BY CHERESE COBB, FREELANCER Seven years ago, Rudy—an emaciated Arabian horse trapped in knee-high manure—popped up on Chelsea Harley’s Facebook feed. His owner had already surrendered 60 horses to Shawano County authorities (all shipped to slaughter) before threatening to shoot him if Amazing Grace Equine Rescue (AGES) in Elkhart Lake, Wis., didn’t remove him immediately. […]
BY CHERESE COBB, FREELANCER For four years, Department of State (DOS) Agent Paddy worked as an Explosive Ordnance Division Technician at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. When Danny Scheurer and the rest of his unit went to clear a building, he leaped from an SUV and dashed to the door. “We tried to run,” […]
BY CHERESE COBB, FREELANCER Hayden, an 11-year-old Rat Terrier, doesn’t like loud noises. At the first rumble of thunder or pop of fireworks, she shakes so badly that everything around her vibrates. She also drools and leaves puddles wherever she’s hiding. Before Anna Cabal adopted her from the Rat Terrier ResQ in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, she’d […]
BY STACY KRAFCZYK
Animals are like us in so many ways that sometimes we forget or don’t realize that what we do for ourselves we can also do for them. For instance your dog may benefit from the following: massages, chiropractic, acupuncture, crystals, hydrotherapy, laser therapy, Reiki and more.
Animal communication is a great “tool” to use to find out if your animal is happy, sad, in pain, etc. But it’s also important to use other tools. It is necessary to take your animals to the vet for health checks and various treatments. Or for example, dog trainers for proper training. And it is also important to see practitioners who specialize in holistic animal care—Chinese and western medicines are a great combination.
For example, if your animal doesn’t feel well, is lethargic or not eating and looks like it is suffering, then a vet would be your first call. Your second call should perhaps be an animal communicator.
Animal communication can definitely improve behavioral issues, walking on a leash, and other issues. However, training is still necessary to build ones confidence with their dog so they learn to speak the same language and not send mixed messages. As humans we tend to send mixed messages to our animals, telepathically and verbally. In our minds we say, “don’t bite, don’t bark, don’t jump” but in our minds we’re showing them barking, biting and jumping. Training is a great way to send the right signals, deepening the bond and strengthening our confidence.
A few tools:
Chiropractic/Spinal Manipulation. Animals get thrown out of whack all the time, just like humans do, and strongly benefit from adjustments to realign their body which also affects their health, energy and emotions.
Essential Oils. Get ones that are all-natural (not chemical or fragrance grade) and good quality to diffuse in your room or car, especially after a stressful event like surgery. This can aid in calming your furry friend.
Massage. Getting your animal massaged will keep your animals limber, energetic and bring relief especially if there is already an issue at hand.
Reiki. A form of energy work done in person or from a distance can help heal the animal emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. Reiki has been an amazing part of my healing journey personally and professionally with hundreds of animals.
Food. Raw food, high-quality canned or dry food, grain-free, etc., can also assist your animals in healing and reducing ear infections, UTIs, yeast, diabetes and other illnesses or diseases. I’ve personally witnessed miraculous transformations with changing of the diet alone. Contact your local pet food store for holistic options.
Cold Laser Therapy. This is done by certified professionals to accelerate healing safely and effectively.
Pain Medicine. Whether it is holistic, natural, Chinese herbs and/or western meds…it is VERY important to help maintain your animal’s pain in old age, as well as his diseases or illnesses. One of the main complaints from animals is their pain level. Remember, it is an animal’s instinct and nature to hide or disguise his pain. If they were in the wild, they may be killed or forced out of their pack so they tend to hide their discomfort until it becomes so unbearable they begin to show signs like not eating, limping, excessive licking or sudden behavioral changes like aggressiveness, not sleeping well, pacing and digging at the carpet. Please talk to your vet about pain medicine and/or natural remedies from holistic pet food stores.
Sleep. This is important to people for recharging and healing their bodies and is the same for animals. It is challenging for animals to heal and recharge if they’re in pain. A lot of animals have shared in animal communication sessions that they would like some pain management around breakfast, dinner and most importantly, bedtime. Our animal friends will sleep better and so will their humans.
There are many avenues you can explore to help heal your animals emotionally and physically. You may need to use several different healing modalities continually until the pain begins to diminish or is at least under control.
Talk to your vet about some of these options and if your vet doesn’t know about these, then do your own research. Go in chat rooms, Facebook groups, and on other websites to find the right answers for your animals. The Internet is awesome for finding out information.
By MANETTE KOHLER, DVM
Word is out around Milwaukee. There’s a cute new gal with blonde, curly hair working at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center. It’s Millie, the canine concierge. At just one year of age, Millie, a mini Goldendoodle, is very popular and regularly receives emails and comments via the hotel website, great Trip Advisor reviews, and dog treats, sweaters and toys from adoring fans (aka hotel guests). Her proud owner, Rusty Dahler, the human concierge at the hotel, was thrilled to share Millie’s story with FETCH readers.
“Last fall the idea for a ‘hotel dog’ began to circulate,” says Dahler. “A great idea never happens easily,” he adds. “It takes a lot of determination and hard work.” He set to work finding just the right dog for the job, researching breeds and talking to breeders and decided on a smaller, non-shedding dog with a phenomenal temperament. Millie, whose name represents Milwaukee (first and third syllables), fit the bill perfectly. Born September 13, 2016, Millie went home with Dahler at eight weeks of age and by ten weeks was spending a few hours at a time at the hotel. She now spends 40 hours a week in the lobby and hotel, brightening the day for guests and employees alike.
As one would guess, training has been and continues to be a focal point for Millie. Dahler explains that it’s been a lot of work to train a puppy in such a large hotel and to teach her all the things she’ll need to learn including not jumping on guests and coming when called. Holly Lewis, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and owner of Cold Nose Canine, has worked one-on-one with Millie as well as in group classes. “Millie’s private lessons are focused on specific skills that Millie utilizes at the hotel,” says Lewis. “Millie learned to stay out of specific areas of the hotel as well as showing guests where the restroom is from the concierge desk.” The “say hello” cue directs Millie to the check-in line where she greets guests. She may even bring along her favorite ball for someone to throw.
Other important tasks include riding luggage carts up to the rooms for deliveries and standing proudly on the podium at the front door, smiling and wagging her tail as guests arrive. “On the flip side,” adds Lewis, “it is really important for her to remain in tune with Rusty so she does not wander off and get distracted with a guest. Recall and focus are important points of Millie’s training.” The need to be able to easily adapt to the fast pace and changing environment of the hotel lobby is the biggest goal, according to Lewis. “There are always people and animals breezing through the lobby and it takes a special dog to be able to handle the activity,” says Lewis.
“Millie has changed the environment in our lobby by 100 percent,” shares Dahler. He knew she’d have an impact on the guests, but he never guessed the impact she’d have on the employees. They stop by the desk to share phone pics of their dogs and love on Millie as if she were their own. Fellow co-worker, bellman Jack Wood says, “Being able to experience Millie’s friendly and playful personality is the reason both myself and the guests keep coming back to see her every day.” Millie takes all the attention from guests and employees in stride, and that’s part of what makes her so special. “She gives a lot to her work,” says Dahler. She’s petted hundreds of times per day, often awakening from a nap because an eager guest really wants to say hello.
Like any hard working employee, Millie deserves and enjoys her time off. “Home is her restful space where she can do what she wants to do when she wants to do it,” says Dahler. “She enjoys walks on Brady Street, playing with dog friends at Pulaski Park and dog training classes at Cold Nose Canine,” he adds. She also enjoys the company of Oliver and Rose, Dahler’s two cats. “Oliver and Millie love to hang out and tussle together while Rose enters in only when she thinks it appropriate.” As for toy preferences, the more squeakers the better, but long toys she can play tug with are also preferred.
Dahler explains how rewarding it’s been to see her progress and to hear guests comment on how well-behaved she is. “She has brought smiles, laughter, and even tears to many within her short time here and we can’t wait for more of this to come as she grows older with the Hilton Milwaukee,” shares Dahler.
For more info check out “Millie At The Hilton” on YouTube; on Instagram at “hiltonmilwaukee” and on Facebook at Hilton Milwaukee City Center.
By STACY KRAFCYZK
It is very difficult when our animal friends leave their physical body and leave us here on earth without them. They form such a deep and healing bond with us that once they’re gone, they sometimes leave a hole and void in our homes and hearts. It is important to remember that animals come to us for healing and teaching as much as we go to them. More and more people are sharing their experiences, visitations and dreams of their animal companions coming back to them in the spirit form to say hello and make their presence known.
From the animal communication perspective, the soul never dies. It continues on in the spirit plane—some call it heaven—where it continues to help its human friends on the earth. Some even choose to be reborn into another animal body down the road, whereas others may remain in the spirit plane assisting us from that level.
Animals have shared that being in the earthly form of an animal is very heavy, dense and challenging for them to fully assist their human companions in their life. In the spirit form, they are limitless—evolving and helping us in so many ways—so it’s hard to be fully aware of “how” they’re assisting us.
It almost seems like they can move mountains for us, sending us the perfect new animal friends to join our pack, to make amends with friends or family members that were once estranged and even helping us find the right home. There are so many powerful validations of animal friends still helping from the other side.
One client shared that they waited until their dog passed away to move because they didn’t want to stress their dog out. Once the dog passed on, they moved within six months. The woman swore it was her dog that helped! The husband, a non-believer, saw footprints in the snow that started and ended in such a weird place that even he knew it had to be his dog. That night, the husband had a dream in which his dog said telepathically that he liked the new house and then happily trotted away. The husband woke up in tears with a heart full of love knowing his buddy saw the move and chose to visit the new house. This was all validated in the communication session, but the best part for me was that the people “knew” it before they even contacted me. I was able to validate that for them by what their doggie companion relayed to me. Beautiful!
Ways They Visit Us
One way is in dreams. We are the most open and least skeptical in our dream state. That’s why so many people receive “visits” this way. People tend to wake up very emotional and touched knowing in their gut that their animal friend came to them. Even people who don’t believe in an after-life will become believers once they’ve had an experience that I call “visits” from the other side.
Other experiences may be hearing their toe nails on the floor when no other animal is around or seeing a flash out of the corner of your eye. A person may even experience being touched, poked or even feel a pressure next to their body that can’t be explained. Some may hear tags jingling but no animals moving or walking around them. Or perhaps you just wake up and feel the animal’s presence next to you where they once laid. If a person keeps their animal’s picture displayed, or if they have a memorial set-up in the house, sometimes those objects move without anyone touching them. There are many amazing stories of this happening.
Another great example is in the vehicle:
You might hear noise in the back but have an empty car. A song may come on the radio that reminds you of them. Their leash or collar may be moved somewhere in your vehicle where is wasn’t prior. Sometimes your current animals won’t jump into the car because the spirit of the previous animal isn’t letting them in.
I’ve had several readings where people wonder why their animal is no longer jumping into their vehicle. Well, it’s because their previous animal used to do that when he or she was alive. So we would have to tell them to “stop” and allow the current animals into the vehicles. It’s the old analogy of “play nice guys.” It’s been quite comical and touching for clients because they feel funny saying those words out loud.
Some clients have also found feathers, coins and other weird items along their walking paths, at the dog parks, doggie daycares, vets and other locations that make them know their animals are still present. Other people have had magical experiences with butterflies, hummingbirds, dragonflies and birds acting strangely around them. Even landing on the tree or bush they planted for their deceased animal where they have never seen one there before.
When people who are grieving ask for signs, they come in many forms. We just need to be more aware and present in the moment, but it is hard not to feel like your drowning in the grief and pain. Each day, little by little, the pain will lessen, and you’ll begin to see signs regularly. Try to write them down when you begin feeling lonely or down, read the paper and warm your heart all over again. Savor these magical moments for years to come.
I’ve seen, felt and experienced great reunions of animals and souls, known or not, helping animals transition to the light (or heaven) that it brings tears to my eyes to witness such love, compassion and healing. Plus, it gives their human companions great comfort knowing that their transitions weren’t lonesome and that they were greeted by loved ones in the spirit plane.
There are so many examples of our loved ones and animals coming back to visit, and I’ve shared just a few. So pay attention when you receive little nudges from heaven. Remember that once our animal friends leave the physical, earthly realm, there is a grand celebration and reunion on the other side. Even our animals and human friends who have previously passed greet the new animals.
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