September 2011 - Australian Veterinary Association

field, a then touchy topic (explained in her book, Alex & Me). Alex had a vocabulary of about 150 words, but was exceptional
in that he appeared to have understanding of what he said. He could identify 50 different objects and recognize
quantities up to six. He could distinguish seven colours and five shapes, and understand the concepts of
“bigger”, “smaller”, “same”, and “different”. In her book Dr Pepperberg says, “Scientifically speaking, the single greatest
lesson Alex taught me, taught all of us, is that animal minds are a great deal more like human minds than the vast
majority of behavioural scientists believed or, more importantly, were even prepared to concede might be remotely
possible.”
Over the years there have been pivotal books that have shaped the thinking on animal communication and telepathy.
The classic book on animal telepathy was written by naturalist William Long in 1919 (How Animals Talk) and has now
been reprinted.
It was this book that inspired the research of biologist and academic Rupert Sheldrake. In the foreword of the reprint
he says, “When I first read this book, it not only inspired me, but it changed me. It made me realise that unexplained
abilities like telepathy and the sense of being stared at are widespread in the animal kingdom. When they occur in
people, they are often called ‘paranormal’, literally meaning beyond the normal, or they are treated as weird or
spooky, or simply dismissed as illusions. Reading this book convinced me that they are normal, not paranormal, and
are part of our biological nature”.
In 1999 he published his early research in his book Dogs that Know when their Owners are Coming Home and Other
Unexplained Powers of Animals. How does a dog know when its keeper is returning home at an unexpected time?
After five years of extensive research involving thousands of people who keep and work with animals, Rupert Sheldrake
conclusively proved what many pet keepers already know: there is a strong connection between humans and
animals that lies beyond present-day scientific understanding. His book is filled with the stories and analysis of the
research.
In 1954, J. Allen Boone in Kinship with All Life wrote of his experience with Strongheart, the famous dog who was a
motion picture star, and how this dog and other animals taught him communication with animals.
In 1982 pioneer animal communicator, Penelope Smith, first published her book Animal Talk: Interspecies Telepathic
Communication which brought telepathic communication to the attention of a wider audience. Her animal communication
classes were at the forefront of the animal communication movement.
There are now many animal communicators all over the world and many have published books on their experiences.
A Google search will discover many websites of animal communicators.
Why communicate with animals?
Telepathic communication with an animal can be very helpful because:
• The keeper and the animal can forge a deeper understanding and appreciation of each other
• It can reveal an animal’s feelings, wants and needs
• When an animal is old or in poor health, its wishes can be conveyed to the keeper
• It can forewarn an animal of moves or changes before they happen and allay their fears
• It helps negotiating with feuding animals
• It enhances an animal’s training
• Behaviour problems can be discussed.
What animals do makes perfect sense to them, from their viewpoint. By communicating with the animal we can learn
its own personal and unique viewpoint, we can understand what they need and why they behave the way they do.
And we can enlist their participation in resolving any issues, problem behaviour, or health problems. Who better to
ask than the animal itself, when it is having a problem?
Animal communication helps you to understand what the animal is thinking and feeling.
Conversations
In my conversations with animals I have found them to be very forthcoming with information and so excited that they
now have a voice to tell their keeper all sorts of information. I ask the keeper to have a list of questions that they wish
to ask the animal. I also ask the animal if it has anything it wishes to tell the keeper.
Here are some examples from my conversations with animals:
It is good for them to know that we think and that we appreciate them (a Labrador dog).
You are welcome to talk to me, it is my opportunity to tell these people how much I appreciate their taking care of me.
Thank them for taking me in, I am really grateful (a Terrier dog).
It gives me a chance to discuss what is troubling me. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to explain myself (a
20