Animal Chaplains help people through all stages and phases of their animal’s life. Many times, when people are preparing for the transition, there are so many complex emotions, and you really want to talk to someone who understands the depths of the experience of pet loss. Animal Chaplains are non-denominational and accept people from all faiths, no faiths, and belief systems. Animal Chaplains can help you identify what you need to process this experience, or to create a customized ceremony to celebrate the life of an animal. Animal Chaplains respect the human-animal relationship in all its many phases of love, joy and loss. It is always good to have a plan for transition and Animal Chaplains can walk with you through this experience, so that it may be as beautiful and sacred as possible. Rev. Sarah Bowen is the cofounder of Compassion Consortium, and trains potential Animal Chaplains. Her book Sacred Sendoffs is available online.

EPISODE NOTES: What is An Animal Chaplain?

Kate Hawkes was raised in Australia with and by horses! Her father gave her some very wise advice when she was ten years old after a horse “threw her.” He said, “The horse didn’t throw you. You fell off. What were you doing – or not doing – that make the horse knock you off?” The wisdom of recognizing that horses are mirrors for our energy, our behavior, our deeper feelings has helped shape Kate’s healing work with others. The wisdom of horses has inspired Kate to work with many people who are on their healing journey to express their creativity and to truly be themselves. Horses are expert teachers at being true to their own feelings, and because of this, they can clearly see our own selves. Being around healing horses and being truly seen -- can help us to recognize our inner lives and to learn to express ourselves in creative, honest, and joyful ways.

EPISODE NOTES: How Horses Inspire Our Creativity

With so many abandoned dogs in shelters, it is easy to lose hope. But for the dogs who do get adopted, lives are changed forever. Not just for the dogs -- but for the people who open their homes and hearts. Katherine Carver is the author and photojournalist of the beautiful book: Abandoned: Chronicling the Journeys of Once Forsaken Dogs which has been endorsed by Jane Goodall. It shows heartfelt photos of dogs left in shelters – sad, lonely, hungry – and then once adopted a follow-up one year later in photos and stories of their happy lives and the joy they have brought to their new families. These inspiring stories of resilience will make you want to run to your shelter and take a little ball of love home!

EPISODE NOTES: Abandoned Dogs Give Hope to Many

Spot is a rabbit. But not just your “everyday rabbit.” He is a philosopher who has narrated a book on human-life to his person, Animal Communicator Paloma Baertschi. The book is called “You Set Your Own Limits” and offers much practical wisdom to those of us living in human bodies. This book tells the remarkable story of how Spot insisted that his person needed to learn more before he would speak to her. For two years, he repeated the message that he was a philosopher, and she wasn’t ready to understand what he had to say. Paloma didn’t give up. She refined her understanding and her skills of animal communication, and to this day, the conversation continues.

Spot’s partner (the mother of their children) is named Luna. She has her own gifts of communication and is often the expert when animals have to go to the veterinarian, and the causes of illness are not understood. The rabbit Luna telepathically understands what is needed and is often able to help the veterinarian understand what needs to be done to save the animal’s life, even in surgery situations. You will never underestimate Animal Consciousness and wisdom after you listen to this episode.

EPISODE NOTES: Down the Rabbit Hole – A Conversation with a Rabbit Named Spot & Paloma Baertschi

When was the last time you had a serious conversation with a Turkey? For Ellie Laks, co-creator of the Gentle Barn, this is a regular occurrence. At her rescue barn, the female turkeys love to cuddle with kids and adults. Looking the person in the eye, they spread their wings, exposing their hearts, and meet people at such a pure and profound level that it often brings tears to their eyes – the human’s eyes! Ellie has been an animal communicator since childhood, and she has had such powerful conversations with her rescue turkeys that it will make your jaw drop and your heart open. These are not just “dumb animals” or meals for holidays. These turkeys have expressed very specific desires and have shown just how truly in service they are to the human race. Ellie Laks is the author of My Gentle Barn and Cow Hug Therapy. For more information visit GentleBarn.org

EPISODE NOTES: Talking Turkey with Ellie Laks - The Gentle Barn

If you’ve never been hugged by a cow, you haven’t been fully loved. Ellie Laks, the cofounder of The Gentle Barn rescues farm animals and cows and some of them become therapy cows. Cows are matriarchal, and their priority in life is their family. This might explain some of their compassionate, calm, empathetic, gentle nature. The cows at her barn love to love. And people are transformed by thousands of pounds of mutual tenderness. But Ellie does not just rescue cows.

She listens to them. As a natural animal communicator since childhood, Ellie has retained her natural ability to listen to animals, ask them questions, and communicate to them what they want to know. Her examples of conversations with cows will awaken your heart to why these animals have such a deep capacity for comforting others. The insights she has learned about “cow culture” and how they see humans will expand your perception of cows forever. Ellie is the author of Cow Hug Therapy.

EPISODE NOTES: Cow Hug Therapy – with Ellie Laks – The Gentle Barn

Debbie McGillivray has been a professional animal communicator for over 25 years. She is the author of three books and has worked with clients across the globe, and with wild animals in sanctuaries. She has learned about the deep wisdom and love that animals who share our lives have for us. Hear about horses who are capable of great forgiveness, animals who have come to both learn and teach us lessons about how to live a gentler, kinder life.

We spoke about how most animals know when and how they will transition. And how it can be the greatest gift we can give them to help them transition when their body no longer serves them. Many of the animals currently in Debbie’s life have been with her before, and have come back as a different species, choosing to live a life as a different critter. So many of the stories Debbie tells will uplift you and help you to recognize that the Soul continues. Many animals who have shared our lives and pass on will visit us in subtle ways that we can begin to recognize.

EPISODE NOTES: Animal Wisdom and Returning Souls

If you are ever faced with an emergency, are you certain you could call your dog’s name and he or she will instantly return to your side? That is an essential and trainable skill – that can save lives. Lisa Waggoner is an all-positive dog trainer who created a method called Rocket Recall where a dog instantly and happily rushes back to you the moment they hear that cue. She explains why this training is based on a sense of safety and trust, and a deep bond between you and your dog, so that they are motivated to come to you. Find out the major challenges and mistakes and how you can learn to use these joy-affirming methods so you and your dog can feel safe in each other’s presence.

EPISODE NOTES: Teaching Your Dog Rocket Recall

Billie Groom has been a canine behavioral consultant and “dogologist” for over 30 years. Looking beyond training methodology, she gets to the core of behavior through understanding canine emotions. Working with her methods of changing how dogs perceive reality, and changing their decisions about how they react to common stressors, she has been able to help thousands of rescue dogs in many countries.

As the CEO and founder of the Institute of Canine Psychotherapy she is now dedicated to teaching her methods online with a team of researchers, scientists, and holistic veterinarians. Her goal is to reduce behavioral euthanasia and returns of dogs to shelters by transforming behavior so that humans and dogs can understand each other better and share more harmonious lives.

EPISODE NOTES: Canine Cognitive Psychotherapy – Billie Groom

Sometimes mysterious behavior is the result of Soul Loss in an animal. A part of their soul has been separated from them, perhaps due to trauma, complex grief, or extreme reaction to the loss of a human or animal companion. Judy Ramsey is a Shamanic Teacher and Practitioner and professional animal communicator. She helps people and their animals with a Shamanic Journey to help animals who have lost a piece of their soul. Soul loss often results in extreme behaviors, both passive and aggressive, and the inability to have a balanced and happy life. The good news is that it is possible to help an animal get reconnected with their soul, which leads to physical, mental, emotional and spiritual rebalance. Judy tells stories of animals who were suffering physical and emotional pain and had pieces of their soul departed. After the journey to retrieve the missing parts of their souls, they regained their sense of equilibrium and joy in life.

EPISODE NOTES: Animal Soul Loss and Retrieval – Judy Ramsey