Animal Translations Blog

A special offer for horses in spirit

2012-01-02T15:54:00.002-05:00

I realized I wouldn't be able to see War Horse when I could barely watch the trailer without choking up.

While I know that no horses were harmed during the actual shooting of the film, I also know that millions of horses who heroically risked their lives in wartime service to their countries, lost them. Steven Spielberg has got me thinking about them, not just the horse of the story, who somehow made it back home alive.

It's with that in mind that I'm offering a special rate ($60) for consultations with horses in spirit this month, through the end of January.

As I start my sixth year as a professional animal communicator, I am increasingly awed by the richness of the stories shared by animals with whom I've connected, and especially by those who have left their bodies for life in a new dimension that we don't fully understand. In virtually every case, the now-departed animals have provided verifiable information derived from their daily experiences with their human companions, and have brought a drop of comfort to the people who desperately miss them on this side of the veil.

If you're interested in a session for your horse in spirit, you can request a session at the Animal Translations website. If you want to pay by PayPal, just use the $60 followup rate.

2011-12-04T10:55:00.000-05:00

Through the end of this year, I'm offering a 20% discount on telepathic consultations with all animals whose breed begins with the letter "G."

The reduced rates this month apply to German Shepherds, German Shorthaired Pointers, Giant Schnauzers, Golden Retrievers, Gordon Setters, Great Danes, Great Pyrenees, Greyhounds, Gypsy Vanners, and to all other breeds of dogs, cats, horses, or other animals whose breed begins with the seventh letter of the alphabet.

Both new and current clients of Animal Translations are invited to take advantage of this program.

I'll continue the "ABCs of Animal Communication" promotion next year, when it will resume with the letter "H."

The standard fee for an animal communication consultation is $75. Clients whose animals qualify for the reduced rate this month can purchase a session for $60 by visiting the Animal Translations website.

Emilie's Spirit Messages

2011-11-18T21:16:00.001-05:00

A large measure of the anguish we inevitably feel when cherished animal companions die is the knowing that we will never see them again. We can no longer caress them, walk with them, talk to them. The sense of having a door irrevocably shut stings; there seems to be no way to open it again or to recover a semblance of the relationship that brought so much pleasure for so many years. Only the pain is left in its wake.

But it does not have to be that way, as I've discovered through many "conversations" with animals in spirit, even years after they've abandoned their physical bodies. And the vibrancy with which our animals live on was brought home again in a dramatic way, during a recent session with a beautiful springer spaniel, Emilie, the soulmate of a woman named Mollie.

All I knew about Emilie was that she had died. I didn't know how or when. Mollie wanted the consultation simply to see if Emilie was okay, and whether there were details of their life together that she would be able to share.

As soon as I tuned into her, Emilie came into focus as sharply as any living dog. She gave the impression that there had been some congestion in her chest, and also mentioned problems with one of her eyes. Mollie confirmed that the condition that had led to Emilie's death was a large tumor on her chest; she had also suffered from eye infections throughout her life.

Later in our session, Emilie revealed that her role in Mollie's life was as a surrogate child: she hinted that Mollie had either miscarried, or that she couldn't have children. That information seemed so personal that I wasn't sure how to relay it to Mollie, so I simply wrote, "She considered herself to be your baby, and there was a feeling that she was almost a surrogate child."

When she read that, Mollie gasped. In fact, Mollie had indeed suffered a series of miscarriages, and had never had children. She very much viewed her relationship with Emilie in precisely the way that Emilie had suggested, and I got chills when Mollie finally told me that Emilie had died nine years ago. "I'm just flabbergasted," she admitted. "Your session with Emilie brought back a lot of emotions."

What it taught me, yet again, is that the profound connection we forge with our animals is never broken, only changed. They are still there for us, and though we do not fully understand how this can happen, it does not alter the fact that the ties between us remain real.

How Horses Mourn

2011-11-15T21:32:00.002-05:00

Photo: Fran Hendershaw

Bay Bey's stall is still untouched, with clean bedding and wisps of hay scattered here and there. Nothing about it belies the dreadful fact that when he tiptoed out the door yesterday afternoon, it was for the last time. Like so many fallen horses--both famous and nondescript--Bey lost his life to the ravages of laminitis: his elderly but still proud presence had withered in its wake.

The only kind thing was to let him go, and that is what Gwen regretfully did, loving her friend of 29 years more than fearing the grief that would engulf her as his spirit left him.

Hayley watched behind locked doors as Bey was led away, but she protested and paced and called to him, without understanding the awful truth of what was to come. She would never again be able to run her lips lovingly over his withers, or play-race him uphill for supper at the end of a late summer's day. For more than five years now, they've been constant, faithful companions, rarely leaving each other's side and luxuriating in their peaceful friendship as one by one, the seasons passed.

By the time Hayley was released from her prison, Bey had been laid to rest in a deep grave in the corner of a grassy paddock, gently placed next to Gwen's old Arab mare, Gracie, who had died only a few months after Hayley's arrival at the tranquil Harvard farmstead. All Hayley knew now was that Bey was missing, and she galloped wildly through every inch of the three fenced pastures, tossing her head and shrieking with fear and disbelief that she could not find him.

An observer saw Hayley persist in her desperate search for quite a while before she abruptly stopped at the spot where several feet of fresh dark dirt covered Bey's body. Hayley smelled the air and she sniffed the ground, and she even stood right on top of the neatly smoothed-over patch, as if Bey were but hiding behind an earthen door and could reappear at her beckoning.

I arrived as darkness encompassed the barn and sensed that Hayley seemed distracted, but not yet fully resigned to the finality of having been left behind, and alone. She still seemed to have hope.

By today, something had shifted. Hayley's thick winter coat was drenched with sweat even as dusk's coolness came, and though she seemed more composed, I knew that she must have spent the day running her heart out. There was something about her tonight that brought all of the sadness of losing Bey back again, with full force. Her whole self seemed deflated of the joy of anticipation, and for many long minutes she did nothing but yawn and yawn and yawn, as if a terrible tiredness had settled in.

I wanted so much to protect Hayley, but not by pretending that her search would be fulfilled. With that thought in mind, I slowly opened the door to Bey's stall, and watched as Hayley strolled in, repeating a pattern I'd witnessed hundreds or thousands of times. We had so often found them huddled together in a place meant for one, preferring crowded camaraderie to the relative spaciousness of an unshared stall.

This time, Hayley strode in carefully, and silently snorted through every inch of the now vacant stall, poking under leftover hay strands with perked ears. But suddenly and in slow motion, she seemed to understand what I was trying to show her, and she ambled out of Bey's space with her head hanging down just as low as it would go.

Alone now in her own stall, Hayley signed deeply, then nickered for dinner. She seems to know that her life will go on, but it will never be the same, for any of us.

Discounts for Fjords, Friesians, Field Spaniels and French Bulldogs

2011-11-02T14:43:00.000-04:00

Through the end of November, I'm offering a 20% discount on telepathic consultations with all animals whose breed begins with the letter "F."

The reduced rates this month apply to Fjords, Friesians, Field Spaniels, Flat Coated Retrievers, French Bulldogs, and to all other breeds of dogs, cats, horses, or other animals whose breed begins with the sixth letter of the alphabet. Both new and current clients of Animal Translations are invited to take advantage of this program.

I'll continue the "ABCs of Animal Communication" promotion in December, when it will be offered to breeds that begin with the letter "G."

The standard fee for an animal communication consultation is $75. Clients whose animals qualify for the reduced rate this month can purchase a session for $60 by visiting the Animal Translations website.

Welcome home, Tennessee

2011-10-22T21:13:00.000-04:00

When I saw Tennessee's picture on PetFinder, it called to me. There was something about the soulful expression of this sweet-looking dog that made me want to meet him, even though I couldn't imagine that he hadn't already found the perfect home.

As it turned out, he hadn't, and his kind foster Mom, Marie, graciously invited me to drive down to her home in Connecticut to see if we might be a match. When I arrived there this morning, Tennessee greeted me a bit tentatively before I could even get out of my car, letting out a few half-hearted woofs, as if he considered it his duty to announce my arrival. But he soon approached me with polite curiosity, and seemed to welcome the gentle touch of my hands and fingers as they caressed his soft body. Marie said this was the first time Tennessee had shown such interest in a prospective adopter, and I cautiously held my breath, hoping that the spell wouldn't be broken.

It wasn't. With each passing moment in the company of this doe-eyed dog, I could feel my heart melting more. I can't say it was love at first sight, because I could see how much Tennessee loved Marie, and I knew that if it were up to him, he'd happily have stayed with her forever. But at the same time, I sensed that this cinnamon-coated boy might let me into his special world, too. He willingly jumped into the back seat of my car, though he started to fret a bit when he realized that we were literally leaving his comfort zone. Once on the highway, he settled right in, and even relaxed enough to take a nap.

It was what happened when we got here that seemed so remarkable. Within seconds after we walked in the door, my feisty cat, Django, marched right up to "Tenny" to welcome him, immediately sensing that the big dog meant him no harm. His older brother, the orange tiger, Neil, soon followed, never even blinking as he ventured close enough to sniff. So far, so good.

If I had any concerns about how my dear Springer Spaniel, Tish, would react to the newcomer, they vanished when she simply looked at Tenny as if he had always lived here. And honestly, that's how it feels.

Welcome home, Tennessee. Welcome home.

Discounts for English Setters, English Springer Spaniels, and Exmoor Ponies

2011-10-18T17:27:00.003-04:00

Through the end of October, I'm offering a 20% discount on telepathic consultations with all animals whose breed begins with the letter "E.

The reduced rates this month apply to English Cocker Spaniels, English Foxhounds, English Setters, English Springer Spaniels, Egyptian Mau cats, Exmoor Ponies, and to all other breeds of dogs, cats, horses, or other animals whose breed begins with the fifth letter of the alphabet. Both new and current clients of Animal Translations are invited to take advantage of this program.

I'll continue the "ABCs of Animal Communication" promotion in November, when it will be offered to breeds that begin with the letter "F."

The standard fee for an animal communication consultation is $75. Clients whose animals qualify for the reduced rate this month can purchase a session for $60 by visiting the Animal Translations website.

A breakthrough for Willow the cat

2011-09-29T16:50:00.000-04:00

It had been a rough few months for Tina. Her parents had died within several weeks of each other, and Tina was not only sad, she was exhausted.

Tina's dear cat, Willow, felt the stress, too. Plagued by a variety of health issues, she needed medications to preserve her quality of life. She hated them. Whenever she saw Tina approaching with the meds in hand, Willow fled.

Though Tina could eventually catch Willow and administer the soothing salves, what she could not do was to stop Willow from peeing on the bed, the pillow, and the rug--everywhere except in the litter box. I had worked with Willow on a similar problem about a year ago, and from then until now, she had been perfect in her bathroom habits. But with the recent emotional upheavals, Willow's litter box manners had taken a downturn, and that was more than Tina could take.

That's when she contacted me.

When I checked in with Willow, she felt depressed and worried. She fully understood that Tina was becoming increasingly upset with her, and that only seemed to be making things worse. But something Willow said really hit me: she said that she felt broken, and disposable. She felt like she was just facing away, and that she didn't matter anymore. I sensed that Willow wouldn't return to the litter box until her hurt feelings had been healed.

It was hard to tell Tina what Willow had communicated. I knew that Tina loved her with all her heart, and would do anything she could to help her precious feline friend feel better. At the same time, Tina admitted that there were times when she'd had fleeting thoughts of re-homing Willow if she continued to urinate on the bed. Tina knew she'd never follow through on those silent threats, but still, they hung in the air, palpably enough for Willow to read them, internalize them, and conclude that she was, indeed, "disposable."

I suggested that Tina talk with Willow in a way that she'd never done before, letting the sweet orange cat know that she cherished her and that she would lovingly care for her forever. It worked.

Within 24 hours, Tina messaged me to say that willow had made it through the night without a wet spot in sight. Three days later, she sent me this quick note: "Day 4 and no pee. And Willow is as cuddly as ever. It's amazing! Keep your fingers crossed, and thank you so much!"

Calling all Dachshunds, Dalmations, Dobermans and Dutch Warmbloods

2011-09-20T14:19:00.002-04:00

Through the end of September, I'm offering a 20% discount on telepathic consultations with all animals whose breed begins with the letter "D."

The reduced rates this month apply to Dachshunds, Dalmations, Dobermans, Devon Rexes, Dutch Warmbloods, and to all other breeds of dogs, cats, horses, or other animals whose breed begins with the fourth letter of the alphabet. Both new and current clients of Animal Translations are invited to take advantage of this program.

I'll continue the "ABCs of Animal Communication" promotion in October, when it will be offered to breeds that begin with the letter "E."

The standard fee for an animal communication consultation is $75. Clients whose animals qualify for the reduced rate this month can purchase a session for $60 by visiting the Animal Translations website.

Change Your Mind, Change Your Horse

2011-08-03T11:25:00.000-04:00

Linda Tellington-Jones, founder of Tellington TTouch for Animals, and Sage Lewis, a TTouch practitioner and animal behavioral consultant, are offering a free live teleclass called, "Change Your Mind, Change Your Horse" on August 17th from 8:00 - 9:30pm EDT.

As animal communicators know, you can influence an animal's behavior by "showing" him a mental picture of the behavior or action that you would like him to take, rather than unintentionally reinforcing an undesired habit by anticipating it. Linda will talk about how to use TTouch techniques to help your horse break out of unwanted patterns, and will also discuss the concept of changing a horse's behavior by changing his posture.

This is a wonderful opportunity to learn from one of the great teachers of our time, a woman who comes from her heart with great compassion, and who has enhanced the lives and ease of movement of thousands of animals throughout the world.

Click here to register for the free teleclass (You may have to provide your credit card information, but be assured that you will not be charged).

The loss of Liam

2011-07-15T13:08:00.000-04:00

I lost dear, sweet Liam today. And while I know that he is finally running free of the many ills that plagued his bony body, I cannot describe the pain my heart feels at having to let him go.

I should have been better prepared. From the time he first came to me--an abandoned waif left to die by the side of the road--I always knew that Liam's fragile body was in danger of failing, but his tough-as-nails, never-give-up spirit kept fooling me into believing that he would somehow be able to recover form the knockout punches that life had dealt him, and that he would always be by my side. Liam had that power.

These are the delusions of anyone who has ever loved a dog, I think, and I unapologetically plead guilty to nurturing them.

It was on a beautiful October Saturday, exactly one year, eight months, and 21 days ago, that my heart sang as I scooped Liam up and put him gently into my car to begin our journey together, one that seemed fraught with optimism and joy, even though I knew it would ultimately end like this. But as I wrapped him in a quilt this morning, and laid Liam down to take what I realized would be our last ride together, my heart protested amid the sobs: too soon, too soon.

Rest in peace, my beautiful boy. You were a gift from heaven, and I was so honored to be there to hold you and to love you as you took your last breath. You'll live forever in my heart.

Calling all Basset Hounds, Beagles, Bloodhounds, Bengals, and Belgians

2011-07-09T22:02:00.000-04:00

I'm continuing my alphabet-inspired discount program during the month of July, offering a 20% discount on animal communication consultations to all animals whose breed or species begins with the letter "B."

The reduced rates this month will apply to Basset Hounds, Beagles, Bloodhounds, Border Collies, Boxers, Briards, Bengals, Belgian Draft Horses, and to all other breeds of dogs, cats, horses, or other animals whose breed begins with the second letter of the alphabet. Both new and current clients of Animal Translations are invited to take advantage of this program.

I'll continue this whimsical "ABCs of Animal Communication" promotion in August, when it will be offered to breeds that begin with the letter "C."

The standard fee for an animal communication consultation is $75. Clients whose animals qualify for the reduced rate this month can purchase a session for $60.00 by visiting the Animal Translations website.

Calling all Abyssinians, Airedales, and Arabians!

2011-06-17T19:59:00.000-04:00

I've just launched a new client appreciation program whereby animals whose breed or species begins with the letter "A" will receive a 20% discount on telepathic consultations with me during the month of June.

The discounts this month will apply to Appaloosas, Arabians, Andalusians, Abyssinians, American Shorthairs, Afghan Hounds, Airedales, Akitas, Alaskan Malemutes, American Foxhounds, Australian Shepherds, and to all other breeds of dogs, cats, horses, or other animals whose breed begins with the first letter of the alphabet. Both new and current clients of Animal Translations are invited to take advantage of this program.

Animal Translations' ABCs of animal communication will continue in July, when it will be offered to breeds that begin with the letter "B."

The standard fee for an animal communication consultation is $75. Animals who qualify for the reduced rate can purchase a session for $60.00 this month by visiting the "Consultations" page of my website.

Remembering a very special lady, Marlene Prince

2011-02-03T13:14:00.000-05:00

I never met Marlene Prince, but she was very special to me.

She was one of my earliest animal communication clients, having contacted me back in 2007 to request a session for her stately black poodle, Jack. Neither of us dreamed that it would change all of our lives.

There was nothing special going on with Jack at the time Marlene first called me. She just wanted to know whether he was happy, healthy, and enjoying his life. Though she was a cancer sufferer herself, her only thoughts were for Jack's well-being. She never talked much about herself.

In the course of my session with Jack, I detected a tingling sensation in one of his toepads, and mentioned this to Marlene, though I wasn't sure what it meant. Oddly enough, on the very day that I told her about her beloved dog's foot, she noticed that he was limping on it. That was enough to prompt her to seek her veterinarian's opinion as to what might be going on.

But after examining Jack, her veterinarian said he could find nothing amiss. Marlene didn't believe it. She sought a second opinion, and again, the veterinarian told her that Jack was fine. At that point, another person might have doubted herself, but not Marlene. She made yet another appointment with a third veterinarian, and sure enough, this one told her that Jack had cancer in the very toepad in which I had felt the tingling. That diagnosis--and Marlene's refusal to take "no" for an answer when it came to the health of her dog--saved Jack's life.

And it changed mine. When she contacted me after Jack's uneventful recovery from the surgery to remove the cancerous toepad, Marlene was effusive in her gratitude. I was humbled by this gentle lady's strength and compassion, and by the opportunity to share in her good news. And so, like everyone who loved and cherished Marlene Prince, I mourn her passing. She truly enriched my life.

Free flower essences for Valentine's Day!

2011-01-27T22:30:00.000-05:00

I am offering a special Valentine's gift to all current and prospective clients who schedule a session for one of their animals during the month of February. For each standard consultation, I'll include a free flower essence of your choice, from the Green Hope Farm "Animal Wellness Collection."

I often recommend flower essences for problems such as separation anxiety, jealousy, neediness, litter box issues, introductions of new pets into the family, transitions to new homes, recovery from physical and emotional injuries, and to support older animals during the aging process.

I have found that specially formulated flower essences can often be extremely useful as an adjunct to my sessions with animals who may need some extra help in coping with difficult situations, shifting out of problem behaviors, or adjusting to new circumstances. I often recommend them as a form of "aftercare.". In particular, the 22 unique blends from Green Hope Farm's Animal Wellness Collection are gentle, alcohol-free, and in my experience, quite effective.

The usual price for a consultation with a flower essence is $90, but for February only, in honor of Valentine's Day, my clients (both old and new!) will receive the flower essence as a gift with each standard $75 consultation.

If you'd like to take advantage of this offer, you can schedule a session for your animal through the Animal Translations website.

Three Thoroughbreds Snatched from the Jaws of Slaughter at Maine's Hemphill Farm

2010-03-20T10:20:00.002-04:00

Brenda Hemphill isn't saying how two thoroughbred fillies from Florida ended up at her notorious farm in Maine. But what we do know is that horses who are unlucky enough to land there often end up on a one-way truck to a Canadian slaughterhouse. And if it were not for emergency intervention by Pure Thoughts Rescue's Florida Thoroughbred Rehab & Placement, these young horses would have met the same fate.

On March 16th, Pure Thoughts founders Brad Gaver and Jennifer Swanson were tipped off that the former Florida horses were in harm's way at the Hemphill farm. They became alarmed after having read a recent Boston Globe article in which Brenda Hemphill admitted that she makes her money by marketing horses for meat.

But when they called her, Hemphill tried to pass off the fillies as "camp horses" who had been living in Maine for some time. It was the first of many lies the Rescue would be told. "Knowing that one of the thoroughbreds had just turned three, had raced last summer, and that the horses arrived in the last 10 days, the story did not add up," said Gaver.

Read the rest of the story on Examiner.com

New Hampshire's EPONA Equine Rescue Closes But Its Special Needs Horses Still Need Homes

2010-03-18T21:07:00.003-04:00

For 10 years, Equine Protection of North America (EPONA) has saved homeless, abused, and neglected horses, and placed them in loving homes. But on Tuesday, March 16th, the Epping, New Hampshire-based nonprofit rescue announced that it was permanently closing its doors, leaving the fates of three remaining "special needs" horses still up in the air. They must find new placements by month's end.

EPONA President Catherine Blake explained that, "in this economy, we are just not able to make ends meet. It's heartbreaking."

On behalf of EPONA, Ms. Blake is reaching out to anyone who may be able to provide temporary or permanent care for:

Iceman, a 17-year-old thoroughbred gelding (pictured above), who is a grandson of the great Northern Dancer. In his earlier days, Iceman was quite an athlete himself, having had a successful career as a high-ranking jumper and three-day eventer. But by the time he got to EPONA, he had been the victim of long-term neglect. He was diagnosed with Uveitis, or "Moon Blindness," and had lost the vision in one of his eyes. The damage caused by the inflammation in the grand gelding's eyes made it necessary to remove them. Though completely blind, Iceman has led a happy life romping in the paddock with his seeing-eye companions, including Prize (below).

Read the rest of this story at Examiner.com

"Herd Wisdom" is the Intangible Casualty as More Calico Wild Horse Elders Are Eliminated

2010-03-18T12:36:00.002-04:00

With the euthanasia of two more elders from the wild horse bands that formerly inhabited Nevada's Calico Mountain Complex, it is becoming increasingly difficult not to conclude that the BLM has a calculated plan to break down the hierarchy of familial groups by eliminating their most senior members.

Within the last 48 hours, a 20-year-old "poor conditioned" mare was euthanized because of purported hyperlipemia and metabolic failure, the diagnosis du jour for most of the horses who have been put down. We don't know if she was in foal, or whether she had a foal by her side. We never do.

And just today, a 25-year-old stallion was euthanized due to "poor condition" as a result of "tooth loss."

Read the rest of the story on Examiner.com

Photo courtesy of Pam Nickoles Photography

The BLM Blames Its Wild Horse Victims for Dying

2010-02-27T09:51:00.001-05:00

With today's deaths of two more older mares, the total number of horses who have perished in the aftermath of the Calico roundup is at least 62, more than 3% of the 1922 "excess" mustangs the BLM claims it drove from the Nevada Herd Management Area.

As has been the case during the three weeks since the end of the "gather," the deaths of most of these horses have been categorized as due to "hyperlipemia or metabolic failure," and that was the situation again today, when two 20-year-old mares perished because they were never able to recover from the stress of the chase and subsequent captivity.

A very disturbing mortality pattern has emerged, one which points to a much greater loss of life than has heretofore been reported. Since February 1st, 20 of the 28 horses who have lost their lives in the Indian Lakes Road feedlot pens near Fallon, Nevada have been mares of reproductive age. Until now, the BLM Gather Activity Updates have been suspiciously silent about the pregnancy status of any of these mares, but it seems reasonable to assume that most--if not all--of them were heavy in foal. So two lives were lost every time a mare died.

In fact, this suspicion was confirmed. . .

Read the rest of this story on Examiner.com

The Rescue of a Mare Named Gracie

2010-02-16T21:24:00.001-05:00

Gracie is one of the lucky ones. Abandoned, emaciated, and crippled due to longstanding neglect, the 20-something chestnut mare's prospects were dim. She was in the temporary care of an Animal Control officer in Union County, North Carolina, with little hope of ever being adopted.

That's when Darlene Kindle, President of Carolina Equine Rescue & Assistance (CERA) stepped in. Asked if she could take this hapless mare, Darlene thought to herself, "I just cannot take in another horse. We already have 13 horses, donations are down due to the economy, the spring grass has not come in, and we are already struggling to properly care for the horses we have."

Still, Darlene decided she needed to meet this mare. "When I saw her, my heart crumbled," she remembers. "She was severely emaciated, her hooves had not been trimmed in four or five years, and she could barely stand." Darlene's initial instinct was to walk away, but she just couldn't. "I was touched by the sparkle in her eyes, the expression on her face, and my gut feeling that this mare had the will to live and that she deserved a chance." Her name was Gracie.

Read the rest of the story on Examiner.com

The Triumph of a Horse's Spirit and the People Who Believed in Him

2010-02-13T10:36:00.001-05:00

You don't have to feel sorry for Picaro anymore. He's been to the brink of death, but now it looks like he's back for good.

The gutsy 14-year-old Paso Fino stallion, who was shot in the face and head by his suicide-driven owner in Spencer, MA in the pre-dawn hours of January 14th, is not only recovering from his life-threatening wounds, he's starting to thrive.

Bleeding and in shock, Picaro had been rushed to Tufts' Cummings Hospital for Large Animals in North Grafton within hours after sustaining his terrible injuries. He was stabilized by the veterinary staff there, and put in the care of Drs. Carl Kirker-Head and Jose Garcia-Lopez, who operated on him the next day. The prognosis was grim: Picaro's right eye had to be removed, as did multiple bone fragments in his jaw and face.

Within a few days, three-dimensional CT scans of Picaro's head revealed that more reconstruction work was needed, so Dr. Kirker-Head and his team went in again, this time stabilizing the horse's badly damaged right jawbone and shattered hyoid apparatus. That's when the hard work began.

Read the rest of the story on Examiner.com

Colt's death is the 46th among Calico roundup horses

2010-02-12T08:00:00.002-05:00

With today's announcement that a 9-month old colt was "found dead due to colic," the terrible toll of horses lost from the ravages of the Calico Complex roundup now stands at 46 (the BLM says 41), more than 2% of the 1922 horses who were so cruelly scavenged from their native ranges.

One can only imagine the agonizing death this young horse suffered. If the horse was "found dead," what were the signs that he had colicked? Why did no one intervene to help this colt, or even notice that he was in distress? Many of the now 1800+ horses being held captive by the BLM at the Indian Lakes Road facility near Fallon, Nevada are struggling to adjust to their new, enforced diet of grass hay, and we can only brace ourselves as we wait for more to fall.

Read the rest of this story on Examiner.com

Another stallion found dead in BLM wild horse holding facility in Fallon, Nevada

2010-02-11T08:53:00.001-05:00

With the death of a 15-year-old stallion on February 10th, the unofficial death toll from the Calico Mountain Complex gather now stands at 45 (the BLM says 40), and the pattern of one or more daily mortalities does not appear to be slowing. Such was the nature of the grueling roundup that it is still causing extreme physical suffering and metabolic shutdown, even weeks after some of these horses were captured.

Based on BLM reports, there is reason to fear that more horses will die in the days to come. The agency reported today that it "is watching three or four of the Granite horses with poor body conditions."

For the last several days, there have been no public reports from the Indian Lakes Road facility near Fallon, Nevada, where the Calico horses are currently corralled, and it looks like there may be no witnesses to the actual processing of the horses, a time of panic and potentially great peril. According to Elyse Gardner, it is "deeply troubling" that the last public tour of the Fallon facility is now scheduled to be on Saturday, February 13th. She is "especially concerned about the horses left overnight without water after their grueling roundup on January 31st. How are they faring?" No one knows for sure, and the BLM isn't talking.

Read the rest of this article on Examiner.com

The Way of a Cat

2010-02-02T12:11:00.000-05:00

Cats have an energy that is different from dogs, that's for sure. And that's true when it comes to telepathic communication, too.

When you call to a dog, he'll usually acknowledge you right away; there's not much of a lapse between the time you send the message and the time you receive a response.

But as I realized yesterday when I addressed my cat, Neil, his style is quite different. Neil was cozily ensconced near a sunny window, alternately waking and sleeping on a quiet winter afternoon. I said "hello" to him as I walked by, and was surprised when he acted like he hadn't even heard me. But I knew he had. I stopped to watch what he would do, and then, after perhaps 45 seconds had passed, he slowly turned his head, looked up at me, smiled, and returned the greeting.

That's interesting, because if I had been communicating telepathically with Neil from a remote location (or even the next room), I might have jumped to the conclusion that he hadn't heard me, or worse, that I wasn't hearing him. What I saw today in Neil made me realize that cats can be quite considered and deliberate in the way they respond to a request or an inquiry, whether it's spoken aloud or in silence.

I'll remember that the next time I'm talking telepathically to a cat who's far away, and try to create the time and space for him to respond--in his own time.

Speaking Out for Horses

2010-02-01T12:59:00.000-05:00

I am pleased to announce that I have been named to be the national Equine Advocacy columnist for Examiner.com. I'm truly honored to have this vehicle for my passionate interest in protecting horses. I don't write for the money; I do it because I want to bring awareness to situations in which horses are suffering, or not being treated with dignity. And I do it to shine an appreciative light on those who are quietly working to save them.

I've been writing as the Boston Animal Advocacy columnist since June, 2009, but I wanted to be able to address equine welfare issues that are affecting horses on a national level.

During my first week as the Equine Advocacy Examiner, I've written about the tragedy of the BLM wild horse roundups in Nevada, the plight of carriage horses in New York City, the Penn National jockey protest against owner Michael Gill, the desperation of horse owners affected by the recession, and the upcoming changes in Canadian regulations that may reduce the number of horses that are sent to be slaughtered there.

I am reaching out to everyone who cares about horses, and want to hear from you if you think there's something I should be writing about.