. Seeing Toby become more relaxed and enjoying life again reminded me why I do what I do.
Helping older pets like Toby isn’t just about improving their lives—it’s about giving their families things they can easily do to help their pet every day
“Thank you, Angela with all my heart. You have such an aura of calm and positivity. I truly believe your considerable skill and knowledge saved Toby that day. We will always be in your debt”. 💕
Would you like to give your beloved pet the extra care they deserve?
At Zen Animals, I help pets and their people find comfort, joy and relaxation in every stage of life. Get in touch today to see how we can make a difference for your furry friend.
