Speaking the Language

In honor of the Westminster Dog Show in New York City today and tomorrow, yesterday's New York Times ran a story about the owners of Vivi, the whippet who escaped from her crate at Kennedy airport in 2006 while waiting for her return flight to Los Angeles, and hasn't been seen since. Vivi's owners are making their first trip back to New York to compete in the dog show since their prize winning whippet disappeared.

I remember the incident. Would-be rescuers set up "camp" near the airport and canvassed the area, going door to door to try and find the elusive dog. They gave up after 8 days of searching.

Of course, just because Vivi could not be found by her owners does not mean that she is not alive, well and living elsewhere. At least that is what animal communicator, Judi Byers, has told the New York Times. According to Byers, Vivi is alive and living on her own, having found reliable places to eat and sleep. "She doesn't want to be a show dog anymore," Becker reported. "She just wants to be a companion now."

Animal communicators are a fascinating breed. Some claim to be able to pick up an animal's signals via the airwaves regardless of ever having "known" the animal. Others communicate with the animal in question in person, relaying their inner thoughts. When my parents lost their beloved shar pei, they turned to an animal communicator who told them that she too was alive and well and living somewhere near chickens. My mother scoured the Maryland countryside looking for her to no avail. They ultimately discovered her body when the ice melted on their pond. She clearly had fallen through the ice. There were no chickens anywhere in the vicinity.

Gretchen also has heard from numerous animal communicators throughout Barbaro's career, recuperation and death. All of them mean well and most report Barbaro is happy where he is now and that his work here is not done (interpret how you will).

Personally I do believe that animals communicate with us but I think they do so in person. If you know and love an animal, you do know what they are telling you and you certainly know if they are happy, healthy or in pain and suffering. I do not think that these vibrations can be sensed by anybody through the airwaves, especially someone who has never known the animal in question.

I would hold out more hope for a communicator who held his/her sessions in person than via the telephone. In fact, there is an animal communicator on site in the Pennsylvania Hotel, where the majority of the contestants for the Westminster Dog Show stay with their owners. Even "mediums" who help the police find missing children usually need a piece of clothing or personal item that belonged to the child to harness their vibes.

So listen to your animals yourself and chances are you will be able to understand exactly what they are trying to tell you.