Psychic Pet Connection

Each year I schedule at least one appointment with my psychic Frank Andrews. I was first introduced to Frank by a friend who is a New York Post reporter and a friend who is a dog-owning client. I was told by both friends that Frank only works on a referral basis and adds a handful of new clients to his roster each year. In order to schedule an appointment with him, you must call his answering machine and leave a message with your number. If he is interested in seeing you, he will return your phone call.

Considering his clients read a Who's Who list of Art, Fashion, Finance, Society, and Music, I felt excited when he returned my call to schedule an appointment. Within a week, I was knocking on the door of his downtown Manhattan home and was greeted by a formidable man with his yappy pack of Papillon dogs. My first thoughts were no wonder he took me, he is a dog lover. During my hour-long appointment, Frank read Tarot cards and my palm and provided me with information about my career, family, love life and health. I left feeling pleasantly surprised and knew that I would return sooner than later.

Over the years, I have found that most of what Frank tells me is accurate. To benefit from the session, it is best to listen carefully to the readings and the ancillary stories he uses to make his point. During these uncertain economic times I was very nervous about my last visit, but was comforted by Frank's encouraging words.

Once I arrived home I found myself wondering what it would be like if my dogs had their own experience with a doggie psychic, otherwise known as an Animal Communicator. A few years back my friend, celebrity photographer Chris Ameruso, introduced me to an animal communicator at the Silver Spoon Dog and Baby Buffet in California. Although I did not tell her that I owned a bird, she did reveal in our mini-session that my pet bird, Hido, was feeling left out of family activities. It seems that Hido wanted to spend some quality time out of the cage cuddling on the couch while I watch TV, similar to what I do with my other pets. After returning home from Cali, I started including Hido in our TV time activities and found that he was much happier interacting with myself and my other pets.

Although I did not remember the name of that animal communicator, I decided to call Georgia-based animal communicator Tim Link for a reading. In the spring, I was a guest on Tim's radio show, and over the summer I had the pleasure of meeting him in person at the Bark World Expo in Atlanta. In the fall, he wrote to me and offered a pet reading so I could learn more about it.

A former telecommunications executive, Tim was a past-president of the Humane Society of Forsyth County. Prior to leaving his corporate job, he discovered his gift for animal communication, and with the help of his devoted wife Kim, he now works full-time in his desired profession. His role as an Animal Communicator allows him to work with pet owners and organizations like sanctuaries and zoos. He also spends a lot of time working on missing pet cases. According to Link, animal communication helps pet owners and caregivers have better relationships with their pets. His work with pet owners include communicating with animals that have emotional or physical issues and animals that have passed on. In regards to his efforts with sanctuaries and zoos, he connects with their charges to help their caregivers learn more about them, as well as to aid the animals by offering them support and reassurance. With missing pets, he labors to locate them with a technique known as map dowsing with a pendulum, an ancient technique that can be used to find them and bring them home only if they want to return home. Surprisingly, not every pet wants to come back. Not because they were treated poorly or abused, but because "they have moved on" Link says.

So how does Tim connect with animals? Most of his work is done by phone. After viewing a photo of a pet, he forms a telepathic connection. Once he is connected, he uses Rekki to assess the animal's health and balance. Link explained that animals use words, emotions, colors and feelings to communicate with him. It is his job to interpret and relay those meanings to the owner or caregiver.

After sending him pictures of my dogs, Link told me that my two English Toy Spaniels, Hudson and Rhone, preferred to communicate with him with the use of words. Link told me that Hudson was not a cuddle bug; he liked structure, as compared to his siblings and preferred that I summarize my agenda before leaving home. It appears that Hudson would feel better if he knew where I was going and when I was coming back. Tim also suggested that I give him some instructions, "Relax, take a nap, and don't forget to watch the other pooches", before leaving the house. Funnily enough, I used to do this before going out but I recently stopped because I have been so busy and just have forgotten to do so. I guess a structured dog would miss this type of information. Link also told me that Hudson was experiencing heavy breathing, pain in the abdomen, and stiffness in the legs and hip. I guess it is time to get that Hernia looked at again. And when asked about his younger brother, Teign, he rolled his eyes as if to say, "He's annoying."

Former show dog Rhone came to my home about three years ago. She was a gift from a breeder friend who preferred to find troubled dogs good homes. Rhone was raised in England and was sent to live in a beautiful Connecticut kennel. From there, she was sent to a handler in Michigan to be shown all over the country. Eventually, she was returned to Connecticut before the age of 2 ½. Rhone holds the characteristics of a prominent dog; spaded with complications, ingested gravel numerous times and needed emergency surgery, didn't like men and fought constantly over pillow placement with my friend Vanessa's favorite dog, Summer. When I travel for business, I take Rhone with me. She told Link that she was happy living with me, but didn't understand why we weren't traveling immediately. It seems that she associated the suitcase on my bed as our leaving for a trip, rather than my coming home from a day of shooting webisodes where I needed to carry a suitcase full of clothing for my various segments. I am told that although she is not a social butterfly like me, she enjoys being my canine sidekick watching all the action from the confides of an open or closed Sherpa bag. Moreover, she feels that although she loves me, she is not clingy like her brother Thames. Even though men frightened Rhone, she has adored her Uncle Sammy, a close neighborhood friend. From the first day she meet him he has had a big heart towards her. Nonetheless sweet-talking her and spoiling her rotten.

Of course, Link was not as detailed as I described above, but I found the experience to be enjoyable and our discussion was quite accurate and productive. I encourage pet owners to take part in this type of animal -human bonding session, if you can afford it.

Link charges $50 for 15 minutes, $75 for 30 minutes, and $125 for an hour. His lost pet consulting costs $125. Generally, most pet owners of lost pets need at least two sessions with him. To his credit, he is caring and generous with his time.

However, he advises pet owners and caregivers to be selective when hiring a professional. "Professional Animal Communicators adhere to a Code of Ethics as developed by Penelope Smith, considered to be the grandmother of modern day animal communicators," says Link. He also suggests that before hiring someone you must do your research and employ an Animal Communicator who appeals to you. Moreover, don't be afraid to ask questions such as, how long they have done this kind of work and how they work with your pet. By conducting your due diligence, you and your pet will have the best possible experience.

To find a suggest list of professionals, click here.

Animal Communicator Tim Link is the author of Wagging Tales: Every Animal Has A Tale

Charlotte Reed, a pet trend and lifestyle expert, is the author of "The Miss Fido Manners Complete Book of Dog Etiquette (Adams Media)."