Lost and missing animals

I am currently taking a sabbatical from missing animal work. I’ve done a lot of this difficult work the past few years, and I find I need some time off. Please contact Hilary Renaissance at 206.782.7815 if you are looking for help with a lost animal case, or see her website, www.calmpet.com.

Missing animal cases are so difficult that most animal communicators refuse to handle them. Why? Partly because it is so easy to make a devastating mistake (odd as it may sound, it is virtually impossible to tell for sure whether an animal is dead). Partly because these missing-animal cases can be frustrating and confusing and emotionally exhausting. But mostly, I think, because by and large we animal communicators do this difficult work because we want to be helpful. And so often, with a missing animal, we can do our best work, receive 100% accurate information from an animal, and it turns out to be NO help to the person what so ever, as you’ll see below.

True Stories

But before you hire a communicator to help find your missing cat or dog, please read on carefully so you have a good understanding of how we might NOT be able to help you. I’ve tried to share some true stories from my own experience to help explain the unique difficulty of this type of work.

The Missing Green Bullfrog

When I first began communicating with animals professionally, I didn’t handle lost animal cases, mostly because I’d heard how hard they were and doing this work professionally was stretching me already! But as time passed, my own clients and family began calling about lost cats and missing dogs, and of course I wanted to try to help. After all, I reasoned, what was the big deal? I’d just ask the animal where they were and what had happened, and relay that information to the owner. And so it happened for the first many cases. I was able to tell the person where the animals were, if they could hear them calling or not, and sometimes even how they had gotten there. It was certainly a thrill to be able to be of service, and I was, I think, beginning to get a bit cocky.

Then a client called about a little bulldog who had disappeared. When I connected in to the dog, I could clearly feel damp, cold earth under him. Leaf litter around. But I also got the most disturbing sensation that he could not move his body, as if he were very ill or paralysed. And suddenly the awful reality of missing animal work dawned on me. The news from the animals is not always good news. I had a frantically worried woman on the phone, and suddenly I knew that all I was going to do was add to her distress. I felt terrible. I told her I didn’t think her dog could move, that he was lying on the cold earth somewhere.

The owner, of course wanted to know where he was... which direction, what had happened after she last saw him at the end of her yard? I showed the dog the end of her yard, and asked him what happened next. Clear as a bell, I saw him swimming. A bit splashy-he didn’t look like he was really comfortable in the water, but he was clearly swimming.

She thought for a moment, and said that that was simply impossible. It was the middle of winter, after all, and while there was a pond in the area, it was completely frozen over. Well, I had no idea what to do next. What could the movie of him swimming possibly mean?? Was it a metaphor for how he was feeling (that happens sometimes, in this picture language)? Was I just wrong? Was I communicating with the wrong lost dog? I drew a complete blank. Frustrated and upset myself, I knew I needed to center myself, so I suggested I hang up and try to work deeper with the dog off the phone.

So I hung up the phone, and regrouped. Then I tried to sink into the dog’s body, to see if I could look through his eyes or see if I could tell where he was by any sounds or smells that stood out. All I felt was a strange, eerie, numb, weightless feeling through my whole body. I simply couldn’t make any sense of it, and none of the information was the least bit comforting or helpful. I called the woman and explained that I just couldn’t make head nor tails of what I was receiving, and apologized profusely.

A few weeks went by, and I kept thinking of that strange session with the little dog, and wondering if she’d found him. I finally called, to see how the story had turned out, and to see if that would help me interpret the strange but vivid information I’d received from the dog.

It turns out the woman had contacted three other animal communicators after me. The first one had told her the dog was dead. The second had told her the dog was alive and well and with a couple who were taking good care of him. And the third one told her, inexplicably, that it had something to do with the color “green” (!). She was understandably confused, but also heartened, because she’d just gotten a tip from someone responding to her reward poster. The man told her that her dog had been stolen and was being held on “Green Street.” I just shook my head in wonder. Nothing I had seen or felt made any sense if this was the case.

Several more weeks went by, and I emailed her to find out the end of the story. I was still very curious. No, she said, it was not her dog on Green Street. When the ice on the pond melted, her lost dog’s body had floated up from the bottom. Sad as that news was, suddenly I understood all the information I had gotten from the dog... the cold earth, the immobile body, the swimming, the numb floaty feeling. It turns out everything I’d understood had been perfectly accurate... and yet I’d been unable to understand and of no help to the woman whatsoever. If I’d had more experience, of course, I would have trusted what the dog told me (he had been swimming in the water) vs. what the person told me (that wasn’t possible)... but even today that information would be difficult to trust and interpret accurately.

While it can often be helpful to contact a few different communicators to work on a lost dog or missing cat case, in this situation, obviously, none of us were any real help to her. The communicator who told her the dog was dead was certainly right, but apparently couldn’t tell her how the dog died or where his body was. The communicator who thought the dog was “alive and well” was either very mistaken, or communicating with the wrong dog, OR was communicating with the dog a few weeks after his death... which is, strange as it may seem, possible (and this is why it is so hard to tell telepathically if an animal is alive or dead). In my experience, animals who are in spirit are almost invariably blissful and sometimes even show other people/animals with them. So that communicator may have simply misunderstood what she was receiving from the dog, which of course is easy to do in these situations. And the communicator who saw green... well, perhaps she was seeing the dog’s eye view from the bottom of a frozen pond!

So in this situation, it is entirely possible that four competent and ethical animal communicators worked on the case, received accurate information from the same dog, and were of no help whatsoever to the person (of course one of them might have been wrong, too... that certainly does happen). This story is a wonderful illustration of why most animal communicators refuse to handle lost cat and lost dog cases!!

The Red Car Story

A woman called about her missing dog. He was small and used to running free in her yard, but one day he simply didn’t return to the house. When I connected in to the dog, it was like watching a long and detailed movie from his perspective. I watched the dog run through the forest, sniffing. He came to the edge of a road, sniffing busily, out on a lark. A small red car eventually drove up and a thin, clean-shaven young man got out, reaching his long hands out in a friendly way. Then the dog was in the car, driving. Then I saw a small house... a bit run down. A small yard with a chain link fence. A young woman (the man’s girlfriend?), with long straight hair. And finally, the dog barking at the fence, as if he wanted to get out. I could feel his frustration.

Whew! This was an incredibly coherent and detailed amount of information to get from a missing animal. He clearly wanted to be found. The woman was also amazed... it turns out that another communicator had just told her EXACTLY the same story. Every detail. Apparently, we both even used the same exact words to describe the people, the car, the house.

So there... two of us receiving accurate and detailed information from an animal. But again... did it help the woman find her dog? No. Months have gone by, and she still has no idea WHERE exactly to look for him, or how to get him home. We don’t know how long he was driven in the car, or in what direction. When the animal is not lost but stolen, there can often be little a communicator can do to help. It is frustrating, sad, and disheartening for all of us.

Running dog - artwork by Calloway M'Cloud

Is He Alive Or Dead?

Often, after I’ve told a lost animal client a few of these stories in an honest effort to illustrate just how unhelpful an animal communicator can be to them, they still want me to work with their lost dog or missing cat. “If I only knew if Zoe is alive or dead,” they say, “it would help so much.”

“And it is exactly,” I tell them, “Zoe’s aliveness or deadness, that I probably won’t be able to tell you.” I know this seems crazy. Of all the basic, simple information to understand from an animal, surely whether or not she’s ALIVE should be at the top of the list! But it is really very difficult to distinguish.

The spirits of these animals do live on after their death, and can communicate clearly if they wish. Clients sometimes call to communicate with an animal in spirit to find out how they died, or to get some confirmation that they are ok. Again and again these animals communicate information I could not have known about them otherwise. And almost always, they are blissful, happy, relaxing in some other heavenly dimension! And so it is that in lost cat or missing dog cases, it can be next to impossible to tell if the physical animal is alive or dead.

I have heard many, many stories of experienced and highly ethical communicators making a mistake and telling a client their lost dog was dead or alive, only to have the reverse prove to be the case. It is a horrible mistake to make, either way. Sometimes I simply won’t even venture to guess. Sometimes I have a strong hunch-if, say, a lost animal seems blissfully relaxed, I figure it is safe to guess they’re probably not alive. But it is always difficult to tell.

Recently I worked with a lost cat in Texas. He showed me where he was, and how a dog had chased him there. The information was very physical... I could feel his claws in a tree trunk, and hear a stream running by. This, plus the fact that there’d been no scene of violence with the dog let me to assume the cat was still alive. I suggested the woman set a humane live trap in the area she suspected he was hiding, based on this information, and try to capture the cat that way. She wondered what to use for bait... what was the cat most hungry for? Well, the cat’s answer was very strange. Every time I showed him food, no matter what kind, he turned pale and slightly transparent and turned his head away. I tried with several kinds of food, and his reaction was always the same. Now, why would a cat lost in the woods for over a week NOT be hungry?? It simply didn’t make any sense, and I began to suspect that he wasn’t alive after all. In fact, I thought this might be a good way to determine an animal’s aliveness in the future... surely most live animals would respond favourably to food, and dead ones would be more indifferent. Well, I couldn’t have been more wrong.

A few days after the session, the cat walked into his yard. The woman of course was thrilled, and ran to offer him some food. When she put his favorite food, tuna fish, down in front of him, he licked it, then turned his head away and wanted nothing more to do with it! He was perfectly alive, but not feeling well. This illustrates again the difficulty of accurately interpreting the information an animal communicator can receive from a missing animal.

Ooops! Wrong Cat!

I recently worked on a missing cat case over a period of several weeks. To me, the cat seemed consistently well, showing himself in trees and in the wild. Because he’d been an inside-only cat previously, I found his relaxed enjoyment of his wilderness surroundings a bit suspicious. If I’d had to make a bet, I would have bet that he was not alive. But, I told his person cautiously, it was also entirely possible that he was a hunter at heart, and had simply turned feral and was having a wonderful time out there. Either way, he seemed well.

She worked with a few other communicators as the weeks went by. One (who was working from a photo of her cat) told her the cat was alive, living near a farm where there were chickens. Well, he’d never showed me chickens, but that’s what this work is like. We just have to report what we do see, and be grateful for it! A day later, the woman got a call from a person who had a farm, AND chickens, AND who had seen a strange orange cat lurking around. They set up the humane live trap in the area, and the next day they found an orange cat in the trap. But it was the wrong orange cat!

This woman was incredibly persistent. She eventually contacted a psychic who had a wonderful track record for helping police on missing person cases, and persuaded him to help her find her cat. The psychic told her to walk 15 minutes southwest from her house, and she’d find her cat, alive, living in a culvert. She did, and she came to the edge of a development. Indeed she met a person with an old barn, who had seen a strange orange cat lurking about. Again, they set the live trap. And the next day they found an orange cat in the trap. Again, it was the wrong orange cat.

Such a strange story! To my knowledge she has not yet found the orange cat she is looking for. While I think it is very rare, when working at a distance with a strange animal it is certainly possible for a communicator to “cross wires” and connect with the wrong lost animal-even with a photograph. When I work on a lost animal case I do try to get a photo of the animal first, just to lessen the chance that it might happen.

Do you really want to know?

While I certainly have helped find many missing animals, in my experience only about 2 animals in 10 are alive, truly lost, and communicating coherently enough to help us locate them. I hope these stories have illustrated the potential, devastating complexity of hiring an animal communicator to help find your missing animal. Sometimes the animal is close by, hidden or scared or slightly hurt, and a communicator can easily direct you to him or him to you. But all too often, trying to locate lost or missing animals can be a frustrating, sad or confusing experience for all involved.

“If I pray for the light, I need to remember that light isn’t sentimental. It illuminates the smiling infant and the wormy corpse, every broken promise and every act of faith.” ~Sy Safransky

If, after reading all this, you still want me to communicate with your missing animal, I certainly will. I will do anything in my power to help you. But before you call to set up a session, do pause and ask yourself honestly these questions:

  1. What if the news is upsetting? Are you prepared to hear that your animal is hurt, suffering, or dead? Because you certainly might. I will tell you what I see/sense/feel, no editing.
  2. What if your animal is not lost, but left you on purpose to find a new home or a new adventure (this is rare, but certainly does happen)?
  3. If you choose to work with several different communicators, which certainly might be helpful, ask yourself this question... what if we all tell you different things? Do you have any frame of reference with which to judge our work, and who to trust, or would that simply be too stressful and confusing?

People’s experiences

I have asked a couple of missing-animal clients to describe their experience of working with me (or other communicators) to locate a lost pet. My purpose in sharing these stories is not to dazzle you with stories of animals I have found, but rather the opposite... to offer you a clear and realistic glimpse of the potential benefits and the potential risks/frustrations inherent in asking an animal communicator to telepathically locate missing animals.

"My beloved dog of 6 years abruptly vanished one normal morning in the woods surrounding our house. I did everything I could think of...contacting animal shelters, putting up flyers, advertising in the paper, knocking door to door. After two weeks I was still devastated by her loss and no news. Someone suggested an animal communicator. I needed to try this for peace of mind so I called her. I was struck by Calloway’s honesty, humor and compassion and love of animals. She told me that it was difficult communicating with lost dogs and she spent much time telling me stories...both successful and not so successful...in using her talents. I thought about it for a week before deciding I was strong enough to hear whatever she had to tell me. Calloway told me that my dog had been attacked by an animal in the woods and had died. I didn’t deal so well with this news. The thought of her dying alone made me feel worse. I wish I hadn’t called. I decided to put Calloway’s explanation aside and just believe that anything was possible. Until another friend suggested another animal communicator. I did it again and this communicator told me that my dog was alive, desperately lost but had found her way to another home. I didn’t like this news either. Why wasn’t my dog with me? And who was right? Had she died, was she living around the corner somewhere? In the end, I am glad that I called both animal communicators. Talking with them definitely helped me process the loss of my dog. I was reminded that death is a mystery and that I may always have to deal with the unknown regarding my sweet dog’s disappearance. These are facts and it stopped my yearning for a definitive explanation. In a round about way, the animal communicators aided in my healing." ~Liz Moore, VA

"I contacted Calloway after talking with another animal communicator, my first, who told me she didn’t do lost animals but she told me Tiggy was still alive she felt. When I called Calloway she was very personable and let me know exactly what to expect and what not to expect. She gave me stories of other people who had lost animals and told me in a lot of cases its frustrating because she can’t help you find them but she can tell you what she sees from the animal. I was to the point that I wanted to know was he dead or alive and she told me she might not be able to give me that info but she would do what she could. Calloway gave me info that Tiggy had given her and some left me feeling helpless and questioning if it was real or just me hoping it was so I could have some closure. At the end of the conversation she asked him to try to find his way home because I missed him and wanted him back and she told me that she wanted to know either way in a few weeks if he returned. I thought about all she said and had pretty much given up that I would ever see him again and 4 days after speaking with her, 3 weeks to the day since he'd been missing he showed up. I'm believing that he had gotten far off out of his area and that she did help him by talking with him and guiding him back." ~Angie Sullivan, TX

“When my dog wandered off one time and I could not locate him anywhere near home, I contacted Calloway and asked if she could help me. I was particularly concerned because my dog is over 100 pounds and although he is good natured, his size frightens many people. On previous occasions my missing dogs have been shot at - one was killed, another nearly died. In all cases I have suffered a great deal of fear and anxiety until my dogs were recovered. Calloway described a house and an area where she saw my dog, and friendly people nearby. She asked my dog to stay put, and “look friendly” to the people. Not long afterward, I received a call from a fellow who had found my dog in his yard. This man was a friendly, dog-loving person, with a dog and cats of his own. Although the house Calloway described did not match his house, the fact that she had spoken to my dog and knew he was in a safe place gave me the peace of mind to wait calmly until I was contacted. It is possible my dog had been near such a house during his walkabout, I will never know and it does not matter. Calloway was able to reduce my anxiety and gave me the confidence that my dog was safe and would be back with me soon. I try my best to keep my dogs at home - you wouldn't believe all the fences I have for them and my sheep - but should they ever get out again and out of range, I know who to call on for help.” ~ Orysia Dawydiak, PEI

Romeo and the Christmas Miracle

“In mid December of 2006, my friend Rita’s family was putting Christmas decorations on the exterior of their home. Unfortunately, Rita did not realize that the front gate to the house was open when she let two of her beloved dogs, Romeo and Ava out the back door. With typical exuberance, the dogs made a beeline for freedom. Unfortunately, freedom came at a big price. Cars were zooming down nearby I-288. Ava, taking the lead, ran out into the middle of the interstate. Immediately, she was struck by a car, while Romeo watched in horror. Rita’s family was in pursuit and the car that had struck Ava stopped to find out if she was still alive. Ava was quickly spotted and taken to the nearby Animal Emergency room, were she passed over. Romeo, a particularly shy and chronically anxiety prone sweetheart was seen bolting from the accident scene.

“I got the call from a very worried Rita shortly after the accident. The family had searched for hours in vain. Posters were distributed, ads were put in the newspaper, calls were made to local shelters, several days went by and still no Romeo. Having had first hand experience with animal communication, I knew this case was beyond my very limited expertise. Calloway McCloud’s name was suggested. Calloway was very frank about the difficulty of finding a missing animal but she was willing to try to help. Romeo was a particularly difficult case. Calloway was able to let us know that he was still alive but was very scared and kept running and was on the move. Two more days pasted by with the temperature dropping into the chilly 20’s. Calloway was able to calm Romeo down, even though he was still very frightened. She told us that he was hiding in a wooded area which was perplexing because Rita’s house and the scene of the accident were in a city setting.

“Eight days of looking and agonizing passed when a call came in from someone who had seen a black dog that resembled the picture in the newspaper. The dog had been howling in his back yard during the night but ran away when approached. Could this dog, sighted in a location across the James River, far from home, possibly be Romeo? Another day passed without another sighting. Rita spent countless hours searching in the freezing cold at this new location, questioning if the dog was really her beloved pet. Calloway intervened again. Some people would call it a coincidence. On the ninth cold night after Romeo had disappeared, he returned to the back yard of the man who had called Rita and started to howl again. By the time Rita got to the house at 5:30am that morning, the black dog had disappeared once more. She stayed for hours and waited. No Black Dog. She left food and went home to warm up. Another spotting in the back yard. Rita raced back to the house and hooked up with neighbors who were following the black dog at a distance so they would not scare or loose him this time. The black dog was 40 yards in front but when he turned to look at Rita, he seemed dazed and simply kept on walking away. Rita was heartbroken but then remembered that Calloway had given her specific instructions about how to approach Romeo so he would know he was safe. As if the past 10 days were but a dream, Romeo came bounding toward Rita.

“Romeo is now safely home, happy and healthy. The miracle of Christmas was celebrated with a special reverence. Events in life are sometimes mysterious... How was a black dog, without a collar, reunited with his family after spending 10 long cold days in the woods far from his home? Romeo picked the back yard of a man named Romeo who had seen the missing pet ad in the newspaper for a black dog. For me, the answer is clear. Calloway McCloud possesses a very special talent. She was Romeo’s angel.”
~Kathy Wurdeman, Richmond, VA

What to do if your animal is missing

I know how awful it is to lose an animal. We often feel so frightened and guilty and worried it is difficult to think straight. Here are some steps you can take immediately:

Posters

Posters can be extremely helpful, but make sure it is an EFFECTIVE poster. Think big. Think bright poster board for background. A large photo of the animal (or one of a similar breed) should be easily visible. “REWARD” should appear in big black letters at the top. Make sure the essential words (“reward,” species, and color or breed of the animal, i.e. orange tabby cat, or black/white hound mix) are easily visible at a glance to someone driving or walking by. Other information, like your contact information and the date the animal disappeared, can be put in slightly smaller type. Have a friend drive or walk by your poster and give you honest feedback... was it easy to read/remember at a glance? Think carefully about where you hang your posters... placement can matter as much as the poster itself. (Thanks to Kat Albrecht at pethunters.com for teaching me this wise advice about posters!)

Call Vets/Shelters

Call all the vets and shelters in your area, or drop off posters personally. When calling shelters, make sure to describe your animal clearly, and listen to their descriptions of found animals clearly. Sometimes, what looks like an “elegant black lab mix” to a loving owner, might look like a “shaggy border collie/hound mix” to a busy shelter employee.

Call An Animal Communicator

The sooner the better. But if you’ve never worked with an animal communicator before, get a feel for the person before you hire her. We all have different styles and different specialties. Most of us dread lost animal cases, if we handle them at all. A few of us love the unique challenge and opportunity to be of service they present. If you choose to work with more than one communicator or psychic, ask yourself carefully how you will evaluate the information they give you if it is not all the same. Don’t hesitate to interview us and ask us questions about our training and our experience with finding lost animals before you pay for a session. Look at several websites and talk to us, and above all, trust your intuition when choosing whom to call. Don’t ever just assume that “she’s psychic” and so you should trust someone blindly.

Scent-Trained Dogs

If someone in your area has a scent-trained dog who could track your missing animal, call them as soon as possible, while the trail is still fresh. This is a wonderful and effective way to locate lost animals that many people are not aware of. See www.pethunters.com for more information.

Search The Area

Stop, calm down, and try to look at the area you’re your animal’s perspective. An indoor cat who fell through a screen window will behave very differently from a cat who is on familiar territory. Search your yard and all of your neighbors’, very carefully. Especially if you are trying to locate a missing cat, look under buildings and porches. Walk and call. If your animal is close by, but is scared or injured, sometimes your smell or the sound of your voice will help it feel safe enough to find its way home.

Humane Traps

Baited humane traps can be a wonderful tool to capture a frightened cat. Many cats will even run from their owners if they are lost and frightened, so using a baited trap can be the only way to capture one. Be persistent. Sometimes it can take a few days for a missing cat to get hungry enough to venture out for food.

Be Positive

This is very difficult, but if your animal is in the area and alive, it honestly helps. Visualize your animal coming home, safe and sound. Imagine what you want instead of worrying about all the awful things that might happen.

Trust Your Intuition

Always.  If you find yourself suddenly drawn to pull the car over and get out, do so. If you keep thinking you should check under the neighbor’s shed one more time, do so. Trust your odd thoughts and even your dreams, no matter how strange they seem. I have heard so many amazing stories when owners respond to strange impulses. If you believe in a higher power, ask for guidance in being reunited with your animal if that will serve your highest good. Then let go and trust. There’s simply nothing else to do.

Lost Animal Resources

Kat Albrect is a police search and rescue officer turned lost pet detective. Her website lostapet.org offers some very important and interesting information regarding the behaviors of lost cats and dogs so you know what to expect and how to best search for them. Kat’s other website pethunters.com describes her work training and certifying Missing Animal Response (MAR), Technicians, as well as scent trained dogs trained to find missing animals. MAR technicians respond to your home to conduct a physical search for your lost pet using trained search dogs, high tech equipment, behavioral analysis, trap-and-reunite services, shelter checks, and poster placement services. For a national listing of certified MAR technicians, see pethunters.com and click on the “find a lost pet” icon.

National Pet Recovery website offers a 32 page manual on how to recover lost and stolen pets. Learn how National Pet Recovery finds missing pets. petrecovery.com