The Golden Cord

December 23, 2013

When people call me about lost animals, especially cats, I always recommend that they do the following golden cord exercise. If a cat is alive and not locked in somewhere, it almost always brings them home. It works well with dogs and other pets too.

You can also adapt this visualization to communicate with your animal when you are away, whether you are just at work or across the world. Making this connection will let your animal know that you are thinking of them and can decrease any anxiety they are experiencing about you being gone.

Here’s how you do it. Sit quietly and get in a meditative state. Imagine a golden cord coming out of your heart, going out into the darkness and connecting to your animal. Make a strong connection and really hold your focus. Then pull gently on the cord and tell the animal it’s time to come home, they’re safe and it’s okay to return now. Tell them that they should follow the cord and that your energy is with them to keep them safe. Send a strong visual of your pet following the cord right to your doorstep and coming inside. Tell them that you have a yummy treat waiting, whatever they love the most. The more you can do this from home, the better and quicker the results are.

If your pet is safe at home, and you are the one away, just use the cord like a telephone wire (remember those?) and talk to your pet through the cord. Send loving feelings from your heart to theirs. They will feel it and understand that you are still connected to them and sending love. If you are on vacation, you can tell them each day that you’ll be home in 4 nights, then 3 nights, then 2, etc. When my clients do this while on vacation, their pets are always calm and content when they return.

The golden cord is wonderful tool and you’ll find this description in the resources section of my website. www.MaryGetten.com

Holiday Pet Hazards

December 15, 2013

During the Holidays there are many new hazards for our pets. Here's a quick reminder to ensure that you and your pets have a safe and joyous time.

*  Holiday Food - Fatty foods can cause pancreatitis and gastrointestinal issues.  Chocolate, coffee, and onions are toxic to dogs and cats.  Rising dough on a counter top is irresistible to some pets, and can cause serious problems. Don't forget that dogs, cats, birds and small pets can easily consume wrapped food gifts under or on the tree. Not only are the food items a problem, but also the wrappers are impossible to digest.

*  Holiday Plants - Many lilies are deadly to cats. Mistletoe, poinsettias and holly cause gastrointestinal upset for all critters. Christmas tree water can be filled with chemicals or bacteria and pine sap is dangerous if ingested. Secure your tree to the wall so your pets can't knock it over.

*  Decorations - Tinsel, ribbon, ornaments and hooks are attractive play things for many small animals.  If swallowed they may cause internal blockages requiring surgery. Broken glass ornaments can cut paws and mouths. If your pet likes to play with things on the tree, decorate the lower third with unbreakable wood or plastic ornaments.

*  Candles - Put burning candles in places that are inaccessible to your pets. They could set themselves on fire or tip the candle over and start a fire in the house.

*  Batteries - Don't leave batteries for those Christmas toys lying around. They are fun to play with, but contain corrosives. If ingested, they can cause mouth ulcerations and intestinal issues.

Remember to tell your pets about any visitors that will be coming, or if you will be away over the holidays, and if things are going to be stressful, give them Rescue Remedy in their water dish.

Blessings to each and every one of you humans, cats, dogs, horses, birds, reptiles, fish and small critters.  Have a wonderful holiday season filled with joy, laughter, friends and good times. I love having you in my life.

                            Mary

Iguanas

December 9, 2013

I have a lovely client that takes in homeless or disabled iguanas and gives them a fantastic free roaming home in her large and jungly back yard. It is an amazing place and I was lucky to visit there a few months ago.

One of her older iguanas was not climbing the trees anymore and she worried that she might be in pain. Perhaps she had arthritis or a leg injury? When I connected with her and asked about this change in behavior, she assured me that her limbs were working fine and she was not in pain, even at her advanced age. The problem was her eyesight. Her vision had gotten bad and when she climbed a tree, she didn’t have the depth perception or acuity to feel comfortable climbing back down. She decided that it was just better to stay on the ground.

This information was quite a relief to her person and she now understands the issue.  It was also great to know that this change didn’t bother her at all. She still felt like she was the queen of the yard and was content and happy.

Animals are so much better than humans at accepting their bodies and disabilities. They just find a way to make it work for them and carry on. That’s a lesson we could all learn from them to make our lives happier.

Don't say Don't

December 2, 2013

Animals communicate with the world telepathically all the time and are always open to and reading our thoughts. Generally they get their information from the mental pictures we unconsciously create when we think about or say something. So why don’t they do what we want?

It’s very simple really – we are often picturing what we DON’T want. This is basic human nature; thinking, focusing on or talking about we don’t want. It’s how we are wired, but to have fantastic communication with your animals you need to talk, think and focus on what you DO want.

Let’s say that your cat has been clawing on the couch. When you leave the house in the morning, you look at her and say “Don’t claw on the couch while I’m gone”. What picture do you think appears in your head when you say this?  The cat clawing on the couch! Your kitty, being the friend that she is thinks, “Cool, I know how to do that!” Even if you could picture it, they wouldn’t understand the circle with the line through it.

Then if you are mad at your cat for couch clawing she will be even more confused. To switch this around, you need to talk to her as often as possible about how much you like it when she claws on her post. “Remember to claw on your post while I’m gone today.” “I just love it when you claw on your post.” Eventually she’ll get the message that you really DO want to convey.

This is true for any behavior you’d like to change or modify. Another tough one is “Don’t be afraid.” We say that a lot, so turn it around to, “You can be calm and relaxed because you are safe.”

My rule is if you’re going to say DON’T – DON’T say it! Always say exactly what you DO want and your animals will learn to trust your mental images.

Facebook

November 22, 2013

Well, I’ve done it.  I just leapt into the 21^st century and got a business facebook page. I said I’d never do it and once again I learned, “Never say never.”

I’m not very good with technology and when faced with learning facebook I just turned and ran. Wouldn’t even look at it. I rarely visit my personal page, I don’t remember posting on it, and I certainly have never looked for people to 'friend'. My gosh, I still have a DUMB phone and don’t even know how to text, so how could I ever negotiate social media?

I worried that facebook would take up a lot of time and that I would get sucked down a rabbit hole into a deep abyss. A little too dramatic? Maybe, but I’ve seen how much time email takes and adding something else seemed overwhelming.

But I did it anyway, and today I took a class in managing my facebook page. The instructors were at least 30 years younger than me and spoke a ‘foreign’ language. Glancing from the instructor to the screen and then the other instructor I felt like I was watching a ping pong game in the dark – it was confusing.

The best part of the day was a conversation I had with a wonderful woman sitting near me. She said that “People like us need to be on facebook, so that people who need us and our services can find us.” I realized that she’s right. It just might be a tool that will allow me to be of greater service to misunderstood animals, near and far.  I thanked her for this insight and decided to get an attitude adjustment.

I am trying to understand and make good use of this new tool. Please bear with me while I learn and make some mistakes. And if you are a facebook person, I would be very honored if you would LIKE my new page https://www.facebook.com/MaryJGetten. I’m also open to any tips or advice that you’ve gleaned from your facebook adventures. Thanks for listening.

Granny

November 13, 2013

  

Granny, also known as J2

I have known my wild orca friend, Granny, for more than two decades now. She was a co-author of my Nautilus Award winning book, Communicating with Orcas; The Whales’ Perspective. I am very happy to say that Granny was 102 years old this year and is still swimming strong, leading J-pod.

This past week, a ferry carrying Native American artifacts that were being returned to a tribe, was surrounded by orcas.  Here is a link to the story-

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2022162797_apxpugetsoundorcas.html

Many people felt that this was not a coincidence and that the whales were there for a reason. I decided to check in with Granny and here’s what she said: “Of course we knew about the artifacts. The tribe told us and we came to honor them. We have a long history together.”

I explained that many people noticed their participation and wondered if the whales really knew about it. Granny replied, “It was an opportunity to open minds a little further. People notice these things and it helps them to understand how conscious we are.”

As we continued our conversation, I asked Granny if when people think of her, or talk to her, whether she gets some energy from them. She responded, “Yes, there is a spark of energy that transfers to me when they think of me or send love. You should all realize that you are doing this every day. Think kindly toward one another. It really does make a physical difference.”

“Is that why you have lived so long,” I asked? “I believe it has something to do with it.”

Then I told Granny that a children’s book called Granny’s Clan came our recently and that in the near future, thousands of kids may be sending her their innocent laughter, love and light.  To this she replied, “Oh boy – I may live to 200!”

Interspecies Friendship

November 5, 2013

I had a consultation this week with two best friends in a very sad situation. My client’s young Pomeranian is very bonded to a Ragdoll kitten. They have been great buddies since they met about three months ago. Recently, the little male kitten went to the vet to be neutered and during the procedure he suffered a heart attack. The vet was able to revive him, but he suffered severe brain damage and is now blind and has very limited motor skills. His people are caring for him day and night, hoping that he will recover.

The Pom puppy is very upset and starting chewing up the furniture and barking all the time. She misses playing with her kitten and doesn’t understand why he won’t play anymore. I explained everything to her and hopefully with a lot more exercise she’ll calm down and feel less anxious. I’m holding the vision that the little kitten will recover and regain a ‘normal’ life.

Do you find it odd when animals of two species become good friends? It happens more often than you think and there are some very interesting combinations. You may have seen the story about the bear, tiger and lion that are all best buds at Noah’s Ark in Georgia, or the hound and the orangutan at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09X9ewBthPo.

If you are fascinated by unusual pairings, check out the book Unlikely Friendships by Jennifer Holland. It’s filled with stories and photos of animal friendships all over the world. They may seem strange but love is love, right? That's what counts in the end.

Happy Halloween

October 29, 2013

 Halloween is only two days away. Are your pets ready?

If your critters are upset by the doorbell ringing, strange noises, or scary people in creepy outfits appearing at the door, now’s the time to come up with a plan.

1. Make sure your pet is in a secure area where it won’t bolt out the door. It may be better to keep them in a quiet room with some nice music playing.
2. Keep your cats inside for the night. Kids can play nasty pranks on kitties on this holiday, especially black cats.
3. Start putting Rescue Remedy into the water dish today to keep those anxiety levels low.
4. Tell them that there is going to be some strange noises and lots of knocks on the door and that they are safe and should just stay calm and relaxed. Send strong mental pictures of them snoozing through the commotion.
5. Candy is very tempting to many pets. Chocolate can be toxic to dogs and cats and those wrappers are impossible to digest. Keep that candy dish out of reach.
6. Put all burning candles out of reach. Curious pets can knock them over, start a fire, and seriously burn themselves.
7. Beware of decorations that can be ingested. It’s no fun to have surgery for an intestinal blockage.

 

Booooo!!  Now that I’ve scared the heck out of you, go out and have some fun this Halloween. If your pets enjoy dressing up there’s no better day in the year!

Theme of the week - Cat pee

October 24, 2013

Sometimes I’ll have a week or two, when I get a lot of the same consultations. Maybe it’s the same type of animal like golden retrievers, or it could be the same issue that keeps coming up over and over again.

The last two weeks I have had an unusually high number of cat clients that are soiling the house. What’s up kitties? And it’s not just me – I’ve heard the same thing from others in the animal healing/care business.

There are many reasons for this unwelcome behavior: physical problems or illness, territorial squabbles, stress, de-clawing, litter dissatisfaction, and even spirits in the house. Lately I’ve had many cats that are having territory issues and fighting among themselves. Other types of stress are also creating this behavior.

When I see a pattern like this, I stop to question it. Nothing is a coincidence, so I try to see if there is a common factor. We had a full moon last week and a penumbral eclipse. The movement of the stars and planets often affect sensitive beings and cats are VERY sensitive. We are also coming into the time of year where the veils between the realms are the thinnest – Halloween. Could this be making cats on edge?

Another possibility is that it’s a message for me. Where am I feeling stressed in my life? Have I been pissing (metaphorically) around my house?

I don’t have an answer for this recent trend, but I wanted you to know that if you have this issue in your life right now – you’re not alone. Maybe it’s time to pull out the Rescue Remedy or do a little emotional release work on your cats, or your self. You might be able to change the energy before it’s too late.

Human Nature

October 16, 2013

This morning I headed out to the preserve on foot; ready to enjoy the cool morning air. It’s fall now and as the weather has changed, the number of people using the park has risen. I imagine that it will be quite crowded this winter after all the snowbirds arrive.

Eastern Ribbon snake

As I walked in silence, I first met a small Eastern Ribbon snake. He was quite delicate, only about a foot long, with a bluish green stripe down his side. I’d never seen one before and stopped for a few moments to observe.

Further along I met a man who was photographing a horseshoe crab. He was very excited to have seen a bald eagle up close, so I told him where a ranger often has a spotting scope set up to see the eagle’s nest on the other side of the park.

As I walked on, a woman came up behind me and asked me how long the trail was. I told her it was 3 miles around and takes about an hour. She walked on, but kept stopping to look at things, and even showed me my tree friends ‘the lovers,’ remarking how interestingly they entwine. S

he went ahead and I was distracted by a 4-foot long Rat snake (yellow with blackish stripes) that crossed my path. I motioned to an oncoming biker to slow down so he wouldn’t hit it.

Robinson landscape

At the next bridge I caught up to the woman again, who pointed out some large fish in the stream and a Yellow-crowned Night-heron in the bushes. We walked together talking about nature and how healing it is, and how much we both enjoyed the park. I was thinking about turning around and walking back through the mangroves instead of doing the loop, when she asked if I wanted to be alone and silent. I decided that it might be fun to talk to her for a while, so we continued on.

This woman lives just down the street from me and is originally from Croatia. She had breast cancer this year and is still recovering. I hadn’t noticed until she told me, that under her loose shirt she only had one breast. This was the first time she had walked around the loop since her surgery, chemo and radiation. She feels good. We agreed that being in nature is very healing and enjoying the clean fresh air here is a wonderful thing to do. She also talked about how grateful she is now for the small things and for each day; a wonderful reminder for me.

So my walking meditation wasn’t silent today, but I still got a message from the universe. I am grateful that I took the time to connect and communicate with another facet of nature today – humans.

Robinson Preserve

October 10, 2013

Tower

When Bob and I were looking for our new home, there were a few factors that made us concentrate on NW Bradenton. Proximity to our favorite beach was first, and Robinson Preserve was second. The house we bought is only ½ mile from this 487-acre wonderland. I walk or bike there almost every day. Since I’ll be telling stories about my wildlife encounters there, I’d like to give you a little background.

Robinson Preserve features numerous recreational opportunities for the community. There are walking and biking nature trails that wind through open grasslands, mangrove forests and mixed forest along Tampa Bay. A section of the trail is paved and connects to a large highway that goes out to the beach. It’s only a short 6-mile bike ride

from the house to the sand on this path and I often encounter people walking on bikes or rollerblading. Other trails in the park are made of hard packed shell – great for walking or biking.

In the middle of the preserve sits a three-story observation tower that gives a fantastic view of St. Petersburg to the north, Anna Maria Island to the west, and the surrounding areas of the mainland. You’ll also find a group camping site, picnic areas, restrooms and a children’s playground.

There is a great kayak, canoe and paddleboard launch and plenty of mangrove lined water trails to enjoy. Fishing is allowed in certain areas and the mullet are usually jumping. Some waterways are crossed via wooden bridges.

Trail over waterway

Robinson Preserve is home to a wide variety of wildlife. Raccoon, coyote, fox, bobcat, rabbit and mice are the most common mammals. Birdlife abounds with wood storks, ibis, anhingas, kingfishers, hawks, osprey, bald eagles, herons, pelicans, gulls, plovers, woodpeckers, egrets, roseate spoonbills, cardinals, sparrows, mockingbirds and more! I’ve seen several species of snakes, frogs, lizards and geckos, as well as fiddler and horseshoe crabs.

Sunny asphalt trail

The plant life is varied too. Grasses, wildflowers, and flowering vines cover the ground, while pine, palms, live oak, mangrove, ficus and seagrape offer shade. I love the fact that the landscape is constantly changing. Right now there is a gorgeous purple grass blooming.

Shady shell trail

Robinson Preserve is a pretty special place and I’m so glad that it’s right in our back yard! 

Horseshoe Crabs

October 4, 2013

During my morning walk at Robinson Preserve today, I had an amazing encounter. There are several wooden bridges over inlets where the water rushes in and out of Tampa bay. I often stop and look into the water to see what kind of fish are hanging around.

Today, the tide was coming in and the water was quite high. I stopped to see what critters might be lurking in the watery shadows and I was astonished to see dozens of horseshoe crabs of varying sizes. There were several really large ones and they had smaller crabs holding onto them. It didn’t take long for me to realize that they were mating.

The crabs moved around rather quickly, occasionally piling up on top of each other and then separating. It was quite the party and I was very excited to take part in this new wildlife encounter. I think it was the first time I’ve seen them scurrying around, and to witness such an interesting activity was superb. I continued to see them for several hundred yards along the trail in the water.

Now I know that some of you are thinking, ‘what did they say,’ right? Well, I didn’t talk to them. I thought about it, but I realized that they didn’t need some big old human interrupting their love making just for idle chit-chat. It was pretty obvious what was going on, and that it was not the time to talk.

I took a few pictures (so I can talk to them later) and continued on my way, but decided to turn around instead of doing the loop. As I approached the crab area again, I wondered why I hadn’t seen any animals feeding on them. Suddenly I spotted a small female raccoon, chomping away on a crab and I could see several shells behind her. Further along I also found an ibis pecking away at another crab. It seems that I needed to come back to see how the whole cycle of life was playing out today in the mangroves. 

Popcorn

September 30, 2013

I taught a How to Communicate with Animals workshop this past weekend in Sarasota. We had a great time and three wonderful dogs attended that we worked with on perceiving their physical, emotional, mental and spiritual qualities. We also asked them to show or tell us about their lives.

One sweet little Japanese Chin told a woman that he likes popcorn. When she shared that with the

dog’s mom, she was puzzled, because she doesn’t eat popcorn. It didn’t make sense to her. The same dog showed someone else that he likes lying on the back of the couch and looking at the pool outside the windows. Again, she didn’t understand because they don’t have a pool.

The next day, I got an email from the dog’s mom. That evening she was munching on some rice crackers and noticed that the dog was eagerly waiting for any crumbs that might fall. 

POPCORN – it hit her like a ton of bricks. Rice cracker pieces could easily look/feel/seem like popcorn. She now understood what he had shown the woman in class.

That made her think about the pool image he had given someone else. Of course – it was at her son’s house! He loves to hang out on the back of the couch and look out the windows when they visit there.

I encouraged her to contact the women in the class to validate that what they heard/saw/felt was indeed correct. This is a very common occurrence in a class. The humans have a hard time remembering things that their animal friends show us, but later it all becomes clear. I’m just so pleased that the popcorn mystery was solved.

Walking meditation

September 22, 2013

There was a time in my life when I had a meditation practice. I would sit down every morning with my eyes closed for 30 minutes. Silencing the mind was not an easy thing for me, but I recognized the value of creating as much inner peace as possible, so I sat.

Today I find that the best type of meditation for me is walking in nature. It’s not the mindfulness walking meditation that Thich Nhat Hahn advocates where you move very slowly and focus on each footstep. I’ve done that, and I love it, but it’s not me at the moment.

Gumbo Limbo

When I walk, I move briskly and always say ‘Good Morning’ to the people and dogs I meet. I smile and radiate as much love as I can muster in the intense sunshine. There are also a few trees that I call out to on my route, ‘Hello Gumbo Limbo’ and a little further down, ‘Hello Lovers’. The lovers are two trees entwined – a ficus, or strangler fig,

that holds onto and has wrapped itself around a palm. I love these trees and it’s such fun to shout my greeting as I walk by. Some day I will stop and talk to them.

During my walking meditation, I don’t think about what I need to do, or what I should say to someone, or reviewing things that are bothering me. I also do my best to not latch onto thoughts or problems and I even try to avoid labeling or naming things (Hey, there’s a glossy ibis!) Other than my ‘Hellos’ I spend this time in silence.

The Lovers

My new walking meditation brings me great peace. I use a soft focus with my eyes and if something draws my attention I look at it and observe, but I don’t usually try to figure it out. I just notice it and keep walking. Before long I feel like I’m part of the environment – not a person out in nature, rather an individual piece of the whole that exists only in that moment. I am one with the crabs, birds, spiders and fish, geckos, lizards, bunnies and snakes, trees, flowers, grasses and mangroves. I leave the park feeling peaceful, content and happy.

When I lived on Orcas Island, my favorite walk was around Mountain Lake in Moran State Park. I found that no matter how sad, depressed or frustrated I was, spending an hour with the firs, cedars and hemlocks would transform me. They were able to change my energy – for the better.

Students often tell me they have a hard time quieting their minds. Try this walking meditation and you’ll find that just being in the moment and observing things around you quiets the mind without any effort. It will also bring a smile to your face.

Is it time?

September 15, 2013

Every week I have at least one consultation with an elderly animal where their person is trying to determine if it is time for them to go. Whether it’s a dog, cat, horse, or something else, I never know what to expect in these conversations. I meet each animal from a neutral place and put aside any left-brain ideas about what should happen. I have been surprised so many times that I know better than to have a personal opinion.

As animals age, they go through a process similar to humans – they have good days and bad days. I often caution clients that if we talk to their pet on a bad day, it may want help to leave its body. If we talk to the same animal on a good day, they may say that everything is fine. So, it’s a delicate balance of understanding how the animal feels both physically and emotionally and then asking for a clear sign from them if and when they want help from the vet.

Last week I talked to a horse that is losing weight and going downhill at 29. The vet was recommending that he be put down before he gets too bad, but he wasn’t ready yet. He said that he was still content and enjoying his days looking at the scenery and that he would trust his caretakers to know when it was REALLY time for him to go.

A few days ago, I spoke to an elderly dog that has pretty severe episodes of breathing difficulties. There is nothing else that the vets can do, so when it happened again, the dog’s person wondered if he’d had enough. The old guy said that he didn’t feel this was it and that he was going to come through this one too, and that’s exactly what he did.

I recently had a consultation with a very old rottweiler that was having trouble getting up. This sweet old guy said that his body was painful and that life just wasn’t worth living anymore. He hated to leave his people, but he had done and experienced all he wanted to do in this life and wanted help leaving his failing body.

Each animal is a unique individual. Only they can determine their quality of life, pain level, purpose and timing. We always want what’s best for our pets, and usually what’s best is asking them what they want.

Seals

September 10, 2013

You may have seen this photo of me
holding a baby harbor seal  and wondered, ‘what’s that about?’ I’d love to share this part of my story with you.

All my life I wanted to work with animals, but until I was in my mid-thirties I never pursued it. I think I was too afraid to try, and having that ‘someday’ dream was better than failing. Then in 1987, when I was living in Marin County just north of San Francisco, I had a temp job, phoning clients about their software. I had to call the director of the California Marine Mammal Center, a hospital for seals and sea lions, and even though my heart was pounding so loud I could barely speak, I managed to ask her about volunteer opportunities. She informed me that they had an animal care training the next week and that I was welcome to attend.

That one phone call changed by life. Within a month I was deeply in love with seals and sea lions and dedicated to the center. I did rescues, releases, was the Wednesday night crew leader, a harbor seal pup crew leader and a docent at Pier 39 when the sea lions took it over. For over three years, I spent every spare minute at or doing something for the center. I even got to do night duty with several stranded cetaceans that we had rescued and brought to Marine World.

It was the seals and sea lions that led me to take my first Animal Communication class with Penelope Smith in 1988. I figured if I could find out what was wrong or where it hurt, we could enhance their treatment. But it wasn’t that easy. Telepathy wasn’t as accepted then as it is now so the medical staff didn’t believe me. Even though I couldn’t help the seals and sea lions with my new ability, it started me on a whole new path that has brought me to where I am today.

I love marine mammals, whether they have flippers or flukes. I am quite certain that I have had many lives in the sea. For sure I’ve been a seal and a dolphin, and perhaps even a selkie. I absolutely cannot resist the smell of a baby harbor seal or the gutteral bellow of an elephant seal, and the bleat of a sea lion pup melts my heart.

Now I find myself in Florida, with no seals or sea lions in sight. I miss those guys. It is such a shame that the Caribbean monk seal is extinct. Recently I heard that the seals in the northeast are slowly expanding their territory south. Even if they get to Florida in my lifetime, they won’t be on the Gulf coast. Please say Hi for me the next time you see one, okay? 

Dog Friends

September 4, 2013

Doesn’t every dog love having a friend that he can play with all the time? Noooooooo, not every dog. Some are quite anti-social and others are too jealous to share their home with another canine.

Sad Ranger

I had a consultation about this very subject this week. Ranger’s mom thought that he would like a buddy and got a foster dog. The first day, Ranger was playful and happy, but by the second day he was avoiding his new friend. On the third day, he was lying sadly on the couch and not engaging with anyone - quite a switch for this happy, bouncy guy.

When I talked to Ranger, he said that the new dog was trying to take over. He was feeling pushed around and that Bobby, the foster, was competing for attention. While he likes playing with dogs, Ranger said he prefers to have his people to himself.

Bobby

Bobby’s person had died recently. He was sad and quite needy and wanted to be in a home where he could be the center of attention. He likes playing with dogs, but has a strong need to be in charge.

Every animal that comes to us is not meant to be with us forever. Sometimes we are just the middle-man to get that dog, cat, horse or bunny to the right home. If things aren’t working out with a new addition, our first responsibility is to the original members of the household.

I suggested that they find someone else to foster Bobby and to hold the vision that the perfect home comes along for him. It was so nice that these people were willing to take Bobby in, but it was also great that when they realized that the arrangement wasn’t working well for either dog, they were willing to make it right.

Good luck Bobby, and welcome back happy bouncy Ranger!

Welcome to my Blog

September 1, 2013

Over the years, so many clients and students have asked me to share stories and wisdom that I’ve accumulated in my decades of communicating with animals. Now seems to be the time and there are many things bubbling around in my consciousness that I would like to share.

I don’t know exactly what this weekly blog will entail or where it might go, but I intend to share

• stories about animal clients
• things that happen in workshops
• messages and tales from dolphins and whales
• educational information
• conservation issues
• ways to practice and deepen your communication skills
• other fun stuff.

If there are subjects that you would like me to address, please feel free to write me at mg@rockisland.com.

You can sign up here to get these blogs delivered directly to your email, you can read them here, or on my website, www.MaryGetten.com

Enjoy!