Our animals are always talking to us, whether through their voices, body language or behavior, but mostly we just don’t understand what they’re saying. We may suspect they’re in physical or emotional pain, or suffering scars from earlier trauma that led to their rescue from an unpleasant situation and our eventual adoption into their forever home. Or they may be exhibiting a sudden change in behavior, such as inappropriate urination or nonstop barking, but we’re baffled at how to break the offensive habit. In other cases we may sense our beloved pets are nearing the end of their natural lives; we want to comfort them, ease their pain and support them in their transition to their next world. Yet, what can we do? Enter the animal communicator, often the frustrated pet parent’s final step before surrendering or euthanizing the animal. While the internet lists numerous animal communicators, your best bet in finding the right person is to ask friends or animal care professionals for recommendations. Then read their Websites to determine who seems most compatible with your needs, philosophy and approach to life. “People are drawn to animal communicators that mirror themselves.  People have different needs and different communicators use a different language,” explains Encinitas-based Paula Brown, who describes herself as a telepath and empath who has been “hearing” animals all her life and working professionally as a communicator about 10 years. In her “conversation” with the animal she incorporates an energetic reading of the pet’s physical body, identifying energy blockages using dowsing techniques, as well as a chakra reading. Based on her reading, she recommends flower essences to balance the pet’s emotions. She can do more in-depth energy work as needed. Brown, also a feng shui practitioner and graphic designer, recently wrote and illustrated “Fur Shui,” a guide to improving the quality of life for both pets and humans (see page 5), as well as understanding pets’ emotions, based on feng shui principles. You don’t need to have a communicator come to your home (or stable). Most work remotely, using a photograph or just a name to tune into the animal’s energy and talk with him telepathically. They then provide you with a verbal report, including answers to your specific questions for your pet. Brown asks clients to fill out a questionnaire, available on her Website, with a brief description of the pet and reason for the consultation, along with five questions the client wants answered. “Be honest with the communicator. It saves a lot of time,” she advises. Animal communication, she explains, is “all energetic — it’s all from the heart. A lot of our animals are mirrors of what (issues) we need to be working on ourselves.” Jerri Carroll, who has an office in El Cajon and has worked as a communicator for eight years, approaches her clients differently. She works telepathically, using only a photo and a pet’s name if reading remotely. “I want to make sure I’m as honest as possible. I don’t want to have any preconceived notions,” she says. While she works with energy and flower essences, she describes her focus as more on the “here and now,” looking to resolve current problems. Her first question in the case of problem behavior is what has changed? It may be minor, but something has changed to make the pet angry or upset. “My job is to communicate as clearly and cleanly as possible whatever the animals want to communicate, and then go in and ask the questions their people might have. I get things in pictures, words and feelings,” she explains. Carroll conveys the animal’s feelings and thoughts in the manner she experiences them. “If they’re emotionally upset and screaming, you’re going to hear it. I won’t couch it in a way that’s more comfortable. My job is to honor the animal, not the people, and to bridge the worlds,” she says. Like Brown, Carroll works extensively with rescues, many of which have experienced severe trauma. Sometimes on her first encounters with abused animals they are so closed down emotionally that they cannot communicate. In those cases, she often recommends homeopathic remedies to help them feel better and open up. Recent cases include an emaciated, mutilated horse abandoned in the desert without water or food, now recovering at a horse sanctuary, and a dog, also abandoned in the desert, that opened up only after using homeopathies. She also works frequently with ill pets nearing the end of life, helping them and their parents with their transitions. For some of her clients, like Sam the cockatoo who needed more quality time with his multi-tasking human, the reading validates prior expectations. Her goal is to help both animals and humans improve their bond. Often, she explains, pets’ problem behaviors arise from their humans’ perceived neglect, stress or other actions. One of Carroll’s roles is to convey to her human clients that they must change their behavior if they expect their pets to change. Client Kimberly Hoover adopted Bella, a French bulldog, who was grieving, traumatized and depressed after losing a litter of puppies while still at the kennel. Carroll helped Bella process her loss and recommended homeopathic remedies that eased her sadness. Bella, who has food allergies, has also been able to communicate her food preferences through Carroll, which, Hoover reports, has made a huge difference in Bella’s happiness, health and wellbeing. Sindi Somers, who maintains an office in Mission Valley, describes herself as a pet psychic and clairvoyant who also has worked with people for over 20 years. An animal communicator for about two years, she works both in person and remotely, using just the pet’s name. She connects through the energetic field, working from a meditative state. Somers studied meditation and clairvoyance at the CDM Psychic Institute near Seattle where, she explains, she acquired tools and techniques to develop her psychic and healing abilities. After moving to San Diego, she expanded her practice to include pets, based on her life-long connection with and love of animals. Somers also provides energetic healing and end-of-life counseling plus other pet services. For more information, including testimonials, fees and scheduling details, visit the following Websites: Paula Brown, www.animalhearttalk.com, or call (760) 753-1954. Jerri Carroll, www.animalstalk.net, or call (619) 277-5300. Sindi Somers, www.wildtame.com, or call (619) 384-0761.