Are your feet flat on the floor? Then we're ready to start.
At the BlogPaws conference, I struck up a conversation with another attendee, as she happened to be carrying an adorable guinea pig. As it turned out, the guinea pig was Agape, and the woman was Alicia M. Halloran, animal communicator. From her bio:
"I have been able to help many animals and their people co-exist in peace and harmony, with clear and open communication. I have worked with all sorts of animals from sugar gliders to alligators and I learn so much from my own menagerie where 
guinea pigs and cats roam together freely, happily and peacefully."
When I heard the phrase "animal communicator" I was pretty unsure about the whole idea, with visions of healing crystals or tarot cards coming to mind. But when Alicia contacted me to do a reading to be reviewed on this blog, I remembered how she had clearly had a good connection with Agape. I thought it couldn't hurt to talk to her, and see what my Lyger and Tahlula had to say.
Alicia and I had a 45 minute phone session, with her happy cockatiel chirping away in the background as a nice touch. All I needed to do was sit with my feet on the floor (no, you don't have to put your pet on the phone--my pets were at home) and ask your pet everything you ever wanted to know. My first question for Alicia related to Lyger, and how he felt about his role in our home. What I wanted to know, but did not ask directly, is that now that he's 10, and starting to slow down, I was curious as to whether
he felt comfortable letting younger Tahlula be the dominant dog. Alicia picked right up on the vibe, and let me know that Lyger has always been my guardian, but at this point he no longer feels it is his role to protect me. Oddly enough, Alicia was dead on. Lyger has always been deeply attached to me (not always for the better) and it's only in the last few months that I've started to see him relax and feel more at ease when I'm not around. It was good for me to hear that he was ready to kick back, and enjoy the ride.
As for Tahlula, Alicia picked up on her silliness, and saw her as a "chihuahua in a party dress". She let me know that while Tahlula came from a very aggressive situation (this is likely, as indicated by scars on her nose) she no longer harbors fear or resentment. Instead, she shows Alicia a picture of a youthful dog, prone to quick "spazzy" energy. I believe this to be true, that even at 8 years old, Tahlula is the youngest and strongest she's ever been, having recovered from her orthopedic issues and the long term neglect of her prior life.
On a health note, Alicia relayed the message that both of my dogs feel some mis-alignment in their spine, and she suggested Chiropractic adjustments for both of them. This is something I've considered, so perhaps this is my sign to take that step.
Alicia encourages pet parents to come into the session ready for active participation, prepared to ask questions and she'll guide us through the discussion between us and our pets. While she says that while many people don't really want to know what their pet has to say, her goal is to focus on the positive and look at the personal aspects of each person-to-pet relationship.
Whether or not you're into the art of Animal Communication, I think that Alicia provides a great service for pet owners. I feel pretty in tune with my dogs, and aware of their moods, but I think we can all see where we sometimes find ourselves in dilemmas about what to do with our pets. Is it time to help them pass on? Are they ready for a second pet? 
Are they getting enough bonding time with us? In some cases, Alicia helped me by confirming things that I already suspected. In other cases, she gave me some new insight or advice, as a different perspective on things.
It's a service that can't come about from your vet or a trainer. Alicia has a uncanny insight into the relationships that people have with their pets, and her service will certainly help many pet parents reconnect with their pet in a very positive and joyful way.
For more information on Alicia or to schedule your session ($125 per hour) visit Healing Habitat.
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rodent raceway ($14.99) and both are available at Amazon. Super cool for the super small cruisers!
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