Luke

Learning animal communication required two things: animals to practice on and pet parents willing to provide honest, detailed feedback. It was important that I didn’t know the person beforehand.  Having a clean slate actually makes it easier for me to connect with them.

My friend Karen asked her neighbor’s mother in Florida if she was open to it.

She agreed and sent a picture of her small brown chihuahua Luke.

The way I receive information varies from animal to animal, but most of the time it’s like watching short clips from a movie.  Luke showed me a disheveled, dimly lit living room with the furniture pushed to the side. He said he was still “very upset about what happened in the room”.  I saw a constant stream of people coming and going. I found myself holding my breath as he showed me a dark, unsettling scene. There was a particular emphasis on a tarp or blanket covering things up.  My first guess was that the room was being painted or remodeled.  That would explain the mess, the flurry of strangers, and the tarp, right?  But what could have happened that caused this little guy to be so shaken up?

He reiterated that he was still “very upset about what happened in the room”.

I felt like I was wrapped in a heavy weighted blanket, sinking down with sadness. Luke told me he “misses him” and “he cannot be replaced”. I wondered if there had been another dog who recently passed.  

Despite my attempts to get additional information, Luke kept returning to the unsettling scene in the room. I had an overwhelming feeling that something really bad happened there. 

I typed up the summary but I was hesitant  to send it.  I wondered how Luke’s mom would receive the information.  Would she think I was crazy?  What if she said I was 100% incorrect?  I was scared, but I hit send anyway.

Receiving feedback from Luke’s mom was one of the moments I knew that something bigger was at work. She shared that Luke was very close to her husband, who had passed away a few weeks earlier.  Hospice set up a hospital bed in the living room.  This required the room to be rearranged and the furniture was pushed to the side.  Healthcare workers were in and out of their home.  After her husband passed, there was a moment in particular that stood out. She said Luke became extremely upset when her husband’s body was covered up with the tarp/blanket.

Are. You. Kidding. Me??? 

It’s moments like these that show me just how deep and powerful the bond is between pets and their people. Every session teaches me something new and reminds me why I’m so passionate about this work.

*Luke’s name has been changed for privacy