Say Hello to Bert the Dog!

 

                                                                              BERT

Meet Bert, the dog!  His daddies wrote me an email regarding Bert's adoption and I am addressing some of those questions here.

Hello, Linda: 

We would love to know more about our rescue dog we got last year.  Bert is a dream dog and we are so lucky to have him.  We wanted to check in to perhaps shed light on his past and also to make sure he is happy at his new home.

One thing too is he seems to get overly excited when we are in our pool and wondered what the reason might be.Of course any insight on our beloved Bert is welcome. Regards, Todd Evans and Jeffrey Moran

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Hi Todd and Jeffrey!  Bert is a really cute little dog!  I can easily believe that he is a dream to have as part of your family.  I noted his special marking by his right eye and it is a sign of higher intuition, as in third eye.  Also, he is a sun worshipper and for good reason! Bert "meditates" when he is in the sun and will probably do that often.  It makes him happy. 

As to his reaction when you ae in the pool, much of the has to do with past live issues of drowning or not being able to help someone who was drowning.  The bottom line is that Bert thinks you are in danger in the pool, so perhaps some petting and verbal reassurance before you go in, would be helpful. 

Meet "Karma" - My Little Maltese!

                                                                 KARMA
As most of you who have read this column already know, my previous psychic companion was Gidget, a Maltipoo.  She passed away in the year 2020 at the age of fourteen.  She was loyal, smart, adorable and very sweet and we went everywhere together and she went through a great deal of life experiences with me along that way.  The last year of her life was tough physically, mentally and spiritually, for both of us.  After she passed,  I took a break and thought about whether I was going to take another little psychic companion into my life.  I looked around at puppy web sites and videos and did my best to keep from crying as the longer I was alone, the more I wanted another one, but unsure that it was right for me.  

After almost a year, I put down a deposit for a female Maltipoo.  During the process of waiting for puppies to be born, the breeder contacted me and asked if I was interested in a full Maltese. Her cousin had a litter that was born January 21, 2021.  I wasn’t sure, but said I would FaceTime with them to meet the brother and sister she had available.  They did not tell me the gender before my pick, and when they held them up side by side, I chose the one on my left.  That was the boy!  He came to me on March 20, 2021 and he weighed 3 ½ pounds!  I fell in love with this little guy and named him “Karma.”  

Here is he for you to meet!  He’s really smart, sweet, loyal, very funny, adorable and deeply entertaining!   Karma is now all of 10 pounds ( his limit) and he just turned a year and four months.  I am excited to share him with you, and thrilled to be sharing fun times with him as my little Psychic Companion! 

SPECIAL NOTE: If you would like to see your pet featured in my Psychic Companion blog, please feel free to write me at linda@lindalauren.com 

Dogs Hear Spirit!

Gidget Lauren

When an animal senses spirit, they are very vocal about it, taking action immediately.  That action can be via barking, running, cowering or a combination of all.  But the bottom line is that if you ever need confirmation that you have seen a spirit or a ghost in your house, your pet will almost immediately confirm it for you.  

Recently, a friend of mine passed away.  I had not seen her in quite some time as our schedules no longer afforded us the opportunity to connect in person.  She traveled a lot and had moved down south, and I was busy writing my books and attending to my metaphysical center and psychic medium readings.  Her death hit me hard and I was alert for signs that might occur.  I was not disappointed, and I have my little Malti-poo Gidget to thank for that! 

Three days after my friend passed, I was in the kitchen clearing up after dinner and Gidget was in her little bed in the corner of the room.  I opened the dishwasher and as I bent to place a dish inside, I heard an audibly loud female voice that yelled: HELLO!  Gidget apparently heard it to as she jumped out of her bed and began barking and running to the door.  We both thought someone was at the front door.  That voice sounded exactly like my late friend who had a very distinct Southern way of speaking. 

It took a while for me to get my little dog calmed down, and I was a  taken aback by it myself.  It has been my experience that when someone on the Other Side wants to say "goodbye," they usually say "hello," instead.  I am still contemplating the reasons why that would be so, and if it pertains only to me and how I am receiving things.  

But there is no escaping the fact that Gidget heard it too.  So maybe a "goodbye" IS actually a "hello."  One thing is important to note: if you have a pet, pay attention to them when they react to something you can't explain.

Special Announcement: New Home!

You can now find Psychic Companion ™ on the blog section of our new brand new web site! I look forward to hearing from you and continuing with friendship here! God bless, Linda

Linda Lauren's web site.

Psychic Companion blog

Meet Ada Nieves!

Hello everyone! Sorry for the long months of silence, but we are now back and very eager to introduce you to another wonderful angel in our pet community.

Gidget would like to introduce you to Ada Nieves. I met Ada in 2004 when this column was with The New York Dog and The Hollywood Dog magazines.

Ada is a renowned certified FIT pet fashion designer, gourmet treat baker and successful pawty planner. She runs the largest Chihuahua group in the nation, hosts her Pet Life Radio talk show: Vida Doggie, writes for the Examiner and is a collaborator for FIDO FRIENDLY magazine.

She and her five professional pet actor Chihuahuas (and now also a rescued cat), have appeared on many national and international shows, such as, the Animal Planet network, BBC London, ABC’s The View, NBC Today Show, Canida Oscar/Italy TV, Woef/Dutch Puppy TV, Pet Dish/MSN, Puppy Weddings/WE TV, Sabado Gigante/Univision , Mike & Juliet Show, The Martha Stewart Show and Conan O’Brien late night show, to name a few.

You can contact Ada by visiting her web site at www.adanieves.com

It is my pleasure to know Ada. She is an incredible, warm spirit, humanitarian and artist. I respect her and love her sense of humor and caring personality.

Meet Robyn Arouty Photography!

Greetings and Happy New Year!

Gidget would like to introduce you to Robyn Arouty Photography in Houston, Texas. I had the pleasure of meeting Robyn on Facebook through many mutual pet lovers. I am a firm believer in banding together for common causes because the power of numbers can create great awareness. I felt a lot of positive energy from reading her posts and felt her presence strong and heartfelt. She does a lot of good for the animals of the world and helped a lot of people in the process. Check her out and band together by joining her fan page or acquiring her services.

Fan page:
http://www.facebook.com/robyn.arouty#!/robyn.arouty.photography

Web site:
http://www.robynarouty.com

Robyn Arouty, a woman who "specializes in pets and their people," not to mention, she's a great photographer!

Mama Mia, She's Barking Up A Storm!

Hello Everyone!
Ok, I'm going to admit it here and now, this little dog named Mia is absolutely the cutest! She reminds me of my Gidget. Just look at this face! Below is an email I received from her "mom" and I have some tips that may prove helpful to this issue:
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Good morning!
I just came across your site and I was so happy. I was wondering if you could tell me why my Mia barks so much. There won't be anything around and she barks. Every little noise... even if she sees the leaves falling she barks. Also, my doll, fell on her once when she was sniffing at her and ever since she comes into the room where the doll is and barks at it. I even changed the dolls clothes and she still barked at it.

Otherwise she is a very happy little girl who loves her toys and is very crazy about her Dad. Thanks for your time and your gift. Sherry
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MAMA MIA!

There are multiple reasons why a dog barks: attention, boredom, frustration, hunger, happiness, breed genetics or simply we have allowed it to happen and not put a stop to it. There are a couple of methods dealing with positive re-enforcement to modify and change your dogs behavior. But,no matter what you do, you and your entire family must be consistent with these methods or all your work is for naught.

1. Pick a code word to use to change the behavior. Victoria Stilwell of 'It's Me Or The Dog' uses 'Stop'. Find a food based treat that your dog loves. Three times a day do the following exercise, you may want to keep a plastic bag filled with treats or belted treat/training bag (available at pet stores) with you:

Bring the dog next to you. Say the word you choose and give the dog a small treat. Do this 5 or 6 times. Make sure your dog equates the word with the treat. After a couple of days, when your dog barks, say the word, when he stops barking, give him a treat. Do this every time he barks around you. You are teaching your dog that when you say the word and he changes his behavior by not barking, he gets his favorite treat. As he gets better and better with this, introduce new triggers, like a doorbell ringing, someone walking by the house, a friend coming into the house. Keep the treats with you to help with your code word and expected non-barking response. Eventually, you can start to take the treats away and replace it with another positive response on your part like a belly rub, scratch behind the ears, etc.

2. Never respond to the barking. If your dog barks and you respond by yelling, he is getting your attention. Try standing quietly if he barks. Be calm and patient. When your dog stops barking, reward him with a treat, a 'Good Dog!' or give the dog her favorite toy. Pick a toy that is only used for this exercise. When he/she has received it as his treat, played with it for a bit and moved onto something else take the toy away.

The key to either method is consistency from the entire family. You must all do it. Once your family and your dog are all on the same wavelength, quiet will reign supreme.

Good luck and God bless!

A Word on DeClawing

I have attached pictures of my best friend and companion, Kona Blue. He is 12 ½ yrs. young. My late husband insisted on getting him declawed (front paws), which I was not certain should be done. I now have a biter. He has gotten better because he knows I don’t like biting. He has bitten visitors, and me. People want to pet him, but he does not always want to be touched. He hates his tail or feet touched. He can be loving, and has learned to endure all my kisses and hugs. I have deck trained him so that he can enjoy some outdoor time, yet stay contained on my decks. I’m very proactive with his health care – except his weight. He loves to eat and I indulge him more than I should. Can you tell if he is happy, bored, has any health issues that I might have missed, would welcome another cat (when he was two, he made it very clear to a pet psychic who came to our home, that there was no room for another animal).

Darlene N
San Diego, CA
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Kona Blue is beautiful, but may also be in intense pain. The procedure of de-clawing is very painful surgery and can lead to the animal to experience lifelong pain. So, from a physical standpoint, you need to take that into consideration with your approach. It is also important to note that once a cat is de-clawed they have no real defense mechanism. It is very likely that Kona Blue is not able to tell you “no, please stop,” especially if his paws are still painful.

Just like a human, animals have different sensitivity to touch. The tail holds a cluster of nerves and as Kona Blue moves through the day, he uses his tail to communicate. That will make him ore sensitive to touch.

I know you love your pet, so “indulging” is never a good idea because it robs your pet of a quality life. I say quality, not quantity. We are not talking about years on earth, but the quality of those years. So many pets suffer physical ailments because of indulgence. It is something to think about.

I would suggest you feed him vegetables like lightly steamed broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, or zucchini. He may also enjoy some fresh fruits such as apples, pears, and watermelon. Always start with a very tiny portion to see how he will react to the new foods.

**IMPORTANT NOTE: Never feed you cat (or dog) onions of any type, tomatoes, raw potato, chocolate, grapes or raisins. Always consult with your vet before changing their diet.

Jack of Hearts

I was wondering if you would be able to provide some insight into our dog, Jack. Jack is about a year and a half old, and our vet thinks he is a husky, sheppard, and a bit of a terrier mix. My husband and I adopted him in July of 08 at 3 months old from petfinder.com. We drove over an hour to the town to pick him up, and it wasn’t until we were driving home that we realized something was wrong with him. He was extremely lethargic, and covered with fleas and ticks. After getting rid of the ticks and fleas, we took him into the vet two days later, and he was diagnosed with distemper and bronchitis, and had ring worms, hookworms, roundworms, ear mites, and three impacted teeth that needed to be removed. The vet gave him only a 30 percent chance to pull through even with medication, but he thankfully pulled through.

We absolutely love Jack and he’s a relatively happy dog, but it almost feels like there’s a disconnect between us. Jack is afraid of being held or confined, and runs if someone tries to hug or cuddle him. He is so friendly though and will go up to a complete stranger and make friends with them and loves to be petted, but not cuddled, which isn’t bad, but I feel sorry for him because I don’t want him to be afraid of something like a hug. I guess what I’m asking is if you can tell what Jack thinks of my husband and I from his picture. Because sometimes it feels like he likes us, but doesn’t love us. Regardless, we love him no matter what :) - Lauren, Internet
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JACK OF HEARTS
We are talking about energy here, and animals sense energy in as many intense ways as we do. Stepping back, his first experiences with you were at a time he was in an unhealthy state. You did what you could to comfort him when he was so ill, including cuddling and hugging him.

He may never have been shown much attention or cuddling when he was a puppy, so he may not understand that. He was brought to the vet within 2 days, where he was was held by the vet techs, their arms were over and around over his body as they needed to get blood, give shots, and medication, etc. As he was held by technicians in a 'cuddle' he may not associate that experience as a pleasant memory. So, you will have to make the cuddle pleasant. Start moving your fingers on him very slowly, talking softly and telling him you love him while you pet him. Move your hands ever so slightly over the spine towards the other side of the body, if you need to,move inch by inch. Every time he allows you to pet him more, give him a treat, or a favorite toy or a play session for further loving enforcement. Let him learn to enjoy and accept the feeling. After a time, he may move to trust you and may be more open to being cuddled.

Keep in mind that if he was confined in a crate/cage as a puppy prior to you getting him, he may very well not be comfortable in that type of environment. Some pets simply hate to be confined, no matter how comfortable. If this is the case, you may have to accept that.

I wish you luck!

FINNEGAN MUST BEGIN AGAIN

These are my best friends Finnegan (black & white) and Stella (gray & white). Both were rescued from shelters at around 5 months of age so I know very little about their backgrounds before they came to me. I was wondering if you could tell Finnegan that he should never run away from me or the house when off leash because it is dangerous?

Stella always seems very nervous and sometimes tinkles in the house. I would like to know if there is something I could do to make her feel more secure & happy? And you probably get this all the time but....do they know how very much I LOVE them?
Best Wishes, Lianna S.
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Dear Lianna,

I’m getting a very strong feeling that when Finnegan runs when he is off leash, he may think you are playing a game. Try not letting him off leash unless he is in an enclosed area and/or use a long line leash (some are 15-20 feet in length). It would be a great idea contact a trainer in your area and work together so Finnegan understands and learns the command 'come' as a game, but with a reward.

Stella and her excitable urination is something that can happen for a number of reasons. I’d strongly suggest that you first find out if there is a physical problem by taking Stella to the vet. Once it has been determined that she is physically ok, you may need to use lots of positive reinforcement. Try to remain calm around her, especially when greeting her, and always reward her when she responds without urinating. When greeting her, keep it low key, or take the greeting outside. A fun thing to do with her to build up her confidence is agility training or fly ball classes, and that can be as much fun for the family as it is for Stella!

Finally, please know that they both love you very much and they are fully aware that you love them! Good luck!

The Elegance of Eli Goes Back A'ways!

Gidget and I would like to introduce you to Eli, the Chihuahua, and our Celebrity Pet of The Month. I met Eli and his lovely owner, Karen Biehl when we were on location for a segment of Michael Somerville’s FLN show, Wingman. Eli, who also happens to be a rescue, won the Milk Bone Small Dog Biscuit Contest in 2007. If you are a small dog owner, chances are good that you ran into Eli’s sweet little face on the cover of the box!

Eli & Karen travel to schools, hospitals, charities, and attend just about every red carpet dog event, in their plight to bring cheer and love to the world. This good-will does not surprise me, as I sense a past life connection that was quite similar to what they do now. However, back then, they traveled by horse and buggy in all kinds of weather, stopping at neighboring villages and spreading positive energy.

The energy I pick up on is of the year 1825-1845, and a very different Manhattan. Eli and Karen lived above a lovely bistro on the second floor of a brownstone. In this past life, Karen’s family were of great financial worth and owned the building, as well as the bistro. Eli, wearing a tie not unlike the one he is sporting in this photo, was the bistro greeter. He was often found sitting in a chair at a checkered-clothed table that was strategically placed just inside the front door.

They shared a love of pastry, and also a particularly special connection to music. It was not unusual for Karen to tuck Eli inside her cape and sneak him into the opera house so he could enjoy the music, too. The bond these two shared, and continue to share, transcends time and delves into a very special karma.

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To see the Wingman episode 102 featuring me reading Eli & Karen, click here: http://www.fineliving.com/fine/pac_ctnt_988/text/0,,FINE_26036_85024,00.html


To get to know Eli and Karen click here: http://www.mschiefmakerhaven.com/EliHomePage.html

This adorable photo was taken by: Petographs by Ixiana Hernandez http://petographs.com/

Saving Grace

I am often asked how my friends interact with me as a psychic medium, and how they might apply my suggestions and advice as a part of that friendship. My answer is that giving a friend counsel is not as easy as giving that same counsel to someone who books an appointment with me as a client. However, I forge on and always hope that I won’t be met with a challenge. Some friends just happen to be more receptive to me, and have found themselves in a more positive place as a result. My friend, Todd, falls into that category.

For almost a decade now he has sought my counsel for validation, and I have seen him thrive in all manner of his life as he applied my teachings of metaphysics to it. So, it came as no surprise that he would want my insight in his search for a new dog. Todd loves beagles and his two sweet little girls (Booboo and Lizzie) passed within a short time of each other, after having led very long, loving lives. Todd gave himself some time to mourn and eventually contacted me on his thoughts to rescue another beagle.

Anyone who has ever wanted a pet knows what it is like to take on that search. My friend took his time, meditated on it and began to do research. Over the course of a few months, he had a few readings and sent photos of pets he might be considering. His heart was saying yes, but his gut was say no. I validated that for him, and his search became more focused.

Then one rainy day he drove to SOS Beagles and found his perfect psychic companion. However...there were some very interesting SIGNS along the way, and I have taken a a screen shot of them so you can enjoy them, too.

1. When Todd fell in love with this pretty little dog, her name was listed as: GIDGET, which is the same name as MY little companion (and why he changed her name to Grace).

2. As we scanned down the page, I found that the woman who owned the rescue is LINDA, which we know is MY name!

3. The whole she-bang was in memory of CLEO, which was the name of my first real pet, a dog we named Cleo after the little beagle of the tv show of the same name.

These are SIGNS. Signs of a state of Grace that is nothing short of amazing!

Cat Fight or Flight?

Recently I helped place this cat in a home.  His name is now Diego and he’s about 8 months old.  He was found in a yard by a neighbor after the owners moved away. He went to one of my co-workers who just moved into a new house. They have a female cat who is about 2 years old. The problem is every time they are introduced there is a raging cat fight – fur flying, chasing, hissing… very aggressive.  He is a sweet and loving cat when he is by himself, but when he is with the other cat he attacks and chases her. It’s to the point that they want to give him to her father, but he has a cat as well.  I’m worried about what if this happens again.

Can you help with what could be causing him to be so aggressive?

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I have to be brutally honest with you. You are not going to be able to change this reality. Diego comes from abuse, and the cats whose homes he is coming into are going to smell that fear and not welcome peaceful energy. It's a fight from the start. Diego needs to be in a family that has no other pet in it. In that way, he does not have to share the limelight with any other animal. This is the best way to help him be happy and shine!

I wish you luck in placing him in a new singular environment.

A True Ace

My boyfriend and I welcomed Ace into our home last month—he is a fantastic, well behaved yellow lab! He was born on 12/26/08. He is definitely one of the most laid-back and calmest labs I have ever met. We have many dogs that live in my building and some of them, especially the smaller ones, will bark and act aggressive towards him. He doesn’t cower but doesn’t return their negative energy either. Everyone he meets from the vet, obedience school trainer to doggy daycare workers loves him. This is Ace pretty much 99.9% of the time. On some occasions however, he acts withdrawn and prefers under the bed or in his crate over us for extended periods of time. He didn’t finish his meal this morning either. This rarely happens but thought it was worth mentioning. We both work 8 hour days and didn’t feel that it was right to keep him alone for that long. The dog-sitter we use is a friend of the family. She has three dogs and a cat and is great with animals. They have a pool and a nice backyard so the dogs are kept well entertained. We do this 4 days a week. The 5th day he goes to a more formal daycare,which is a larger group of dogs at a facility. He is with us 24/7 on the weekends. My question to you is why is he so calm? I am definitely not complaining, but sometimes it worries me that he is so calm and at times, seemingly withdrawn. I tend to be overanalyze and every time something off happens (i.e. he doesn’t finish a meal or goes under the bed) I get nervous. Marisa E.

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PUPPY LOVE

Your dog is pooped out, he’s tired. He gets a lot of activity all week and finally, by the time he sees you he really just wants to chill and relax. If he goes to his little sacred space, which is might be his crate or away from you, don’t be insulted or worried. This just means he is going to get some private time. The other thing you have to keep in mind is that this dog is very bright. He knows when he is being cajoled into things he may not be ready to do, like eat. So if he is not hungry, don’t force him. Unless you see a dramatic change, like he is not eating at all in a 3-day period, then that would be something to report to your vet. Remember, he is a puppy and they tend to sleep alot; he is going t o change his eating habits as he grows into his body. Double check the food you are giving him with the vet and check into supplements. Above all, just keep loving Ace because you have a really wonderful, sweet and loyal companion!

Managing Madison

I am happy that I found your page its beautiful!! My name is Steve and I acquired a puppy from a kill shelter a few months ago. Her name is Madison and right now she is five and half months old. She is loving, loyal, and a bundle of energy. The only issue I have with her is she is timid of people and bigger dogs at times. She constantly barks at children, she seems fearful and aggressive with them. Can you shed any light on these issues? Thanks, Steve
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A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS...

I picked up a strong sense that sweet Madison is still feeling the abusive treatment from when she was much younger. Many people with small children bring home an animal and rarely consider the fact that it is not right for their children to pull tails, throw things or generally abuse the family pet. I fear this was the case with Madison. It will take a lot of nuturing from you, but if you introduce children and animals to her in small, slow doses, it might be helpful.

I strongly suggest you start watching Cesar Milan's Dog Whisperer show, as well as pick up some of his books. Also, think about having a trainer come into your life to help you with these very issues.

Take your time, and give Madison a lot of love.

Young Yossi

I have a six month old miniature schnauzer called Yossi whom I love dearly. I always had such a very close bond with him. He would always follow me wanting me to play. I have never been nasty with him, and would never dream of hitting him. If anything, I am not firm enough. Recently, he has started acting oddly. Over night, he just didn't want to know me. He comes to play, but as soon as I look at him, he walks away. If I try to cuddle him, he walks out of the room. If I give him a treat he will take it without eye contact, and go elsewhere to eat it. It is as if I have frightened him or something, and I just don't know how.


I live with my parents whom he is also very close to, and still appears to be. No one else seems to have noticed a difference. Can you help?
Angela T.
Hornsea, East Yorkshire, England.
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CHANGING THE WAY YOU LOOK AT THINGS...IS NEVER EASY

Angela, you did not say your age, so I’ve no idea whether you are telling me about the family dog or your own dog. That distinction will bear heavily on why Yossi is acting this way.

By the very Law of Attraction, your actions are actually encouraging this behavior in Yossi. The more you reflect on something being “wrong,” the more “wrong” will seem evident. I have a strong feeling that you are focusing so intently on finding negative aspects to your relationship with Yossi, that you are actually manifesting what you don’t want.

I am not picking up anything alarming about this, and if you stop dwelling on what you see as “wrong” I feel you will see your relationship for the closeness that has always been there. I also suspect that Yossi has a lot of bosses and not one Mistress or Master. That energy will always cause a problem because it will confuse your pet.

Make some changes in your own energy so that Yossi does not pick up on it. If you want further outside assistance, I would enlist the services of a good dog trainer.

The Darling Doxie!

I do Pet Encounter Therapy for a non profit organization and work with a wonderful doxie mix named Chester. He belongs to my co-worker who does not do therapy work, so Chester goes to senior homes with me. We have developed a bond like I have never known.

I have been working with him for 4 years now and he even has "sleepovers" at my house, choosing to be with me over Val or anyone else. What do you think? Diane E.

KINDRED SPIRITS
If ever a photo existed that depicted kindred spirits, this would be the one! You two go back in time to the early 1800s, around 1810. At that time, Chester resided in a bakery next door to a New York brownstone that you lived in. The flash I received on this past life experience was one where you came down each day to walk him for the proprietor as a favor. Even in that time, you two were very close and formed a similar bond, as the one you have today.

The vibration the two of you carry is of the same frequency and very healing. As light workers you two can (and will) bring much healing to others in this lifetime!

A SPECIAL PAST-LIFE REMEMBERENCE...

SPECIAL NOTE: This is one of the first letters I ever received for the column. Though Britta is no longer with us, I know that she will come back again...because, after all, our loved ones are only a vibration away. That includes your pets. God bless.


My dog, Britta, is beautiful and companionable, but overprotective of her people and turf. Why does she suddenly bark at guests, even those who are frequent visitors--especially if he or she is walking downstairs? Dolores - Rhode Island



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HEEDING A PAST LIFE WARNING
What an adorable little girl your Britta is! Her aura is healthy and colorful and she certainly has energy to spare. I sense that she is working through some intense past life issues. Her barking at guests is her way of warning you to run for cover, that someone is coming. In my vision, Britta was in an army barracks during the Civil War conflict. She was told to hide under the stairs of the house that her regiment was occupying and to bark a warning if the enemy was near. Her company was attacked during the night and Britta had fallen asleep on the job. I believe she is repeating that lifetime whenever you have guests. If her “warnings” are heeded, she may begin to understand and might eventually cease this kind of barking. One way to help is to acknowledge it with a thank you. Let her know you got the warning and are grateful. Past life issues are difficult to break, but not impossible!

BLAST FROM THE BEST OF...

When we first got my Yorkie, Snookie, he loved to be groomed. When we moved to a new home and a new groomer, I think he was abused because he doesn’t let us touch him to brush him. I don’t want to put him under just to get a haircut. Sandy, NYC

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GROOMING ISSUES

If you feel Snookie was mistreated, then I would go by my gut on that. I don’t think you need to put Snookie “under” for grooming, but you might want to contact an animal behaviorist about this. Also, when you are looking for another groomer, ask a lot of questions and get recommendations. This should get better. Remember to treat Snookie tenderly and with understanding as he adjusts.

MORE BEST OF...

I just adopted two new dogs from the rescue, Missy is the Shih-Tzu from Lap Dog Rescue in New Mexico, she is 10 years old and will be spayed in Sept., and Chin-Chin is a 6 year old Japanese Chin, a private adoption from Colorado Spring. They said he had occasional seizures but I think it was his diet. I have seen no evidence of that. I was looking at my Fat Chow cards, a fortune telling game, and they said the death of a pet or a stolen pet. Were the cards talking about Missy and Chin-Chin? Thanks Pat, NYC

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FORTUNE COOKIE
I'm glad you asked this question because too many people put their faith in fortune telling cards than is healthy. NO cards can predict death, and they deal in generalizations, leaving definition up to the interpreter. You could have been a non-pet owner and still drawn those cards, and how much sense would that make then? Chin-Chin's possible seizures can be helped through diet and medication, so you are on the right track. Looking at Chin-Chin, I see him as healthy and having a past life connection to the Orient with both you and Missy. You three belong together, and have been together in many life times.