Pets are Talking

Chopper Comes Back...

Max and Shelley went to a garage sale looking for a mini-chopper. They came back with this beautiful boy. They named him Chopper, of course.

Max wanted to know if she and Chopper had past lives together. Chopper said, “Nope, but I was Shelley’s dog before.”

Chopper showed me a little white and brown spotted dog. He looked like a Jack Russell Terrier. He was in the arms of a smart red-haired woman in a dark purple dress with a matching hat. He was a big JRT.

I ask when and where, and hear “Oklahoma, 1932″.

Chopper showed me Shelley and this dog getting in the back of a Model A Ford. Squeezing in between a man and a woman, squeezed in like sardines. The woman complains bitterly about having to sit in the back with that dog, to which Shelley says “Well, that’s your problem!”

Max said it sounded just like “Shelley”. Nice to know how some aspects of ourselves get carried forward. And nice to know we may meet our friends again.

What my animal clients see-

This morning, I had a lovely conversation with this fellow, a horse named Willz. 

After I greeted him, he said, "Those are some nice flowers." I have a bouquet of white mock orange on my desk. 

I said, "Thanks! Wait, you can see them?"

He said, "I can see them and smell them!" 

I asked, "Can you see me?"

He said, "Of course."

I said, "What do you I look like to you?"

Willz said, "You are making a funny face!"  Sometimes, when I concentrate, I squish my eyebrows together, and squinch my nose up.

I said "I am, huh?"

Willz said, "You look nice and soft. Do you ride?"

"Yes, I do ride, though I think I'm much bigger than your owner."

"I'd let you ride me," Willz said.

"I'd be honored!" I said. 

"That's why I told you, and that's why I'd let you." Willz said. 

I don't know why, in all my conversations, it never occurred to me to ask my pet clients what they could see. I often ask them how they are feeling, but what they are seeing, it just never occurred to me. It makes sense that they are experiencing our conversations in a multi-sensate way. 

It is a happy discovery! 

Hec on the Other Side

Hecate-  1993-2009

I've talked with Hec before. She's the cat that really liked Murphy's Oil Soap.

Hec passed away a couple of weeks ago. She was not an easy cat to live with. Her owners loved her dearly, but put up with a lot of irritating behaviors from this cranky old lady cat.

They asked me to thank her for being in their lives. They also wanted to make sure she was doing okay on the other side.

I have NEVER met a spirit that was as light and full of joy as Hec's spirit in heaven. She was so happy to be free of her life on earth, to be free of the old damaged body, and her emotionally damaged mind.

She said, "I completely forgot about these spheres we have up here."

"What are they like?" I asked.

She explained that they looked like a soap bubble, but zapped you with a tickling energy if you touched them. They also giggle.

She showed me how she stalked and attacked them and how they giggled and bounced away.

I was hoping for closure, and to find a cat at peace on the other side. I wasn't expecting to find a cat so happy to be home.

I work with clients who are struggling with putting their pets to sleep. Although there are many pets that aren't ready to go, and we must respect the timeline, this final act of a good end is really sending the pet home. They're going home, where they are happy.

When the Honeymoon is Over

 God made animals cute for the same reason he made babies cute. There are times when that cuteness is a saving grace! 

To wit: the dog who recently ate all the payroll checks for her parent's business; the cat that likes to jump on counters, jumping right into a full pan of delicious frosted brownies; the horse who has learned how to untie any knot with her dextrous mouth, and thus, cannot be trusted to be tied anywhere. 

(These are all from pets I've met this week!)

We're attracted to pets for a specific reason. Animals comes into our lives to teach us something that we need to learn about ourselves and the world we live in. We, in turn, are here to enrich their lives. 

This circle of love and learning and enrichment seems possible, even easy when the new pet comes into our lives. They're cute! And they are ours! 

Pets are usually on their best behavior, until they get comfortable. For some, this is about 30 seconds. 

What happens when things start to skew chaotic and your new pet starts doing things that are not, in any sense of the word, appropriate? What do you do? 

Here's what you do. Get a cup of tea. Sit down. Remember back to when you first saw your new friend.

What was it that you saw in this creature that you wanted for yourself? What is it that this pet is here to teach you? 

See your pet as you first saw your pet. Because the pet you see now and the pet you saw then are the same pet. 

Don't assume that your decision was a mistake. A naughty pet is a chance for us to realign our lives. 

I would LOVE to hear about your naughty pet stories, and what you may have leaned from a naughty pet.Please Comment!

Right now, though, I am going to talk with my cat Leo, who has the awful habit of clearing my desk to find a place to sleep (ignoring the perfectly good wicker basket that I've put on my desk for that specific reason). 

Honor the Now of Your Pet

It's snowing like a Christmas card as I write this. I like how snow falls. I like its relentlessness. It just keeps coming. 

When I was at the Tired Dog Ranch this weekend, I got to thinking about the stories we tell each other about our pets. People who rescue are particularly invested in the painful pasts of their pets. 

I do this too. I will say, "Oh well, that Benny, he never grew into his paws. See, he was a street pup." Never mind that he's spent the last six years with a full belly. 

What's the problem with this? Well, it doesn't matter much for Benny, because he's way past his story. 

I've seen horses cringe with embarrassment as their owners relate their painful past to a passing stranger. I've heard dogs tell me that they're damaged goods because they spent some time at the shelter, and because their owner keeps talking about it. 

I am not saying to deny the past. Abused and neglected pets feel better when they've told their story. That's them doing the telling, not us. 

To repeat your pet's sad story is to keep your pet, at some level, in that place of pain. When you catch yourself telling the story, ask yourself why. There's a reason that you do it, and it may enlighten you to know it.

Today, honor the now of your pet. Tell today's story. Today's story, for Ben, includes a walk down to the park and an afternoon cheese snack (and also, probably getting his nails cut). 

I'd like you to try this on. Instead of seeing your pet wearing the trappings of the past, just describe him or her in today's setting. 

And then, do that with you. Honor the Now of You. 

Pets are Talking: The International Version

I spent the weekend at the Tired Dog Ranch, a retreat near Oakridge, Oregon. Amy Jo and Sally, the owners of the Tired Dog, also own: 10 horses, 4 dogs, 23 cats, 6 goats, many chickens and ducks, and a young wild turkey. 

They are all rescues. They ended up at the ranch because Sally or Amy Jo answered the phone, and someone said, "Do you know somebody who might? 

My better half and I are partial to their dog, Wally. He was a skinny dumped pup who ended up on their doorstep.

The last time I visited Amy Jo and Sally, Wally followed me through the orchard. He stopped me and said, "If you need a place to stay, this is a good one." 

If I could, I'd take Amy Jo and Sally on a global tour of kindred spirits. 

We'd stop first in Majorca, at the Finca Sant Blai to visit our friend, Marta and her donkey Pepper. Here's Pepper, traversing the Majorcan Alps.

Okay, okay. There are no alps here. Majorca is not a large island. 

People move to the Majorca, find they can't afford to live there, and move away, leaving their pets behind. When Marta bought Finca Sant Blai, she inquired about the animal inhabitants, including Pepper, Blas (another donkey) and Angel (a pony). They were going to be sold to who knows where. Marta kept them. 

She brought her rescued pets to Majorca as well, two cats and a dog. Then she adopted a husky from rescue, and also took in two bunnies. She runs this former farm as a beautiful hostel. 

Marta said that there are two animal rescue organizations on the island that try to address the issue of homeless pets. Some even transport homeless pets to Germany, in the hopes that they find their forever homes. 

After a long visit, we'd leave Pepper in charge, and Marta, AJ, Sally and I would head on down to New South Wales to visit Billie Dean and her husband Andrew Einspruch. They run an animal rescue and sanctuary called Ballyoncree. 

Animal communicators, filmmakers and writers, Billie and Andrew and their daughter Tamsin take in and rehabilitate brumbies (the feral horse of Australia!). 

I think that Billie and Andrew and Tamsin and Marta and AJ and Sally and I would find lots to talk about. 

Perhaps you feed feral cats, or volunteer at a shelter, or tell a chained dog that he's a good boy. It is good to know you! It is these acts, all over the world, that bring honor and dignity to our feathered, finned and furred kin. I am hoping that in the coming year, we will find new ways to meet and talk together, helping animals all over the world. 

What does it sound like when you ask and answer a pet's question?

Here's 46 minutes of audio to answer that question....Q&A Audio

Reading of the Week: Alfie's Piñata

Alfie the dog is a Portland celebrity. He won the 2008 Portland's next top dog model contest. He's had his picture taken with Channing Frye. He is as cute as a button. 

Last September, I met Alfie and his mom, Rose at Riverfest. Alfie told me how much he loves his plaid jacket,his toys, his mom, his friends. Alfie pretty much spends every day in a state of bliss. He's got a pretty sweet life. 

Rose was planning his birthday party. Was there anything he wanted? 

"Yes," Alfie said. "I would like a piñata." 

Today was Alfie's party. I met Alfie's friends, Elvis the French bulldog, Whicket the shih tzu/pom mix. Alfie's cousins were there too, a great dane who told me that she had the elegant legs of a supermodel, and a happy bully named Lynch. 

After a hot dog toss and a lot of dogs being dogs, the folks at Lexi-Dog brought out the piñata.  Alfie went a little nutty. 

My picture is a a bit fuzzy, because these dogs were in action. Here's a picture of Alfie attacking the piñata.  

And...here's a video of Alfie's friend, Whicket, using the piñata as an amusement park ride:  Download Alfiemovie . 

I like that Alfie knew what a piñata was, and that he asked for it, and his mom got it and he so enjoyed it. 

Tuning Your Intuitive Strings

This year, I'm all about creating abundance, being the change we want to see in our lives, taking our power and running with it. 

A month ago, I attended a workshop by medical intuitive Caroline Sutherland. We used a very simple process to identify our body's requirements. My body said, "Move more and see joy."  I like that my body gets the idea down to 5 words. I could put that on a t-shirt. It's so simple. 

I didn't understand why moving matters until yesterday, when I participated in my new daily dance. I could feel the energy moving through me. I could feel my chakras lighting up and the energy crossing and undulating up like a double helix. I could feel the fire in my belly. 

I felt strong, and clear and bright. 

The answers started coming easier and faster. Things didn't seem as difficult. I could focus a bit better, and I was filled with an appreciation for my life and for the lives of those I know. My intuitive skills were better too. I had tuned my intuitive strings! 

And...I liked it. I didn't just like the outcome. I liked the process. 

In my next intuitive animal communication workshop, we're going to dance. 

I hope you find something that tunes you today. If you do, let me know about it! 

PS-  The key to tuning up through movement is moving with joy in your heart. The very act of moving can help us feel joy in our hearts, but if you've spent 30 minutes moving and it's been drudgery, perhaps pick a different way of moving to make your heart feel joy. If walking or running isn't doing it for you, try rollerblading, or go to a batting cage. 

The key to my joy in movement is dance. I dance like nobody is watching. It's not a contest. 

Details

Pets always give me the details that their parents need to hear. I don't know which detail matters. Often, they are the most innocuous little things. It can be the color of a sweater, or a favorite place or smell. The clues are tiny. 

And then, when I talk with the pet's owner, I'll say something, and then I'll hear a catch in her voice. She'll suck in her breath. Suddenly, the conversation turns real.

Today, I talked with a dog that had recently passed away. He showed me a tropical garden, beautiful and lush. He said, "Tell my mom that it's warm, but it's not too hot. It's just right for dogs."  I didn't know why this would matter. For Gizmo's mom, this little detail meant the world to her, because they had moved to Florida, and she always worried that it was too hot there for her dog. 

I've learned to not assume I know what matters.