I can’t remember a time in my life without animals. Growing up in a suburb of Atlanta, my home was always filled with birds, cats, dogs, hamsters, ferrets, fish, and frogs. Communicating with them came much later, but my love for animals started early. My first pair of goldfish were named “One Dollar” and “Two Dollar” based on their price, but I got more creative with a cat I named “David.”

When I was around 7 or 8, a gray cat named “Lady” joined our family. She was so soft and let me dress her up in doll clothes. Then there was Ruger the beagle and Copper, a puppy from down the street who needed a home. I had more hamsters than I could count, but the most memorable one, Tripod, survived an attack from his mom at birth. My feathery family included three parakeets—Fancy, Elvis, and Hank. Gabby, the cockatiel, had more sass than most and lived a long life. Chloe Magnolia and Simba were our sneaky ferrets.

Then came Nicky, our Papillon-Chihuahua mix, who showed up on our front porch. He was with us for 16 years and kept me comfortable during two years of chemotherapy in my early 20s. All of these creatures were part of my family growing up.

Ollie was a gift for my 27th birthday. After chemo and a stem cell transplant, I was living on my own for the first time and struggling with anxiety during recovery. Ollie needed a home after being passed around to a few houses before he was even nine months old. My mom’s friend at work needed to rehome him, and that’s how I ended up with Ollie. He’s been my sidekick for the past 15 years, giving me a reason to get out of my head and live the life I fought so hard for.

I didn’t think I could love a dog more than Ollie until I met Charlie, a brindle Boston-Beagle mix who came as a package deal with my then-boyfriend, Derek. Charlie definitely had some quirks and shared my nervous energy. Our life together started in a 650-square-foot apartment in Atlanta with my husband and our two dogs. I couldn't have been happier with my little family. Ollie became more attached to Derek, and Charlie was my shadow. His emotional IQ tempered his tough exterior, and his sensitive heart was always eager to comfort me on a bad day. Ollie and Charlie were inseparable, like Pumbaa and Timon from The Lion King.

When the pandemic hit, my personal life shifted too. Derek worked in a high-risk area, and with my health history, we decided it would be safer for him to stay at my dad’s empty townhouse. A couple of days later, Derek tested positive for COVID-19 in April 2020. He was the first person in our community to get it, so it was pretty scary. I held the fort down at home, but one night while sitting on the kitchen floor with Charlie, I noticed something was different about him. He was calm and somber. I had a gut feeling something was wrong.

A few days later, Charlie started having accidents around the house, which was out of character for him. One night during a walk, he just stopped and looked up at me, unable to keep going. I carried him the rest of the way home. I’ll never forget sobbing in my car with Charlie’s doctor because he wasn’t getting better. They ran various tests to figure out what was wrong. I was back and forth between home, the vet, and dropping food off for Derek, who was incredibly sick. Working from home, I felt isolated. Then a mass appeared in Charlie’s “armpit” area. The biopsy results were not great. Charlie had an aggressive cancer with no real treatment options.

We said goodbye to Charlie in a grassy area next to the vet’s office. I walked around in a numb haze for days, which turned into weeks. The gaping hole in our home and my heart was unbearable in the midst of the pandemic.

Surprisingly, it was our vet who suggested I reach out to an animal communicator. I guess she sensed my “woo-woo” side. So, I did it. I convinced my very logical and scientific husband to meet with a lady named Boo in East Atlanta. I wanted to believe what she was telling me, but it was still hard to wrap my mind around it. That experience gently nudged me toward healing.

I started learning more about animal communication through books, podcasts, and social media. Seven months after losing Charlie, I booked another session, this time with someone from Instagram. She knew nothing about me, but during the hour-long phone call, she provided details about Charlie’s decline and a few unforgettable moments we shared at the very end. She described an image of Charlie walking along a path by my side, encouraging me to keep going. At the time, I wasn’t sure what that meant, but I now know it was just the beginning of my journey into animal communication.

A year and a half after losing Charlie, we moved to Peoria, Illinois, for my husband’s job. Away from friends and family, still wearing masks, and with not much to do in this slower-paced town, I flew home for a weekend with my friend Shannon. We made mid-year vision boards. One of the headings I clipped from a magazine read, “What have you always suspected you could do but are too nervous to try?” I confessed to Shannon my plans to give animal communication a try.

A couple of weeks later, I discovered another animal communicator who also hosted a podcast. I reached out to her, and an hour later, we were on the phone. I knew I was supposed to work with her. My very logical psychologist husband supported me despite not really understanding it. Over the next few months, we met weekly over Zoom. Things were clicking! Practicing with strangers is ideal for honest feedback. My friends recommended their neighbors, extended family, anyone open to the idea. This is the only way to hone your skills and build confidence.

Fast forward, and I’ve been practicing animal communication for several years now. Recently, it’s weighed on me to give it more focus and attention. With support from my family, friends, and clients, I’m excited to launch my new website and renew my passion for this gift. I’m looking forward to connecting with pets to provide comfort, understanding, and a few laughs for my clients.

This is my true calling, and my journey with Charlie led me here.

With gratitude and excitement,

Angela

What have you always suspected you could do but are too nervous to try?

Luke

ANGELA CHAKOS