Because
he spoke to the fish in the creek
He tried to tell us that the animals could speak
And who
knows? Perhaps they do
How do you know they don't just because they've never spoken to you?
-
from Michael Martin Murphy's "Boy From the Country"
Yes, animals communicate. They communicate with
each other, with people and have even built a pretty good rapport with Mother Nature.
Many of us can understand what
animals are saying by interpreting audible cues like a whimper or a purr. Anyone who has been to a dog park knows that a bow
means, "I want to play!" while snarling teeth say, "Back off!" Some of us communicate with our animals
on a daily basis when we recognize patterns in behavior like scratching at the door, or aloof cats that come running at the
sound of a can opening.
Not satisfied with non-verbal communication, a Japanese company recently developed a "Bow-Lingual"
device that utilizes a wireless micrphone attached to your dog's collar to translate every yip, whine and bark, letting you
know if your pet is happy, sad, frustrated or needy.
Animal psychic vs. animal communicator
But
can we really have a conversation with animals? Professional Animal Communicator Dawn Huebner, M.A., www.animalpsyche.com, says, "Absolutely." Huebner says she has had the ability to converse with all animals - wild and domestic - since
she can remember.
"I thought everyone got this information from animals," Huebner says. "I've been doing
it my whole life; I just didn't realize what it was. I didn't have the terms for it and nobody talked about it.
"I
think animal communication can take on many different forms ... some people get their information through sight, sound, touch
or energy. I actually get words, sentences and full conversations," Huebner says.
Careful to make a distinction
between being an animal psychic (one who predicts the future) and an animal communicator (one who is intuitive and in the
now), Huebner uses her skill for a vast array of clients with a plethora of reasons. Most common, she says, are questions
about a pet's health or end-of-life issues. Often, she is called when owners are having behavioral problems with their pets
at home. Huebner has also helped clients locatemissing pets or deal with wild animals on their property.
How
it works
All you need to do is submit a photo of your animal and a list of questions you would like Huebner
to ask your pet. Then schedule an appointment with Huebner to hear their answers. If any specific health or behavioral problems
are identified, Huebner also works with a certified dog trainer and certified healing touch practitioner, www.fullcirclebehavior.com, to help you alleviate those issues.
Huebner connected with SoCo, my blue male standard poodle, and Cappy, my four-year-old
male miniature parti-colored poodle. As rescues, they both have some baggage in their background, so I was excited to hear
what they had to say. At the arranged time, we spoke for more than an hour on the phone as Huebner relayed the answers to
the questions I asked my dogs.
SoCo hates sailing
I was relieved to hear that SoCo had minimal
aches or pains and felt pretty spry for his nine years. Cappy, on the other hand, had a painful past with multiple owners
who were abusive to him and he requires much more emotional nurturing. I also learned that SoCo's favorite toy was a rubber
duck and Cappy prefers squeaky ones. What do they do all day while I'm at work? SoCo guards the house and Cappy just waits
for me to come home. And this summer, only Cappy will go sailing because SoCo told me he gets a little nauseated.
Huebner
says she prefers to conduct her appointments by phone because it is efficient for the client and it helps her remain objective
- without being influenced by seeing the animals in their surroundings or witnessing how they interact with their owner.
"I think it's one of those things that when people are ready, they'll try
it," Huebner says. "They have nothing to lose and may do it just for entertainment, but then realize it has value.
I would also say that there are a lot of things that haven't been solved by science yet, like intuition. I really don't try
to convince anyone of anything because I don't want to force my opinion on anyone else, but this is another option for people
seeking information from their animals to improve their relationship."
And really, isn't communication the key
to any good relationship? By the way, SoCo and Cappy say, "Hi."
La Donna Seely is a volunteer for A Rotta
Love Plus, www.arottalove.org, an award winning rottweiler and pit bull rescue, adoption and education organization.
