A BURNHAM woman has become a masseuse for residents four-legged friends. Serena Towlson, of Saxondale Avenue, is a qualified complementary health therapist but prefers to use her skills on pets rather than humans.

A BURNHAM woman has become a masseuse for residents' four-legged friends.

Serena Towlson, of Saxondale Avenue, is a qualified complementary health therapist but prefers to use her skills on pets rather than humans.

The veterinary assistant works in a practice by day but offers her therapeutic healing to animals during her spare time.

Serena, aged 47, said: "I used to do therapies with people but when I started working at a vets practice I became more interested in animals, so I went on an animal study course online.

"I guess the complementary therapy with pets started when I got my collie-cross Molly. She was brought in because the owner could not cope anymore so I ended up looking after her.

"Molly could hardly move or lift her head and had something wrong with her spine. I even had to carry her outside so she could go to the toilet.

"With gentle massage over a few months she slowly recovered and now she bounces around the garden fetching her ball."

Serena not only helps the animals she treats but also passes her skills on to the owners, so they can continue the therapy in their own homes.

She said: "Some people see alternative therapies as voodoo but the techniques I use are gentle massage and positive thinking.

"I wouldn't want to interfere with the work that vets do, but alternative therapies work very well on dogs that might otherwise have been put down.

Serena says she has always loved animals, and now lives with her four cats, her dog Molly and a rabbit.

There is no fee for Serena's service but anyone who wishes to contribution can make a donation, which will be passed on to the RSPCA.