This is the story of a friendly cat named Pickles who caused a rift between neighbors then learned to change his behavior and help them mend fences.  The situation had been escalating for some time when his person contacted me for a session: “Last summer our cat Pickles began going up on our neighbour’s porch […] Read more...

Sometimes a simple question leads to a big answer. Recently a group of kids asked for a bit of my help with a project they were working on. Just before our scheduled meeting I was at the barn with my horse and casually asked if any of the horses had advice for the kids to help them with their project, which involved improving life for zoo animals and others kept in captivity. Three horses immediately showed interest. Their advice, dispensed freely with love, in the spirit of a nurturing mentor, is so universal that I wanted to share it with you. Read more...

“After anyone takes a bath in our house, when the water has drained from the tub our two cats can’t wait to jump in and drink the water that’s left. They don’t seem to be attracted to the soap – we tried 5 different soaps and shampoos and they still do it. They drink from their water bowl so it’s not lack of clean water. We don’t mind that they do this, but we wonder why.” Their two young cats explain. Read more...

At the end of a long trying day, I found I needed to wrap my horse’s hind foot. It’s not easy to wrap a hoof, and harder still when you haven’t done it in 10 years and your old stiff horse can’t hold his leg up for long or keep it steady. I tried to […] Read more...

Do you ever wonder what names our pets have selected for us? It’s a question often asked by curious pet owners who wonder just what their pets think of them. Read more...

In a twist on the classic back-to-school assignment, pets of school-age kids answer the questions: How did you spend your summer vacation? What made your activities special or meaningful? What did you learn? Read more...

The emotional benefits to kids from having pets are well known, including helping kids feel calmer and more confident, reducing stress and improving self-esteem. What might surprise some people is that this help goes beyond simple passive support. Many pets assist their kids to focus, model good behavior, give hope and encouragement and lighten the mood when it becomes too stressful. Read more...

Trying to force pets may lead to temporary compliance but ultimately resentment. Long lasting positive changes occur when we treat them with the respect they deserve, try to understand their point of view, explain our own, and ask for cooperation. Read more...

Pets daydream in the same ways we do and derive the same pleasure from it. Here they talk of their daydreams which include idealized views of their world, pleasant reviews of their day, wishes to act in ways their bodies don’t allow, as well as pure fantasy. Read more...

Have you ever wondered what your pets dream about? Do they relive their fun day at the park, dream of endless treats and snuggle time, or perhaps worry about the future? What are they dreaming of when their legs start moving and their whiskers start twitching? To find out, I interviewed 4 dogs and a cat about their dreams. Read more...

What do your cats think about? Their next meal, cuddle time, and finding the perfect nap spot, for sure. But there must be more going on inside those curious minds. To help us understand I asked some cats at random if they would share a question they’ve been pondering for a long time. These are actual questions as posed by the cats, with responses provided by two dogs, a pony and a pig Read more...

When a beloved pet passes on the loss can feel overwhelming. In this article a group of spirits of deceased pets discuss their advice on how people can best move through their grieving process into a state of peace. Read more...