Unique Ladies: Hands on Heart

from The Lancashire & North West Magazine | March 2022

by The Lancashire & North West Magazine

The Demise of the Once Famous Belle Vue Zoological Gardens

“You do Massage therapy? On Dogs? How did you get into that?”

By Hayley Hilton, Hands on Heart Clinical Canine Massage Therapy

This a question I always get asked… especially when people discover I have a background in Analytical Chemistry and Clinical Research whilst “playing” navy at the weekends with the Royal Navy Reserves; even serving in Afghanistan in 2008 as a Hospital Clerk.

However, all this changed when I started crying in the middle of an important audit due to the stress I had been under… later discovering this was the stress of trying to be somebody who I wasn’t.

I’ve always loved dogs and they’ve always loved me. Ever since getting a boxer/whippet cross for my 13th birthday… and boy, did I make mistakes with him! I loved him loads but the research on neutering or behavioural training wasn’t as readily available as it is now!

Then came Lola in 2013.

A Rottweiler puppy who came from a colleague at work who taught me the tips and tricks of “rottie” parenthood. But at the heart of the bond that Lola and I shared was love.

Communication came from the true understanding of each other and how far we could push each other to be better, to do better... and so when i broke down in tears during that audit, Lola was there to take me out into nature, show me that there was more to life and enjoy the sunshine and the rain because together they create the beautiful rainbow that we all love to see in our skies.

She taught me to think PAWsitively (*sorry*) and after my redundancy, we opened “Hilton Hotel For Dogs” together where Lola was the Concierge as she showed our guest dogs how to behave but also how to rest and play... that balance always brought the clients back to us. Everyone loved her.

But then she suffered a cruciate injury in 2016 and I felt utterly helpless. This inspired me to follow a career in Clinical Canine Massage Therapy… with Lola as my muse.

The 2-year course covered anatomy and physiology of dogs but also the regulatory aspects and practical case studies where I was able to help other dogs of all ages get their quality of life back after injuries or diseases like Arthritis and Hip Dysplasia and also spine/nerve conditions resulting in the loss of use of their back legs.

This enables me now to work with Vets through my Hands On Heart Clinical Canine Massage business and empower owners to ensure their dogs live their best life by reducing pain and increasing comfort. And being a proud member of The Canine Massage Guild, I have a strong network of professional therapists to recommend to dogs all across the country too.

Lola unfortunately passed away suddenly from a spleen tumour a few months ago, leaving me utterly heartbroken but she is still my inspiration and I have vowed to continue my passion in her name by helping dogs and their owners as much as she helped me.

Based in Warrington at Rees Vets and All Creatures Vets but also works on a mobile basis across Cheshire and South Lancashire.