Animals Notice Things

How embarrassing that people believe this stuff and that the Independent publishes this ridiculous column.

I'm right there with you, MichelleR. I think she may even be taking money from a gullible public as well, based on her bio in the column description:

"Laura Stinchfield is a full time professional pet psychic. This means that she can communicate with animals telepathically. For 13 years, Laura has been helping animal owners, veterinarians and trainers understand and solve their animals' physical, emotional, and behavioral issues. You may visit her website at www .thepetpsychic. com or contact her at 805.895.xxxx or via email laura@ thepetpsychic. com"
http://www.independent.com/news/pet-p...

It would be funny if it wasn't incredibly pathetic.

Sorry, Michelle and binky, but I enjoy this column. Perhaps you are not keen on animals or understand them. While l was just starting to comment, two of my dogs came to my chair and both wanted something.
One, a pappilion, got my attention with her low rumbling voice and I saw I had left a book on "her chair". I removed it and she jumped up. The other, a lactating cockapoo, showed me she had two cockleburs on her chin, and so, I removed them.

The cockapoo had been choke tied to our fence about three months ago. The resident dogs alerted me to her predicament and I got to her before she strangled. Poor thing was abandoned and pregnant. She has been appreciative and grateful to us and the two dogs for taking her in. She expresses that with her soulful eyes and gentle handshakes and wagging tail.

Two of her five pups have gone to new homes this week, and all, resident dogs, mama dog, and puppies are exhibiting a sense of loss.

It is better to understand our animals than just to give them food and shelter. They add so much more to lives than grumpy humans. Even our pot belly has a sense of humor. We have eight different types of pets, including fowl, and all are socialized with us and each other.

If people and animals benefit from Laura's help I think it is good that the Indy keeps this column.

If you don;t like it, read something else.

bajamama, what you describe is a common relationship with animals and owner communication.

What Laura Stinchfield asserts is direct communication with animals through "psychic" powers, and she takes money for this play-acting -- not as theater, as fact.

And having empathy, respect, and enjoyment of animals and pets does not require acceptance of such a fraud.

I further suggest pretending to be a medium for animals, and taking money for it, is a heartless, predatory cynicism, the polar opposite of love for other creatures and humans, unsupportable in a mentally-healthy adult.

Teriyaki (Chicken): I notice that my dad has started the bar-B-que and is walking towards me with an axe. I'm frightened.

Well, bajamama, one does not need to dislike animals in order to dislike this column. In fact, I have always deeply loved all animals and even have a great fondness for almost all insects. I also respect animals, and because I respect them I feel no need to put words in their mouths or to try to pretend they are humans in a different form. I respect the fact that they are members of their own species and are not members of the human species. They have their own ways of experiencing the world and of communicating. To suggest that they are just like us belittles what they really are. This column is idiotic in numerous ways, and the gullible readers who believe it, well, read my mind...

There are pet psychics throughout the world. There are also some professionals known as pet communicators and pet whisperers. There is much on line to give credence to this profession. To have someone work with a pet to find out what they might feel or think is not belittling the nature of the animal, but to validate their feelings and what may be the basis of a problem.

I had an interesting experience (call it a conversation, if you like) with a cat here in Baja. Over the year, I had become friendly with its owner who travels for long periods. She had mourned for me last year when my Baja cat had been killed in Santa Barbara in my veranda by a pitbull.

When she sent me a picture of her very shy reclusive cat, I realized it was a mirror image of my deceased cat. As we put the dates together, we realized that my cat Mayita was the mother of her cat, Smudgie.

One day, I spotted Smudgie on a roof, and used Mayita's language, a "myet" instead of a meow and also called her name. She did not bolt, as usual for her, but stayed and even came closer as we conversed. Yes, we conversed.

Later, I wrote to Laura, a rather lengthy letter,giving the background, and this strange conversation with a cat, no less. She did reply to me and explained what she thought of the experience. She did not charge me.

We also have an Indian horse whisperer down here, but he also calms our ostrich and donkeys.

One does not pretend they are human to understand them, but it must be hard for them (the animals) to understand us humans.

Psychics can help us humans understand an animal problem so we can help correct it if that is a necessary need.

It may seem idiotic to some, but so be it.

I have a question: Based on the idea the animals can communicate with people, is it possible that animals can lie to these people?

Rascal (dog): I notice my mommy fusses over me a lot, so I totally take advantage of that. Today I took a dump on the living room carpet. I could have used the doggie door and gone outside, but I'm too lazy.

bajamama said, "There is much on line to give credence to this profession." Uh-huh... Because if it is on the World Wide Web it MUST be true... If it is in print, it must be true... If people believe it, it must be true... If it is popular, it must be true... If it makes us feel good, it must be true... If we want it to be true, it must be true...

I am not saying that everything in print is true, but there are people who do make a profession of this.

Kind of like Sarah's making a profession of being a speaker and a writer. We do not have to believe what she says, but it is true that she is doing both and getting paid well for it.

Many people do not believe in chiropractors whereas many people have benefited by their services.

And to Bill, yes, they probably do lie, as my dogs are always on the wrong side of the door. They say they want in and then they want out. They are mischievous, if nothing else. Like people, they sometimes like to prolong the attention.

Skippy (cat): I like to lick my own anus.

Me and Significant Other Binky just had a laughing-until-we were-crying jag for about 5 minutes:

Pinatubo, please let us know what Wormy (the Worm) has to say!

Wormy (worm): The further the spiritual evolution of mankind advances, the more certain it seems to me that the path to genuine religiosity does not lie through the fear of life, and the fear of death, and blind faith, but through striving after rational knowledge.

Didn't "Son Of Sam" (David Berkowitz) claim his neighbor's dog told him to commit the murders he did?

"And to Bill, yes, they probably do lie" -bajamama-

Isn't there an old saying "Let sleeping dogs lie"?

I knew I could count on Wormy for guidance!

These people 'talking' to their pets reminds me of the the wisdom shared by Gary Larson years ago, when he 'channeled' a dog in "What We Say, What Dogs Hear":
http://www.marketingfirst.co.nz/wp-co...

I read all of this to my cat, and asked for his opinion. He let me know that he thought this was a bunch of malarkey. He said his kind resents people putting words in their mouths. He wishes the Independent would publish a serious column that really helps people understand their relationships with their pets and other animals.