On June 3rd at 12:20 am my first nephew was born. His name is G. Wyatt Stinchfield. My brother Grant and his wife Amy have a 3 year-old yellow lab named Bella. The day of Wyatt arrival home from the hospital my brother posted a you-tube video of Amy sitting down holding Wyatt giggling as Bella whirled around them trying to jump up on her lap to give Wyatt kisses. I have seen new mothers before with their babies terrified that their dog would scratch, hurt, or give their dog germs. But Amy and Grant giggled and remained confident that Bella would learn quickly that her new brother was fragile. As days and weeks go by pictures are sent via email of infant Wyatt lying on Bella’s belly and Bella gently kissing Wyatt’s face. They joke that Sister Bella babysits as they run out of the room for a moment. My brother and sister in law are smart alert people. If there was an ounce of reason to worry about Bella’s behavior around Wyatt they would immediately pick it up. Bella has been the perfect dog.

Here I will ask Bella, “What did you first think of Baby Wyatt and what do you think of him now?”

BELLA: “When I first saw Wyatt I thought this is what they had been telling me about and this is why mom has been gone. I wanted Wyatt to look at me and acknowledge me but he just sat there. I danced around them trying to get him to open his eyes but he remained the same. I wondered if he would ever move. It was not until later on that night that I realized that he was like I was when I was a puppy. I figured it out when I watched him breath. It reminded me of when I was little and use to cuddle up with my sisters and brothers. That is when I realized that it is best to be real still when he is close so that he can sleep comfortable on another breathing body. He moves around more now and he smiles at me. It took a few weeks for him to start recognizing me, but he does now. He is really smart. My mom and dad are still my good friends. I was told by another dog that when your people have a baby that you get ignored, but I am not ignored at all. They still love me and talk to me and take me out. I can’t wait for Wyatt to get a little older because I want to show him all the neat places in the yard and I want to tell him that when he learns to walk he can lean on me. I also want him to know that I will always keep him safe and I will try my hardest to be there if he ever falls. I also want him to know that I will be very careful of the stroller so that he doesn’t get knocked around. I know he is really fragile now, but my dad thinks he will be tough one day. So I can’t wait for the day he can play with me at the dog park. Everyday, Wyatt starts to understand new things. I think he is starting to recognize that there are different colors in the world and he is starting to recognize things by their smell. He doesn’t smell like I do though. He can grab onto things too now. I am so lucky to have him. My mom and dad picked a great baby.”

WATCH BELLA & WYATT MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME:

My parents found this dog wandering the streets of Upper Montecito, CA back in February. They fell madly in love with her and named her Violet. They were on vacation and the rental did not allow pets so they could not keep her at their place while they searched for her true home. They had to bring her to the Santa Barbara County Shelter where she was claimed by her people. My parents want a dog just like her!

If anyone knows her people, her breeder or a dog that looks like her that needs a home, please contact me.

"Sometimes I smell the snow and I want to play until my whole body hurts."

We were at the beach one day and Tanner asked me out of the blue "Will you be my real friend?"

I asked "What do you mean, I am your friend?"

Tanner answered, "No, I mean my real friend. Like play with me more, say hello and give me a kiss on the forehead every time you see me."

For years one of my client/friend’s cat, Chester, was begging me to have his mom (person) get him another cat in the house. Every time I saw him, he would remind me to mention it to his mom. Chester’s person was not ready to take on the care and expense of another cat and kept telling Chester, “maybe in the future”. At the same time another friend of mine had a beautiful cat, Addy, that was well taken care for, but had to be an outside cat because my friend is extremely allergic. Addy is very affectionate and wants to cuddle. One day my friend asked if I could help find Addy a better home where she could be touched/handled more. I talked to Addy and posted her here on my website. Chester’s person saw her and to my surprise wanted to meet her. She and Chester welcomed Addy into their home. It has been quite some time now that they have all lived together. My friend recently sent me quotes from Chester and Addy that they told her through me. I think they are great narrative of the thoughts of feelings of animals when there home environment changes and a new animal is welcomed into the family.

This is Addy and Chester. Chester is the orange and white cat and Addy is the calico.

Here are notes from their new person on what they have to said to me:

When Addy first was adopted into Chester's family, Laura asked him what he thought of her: "She's more beautiful than the stars in the sky."

When Addy first came and Chester seemed upset and Laura asked him why:
"Now mom thinks about her as much as she thinks about me!"

Addy, a few months after she came and apparently wasn't sure she was in a permanent home: "Can this be my forever home? Because I really really like it here."


Addy was told that she shouldn't walk on computer keyboards (something she does a lot). She told Laura: "Well [previous owner] used to let me!"
Laura reminded her that wasn't true (Addy used to be an outdoor cat and wasn't around keyboards. Though both her previous people worked at home and on the computer all day. She would watch them from the window).

In another conversation, Addy told Laura:
"You've been my friend for a long time. You promised me a long time ago that you'd find me a new home and that I'd be really happy. And you did, so I'll believe anything you tell me."

For a few months Addy wouldn’t nap in certain spots. She said:
"Chester won't let me!" (Chester's owner informed her that she can nap wherever she wants.)

Addy also told Laura:
"He tells me I'm too affectionate with mom. He says I shouldn't show so much affection." (She has ignored that advice.)

When Chester and Addy had gotten used to each other, Laura asked if he would mind if Addy curled up with him, because she seemed as if she'd like to do that. He said:
"She knows I'd let her do that if she wants to."

He also said this about six months after Addy came:
"I used to get lonesome during the day when mom was gone. But I don't feel that way anymore."

When the two cats had gotten used to each other, Addy told Laura:
"Now I know Chester loves me!"

"There is this girl that has a crush on my dad (person), but he doesn't like her. He only loves me."

This is Erin, my grandparents' dog. When my grandmother was in the hospital she said, "Will you tell Grandma she is my best friend even before Darby (her Yorki sister)? Tell Grandma to sleep well so she can come home."

Moka says,"Since my new mom rescued me, I'm the happiest hairless dog in the world. My mom, two grandma's, family members, as well as extended family all spoil me rotten!!! I've never been surrounded with so much Love, compassion, Toy's, Food, Clothes, most of all attention!I get to go for nice long walks in Ojai Valley and everyone always wants to touch me, because I'm so unusual. I get exspecially scared when a child moves to quickly towards me.My mom takes me almost every were she goes (that's if they let me in) You know some people don't like dog's or cat's so I respect that choice. Other wise I am sooooo HAPPY!. P.S. I love it when my mommy takes my pictures, and I always talk to her and say I love you!"

“I hate people. Animals I love. People are mean and cruel. I wish I could spend all my time with animals and never see another person again.” “You are so blessed to be able to do what you do. It must be so hard working with all the people. People do terrible things to animals. Animals are much more kind” “(put in many animal professionals name) is great with the animals, but his/her people skills is non-existent. If you remember that you will get good care. They can be a little brash.” I hear these statements multiple times a week and I would be a liar if I too didn’t sometimes say to myself, “I hate people.” After leaving an severely abuse animal, hearing a terrible story, or departing a client who just doesn’t get it.” But it is not really an honest feeling of mine. I love people and what they do for their animals. I love the people who come home from a hard days work to grab a treat bag and leash and head out for a walk or training session with their dog or the people who have no money at all and will not think twice about spending thousands of dollars on medical care. I know people who dedicate their lives to dogs, cats, birds, chickens, goats, pigs, farm animals, exotics, horses…These people go to extraordinary measures to rescue, educated and care for these animals.
I have thought long hard about why there is so much hatred and bitterness of people by animal people. It is not just that there is ignorance and abuse. It is that people with compassion and empathy cannot escape from seeing or hearing about it. There is no real break. It is everywhere. It is driving down the 33 and always seeing the same dog chained on concrete with no water or bedding. It is the cat that has been coming around since the neighbor moved and the boney horses in the tiny corals. I have to admit that there are many nights I would rather eat oatmeal for dinner than risk bumping into someone with a story at the grocery store. On a good week only one of my animals friends passes to heaven or enters the hospital with sever pain or bites someone.
My teacher, Carol Gurney, teaches that when talking to an animal in bad situations do not feel sorry for them. It does not help them. It is important to teach them to find peace in their situations. Buddhist Nuns tell me, “Do not worry, the animals too have their Karma.” and my other teacher Linda Tellington-Jones drilled into me to “meet every person where they are at.” If I live by these guidelines, everything is much simpler. It takes away the judgment and focuses on teaching animals and humans to find more peace and move into a direction of better awareness. If I honestly do my best I must relinquish control and attachment over the outcome. It is terribly hard to leave clients as I walk out their door. When I get upset about people I remember: Karen who goes shelters to find search dogs and is ALWAYS up for helping me with any animal issue. I remember Kristen and Joan who fill their homes with unwanted cats; Melissa who rescues chickens and roosters and gives them homes that couldn’t even be dreamed of, Bob & Kim who will drop everything to help a chipmunk or bird of prey, Marty who spends her days fighting for the welfare of hundreds of pigs, Kathy who helps Mustangs acclimate into captivity, Nuetzie who finds adoptable animals at kill shelters and gets them into non-kill shelters, Jean who makes sure the bunnies are safe and adoptable and James who has a warehouse full of parrots. The list of people is endless. Each of these people not only rescues but educates. When I focus on them and their work and the clients I know who go to extraordinary measures to care for and to understand their pets. I can’t help but love people and all that they fight for.

"I love my dad so much because he loves me so much and I know a lot of dogs that don't get any love. I'm his best friend and when you have a good friend your never lonely. I don't feel like a dog, I feel more human. I'm his best friend and buddy."

Talia & her dad, Michael.

Last year one of my best friends lost her 13-year-old daughter in a plane crash. Talia died on the 23rd of December but was found on Christmas day. On the anniversary of Talia’s passing, I spent most of the day with my friend. She saved every text message and phone messages from people who remembered to call her and said she would write them down later so that she would never forget who reached out to her. We went to the hilltop where the ashes of Talia, Talia’s dad, and her German Shepherd Gunther are spread. Along with three other friends we had a spiritual experience that is so memorable we will never doubt the power of the universe again.
When we got back to my friends house I spoke to her Chihuahua Zippy. Zippy said, “I know today is the day that Talia’s spirit flew out of her body when she was moving really fast through the air…The way angles get your spirit to leave your body is that they surround you in love and it is like love catches you…The day we knew Talia died, Gunther (their German Shepherd) said to me, ‘I am going to make myself go be with Talia. You stay here with mom’…Gunther did it. He made himself sick. It was really hard for him to do. He had to suffer in order to get to heaven. Now he is with Talia and I am here with mom.”
I asked Zippy what he wants to tell humans. He said, “If I was to talk to the animals I would tell them to be present to support your people if they start to cry or if they feel lonely. I want to tell people that it is important to think of others. To know that little words on a phone can create a breath that helps to heal someone. I want them to remember to love each other and you don’t always have to give a material gift. Sometimes just saying hello is a big gift. If the people you know have loved ones that have died. Tell them to ask for a sign that their loved ones see earth. Just because someone is in spirit doesn’t mean they cant say ‘I love you and I am here. … If anyone feels alone I am sure they can ask Talia and Gunther to say hello.”

Zippy

Gunther

"When my mom goes away, I don't want to stay with the neighbor because she is crazy....There is a ghost that lives upstairs in the loft....Can Loki and Wendy come to Chicago with us?"

Sydnee's person took these notes at our consultations before Sadie, Sydnee's Sister, passed away: Sydnee said that she 'is like a human with magical powers'. When asked if she was going to be ok when her sister passes away she said that she couldn't imagine he life without Sadie and she is going to be like a sack of mushy potatoes when Sadie passes away. When asked if she wanted a new pet she said she wants a cat and to name it Hot Dog.

Many blessings to Sydnee, Elizabeth and Nick

"I am a healer from the inside out. I have stars inside of me."

"I want to tell my mom that I have never seen a woman as beautiful as her. I want to tell her that when I am away from her I miss her pretty smell."

RASCAL IS ON TOP AND SADIE UNDERNEATH. Rascal says, "Slinky, my cat, is what humans call an angel because she tells me not to worry." Sadie says, "I want my humans to sit next to me and pet me. There is never a need to worry. It is a waste."

"If I were a dog, I would like to look like my brother Rascal. He is cute."

Roo is at the vet specialist. She injured herself and can no longer pee or poop by herself. She asks to me to tell her mom (person), "Please tell my mom not to worry about me. Tell her I love her and I am in good care. Tell her to take care of our children." Please send Roo blessings for a speedy recovery.

"Do old friends always come back into your life?"

"Sometimes I notice when my mom (person) works her heart rate increases. She needs to drink more water. I come to her to tell her to take a moment to slow down. Then she can go back to work"

For years, Milly sat on her eggs and none ever hatched. So this year her person sneaked an egg out from under Milly and replaced it with a new chick. The chick is a different breed and will be twice the size of Milly.

Milly says, "This is the best moment of my life! I got my own chickie! It came from my own belly!"

I was trying to explain to Simon what frustration is and he replied, "I think frustrating is the way I feel when it is late morning and my mom (person) and I have not been outside yet to smell the roses. She needs that time for her well being."

Seth's person just moved in with her boyfriend. Seth says, "Can I really call him my daddy? Are you telling me the truth?"

Gus's person asked me to tell him to stop waking her up so early in the morning. He replied, "Doesn't she know all goddesses get up at 4:30am?"

"I know I am the smartest dog in Texas." Bella received a high-school diploma in Texas and made the news. Read her story: http://grantsrant.wordpress.com/2008/03/27/bella-is-a-high-school-grad/

My brother is an investigative reporter for NBC. He is a four time Emmy Award winner and sixteen time Emmy Award nominee. GRANTS RANT is his blog. I have always admired my brother for fearlessly going after his passions. He has done stories on animal abuse, rescue and the inhumane capture of elephants in the wild for a well known circus. GRANTS RANT is his new project. I find it humorous as well as educational.

"I want to go to the place where there are butterflies."

Travis goes everywhere with his person. I asked him what he thinks about it and he said, "I would not want it any other way. My mom (person) is the greatest. We see the country and keep our minds exploring all the time. When ever life is hard, new scenery always helps."

/>"Sometimes it's good that my Mom cries otherwise sorrow will get stuck inside her like mud."

"I always thought that my mom (person) loves how I bark in the car. I know this because she tells everyone about it and she only tells people wonderful things about me. If you are saying that she actually does not like it, I will try my best to stop it."

"I love how my mom (person) glows after she washes her face."

Vinnie says, "Sometimes when you first meet someone you hate them. You think they smell bad and are weird. Then all of a sudden, you see them differently and they become one of your best friends."
I believe Vinnie is talking about his relationship with me.

Chewy is my sister's family's Sussex Spaniel. He lives with two little girls. He says, "I know that when my mom’s (person) belly gets big it means a baby is coming and my family gets bigger. Which means there is less time for me to be walked, but more time to laugh and play."

Sunny says, "The best thing about my mom (person) is that she plays with me everyday and she treats all of us animals as well as she treats her children and her best friends. She is like an angel."

Meadow is a female 11 year old dutch dwarf bunny. Her vet said that he has only known one or two to reach her age. She replied, "My vet keeps me alive and healthy." Her person was worried about her dying and Meadow says, "I care about my mom so much that I am always sending her love and she should not worry about us leaving each other because I am sure that bunnies and their people have the same angels."

Jasmine and Chirpy are good friends. I asked Jasmine if she would like another small dog in the house. She replies, "I would like a best friend who is not a chicken."

Melissa, their person, rescues and nurtures many chickens. Even though Chirpy had an infection, when I asked him how he was feeling he answered, "I feel fine. I don't want my mom to worry about me."

Luna says, "Tell my mom (person) I feel just as lucky to have her as a mom as she feels lucky to have me. I have seen other dogs’ mom and I certainly got lucky!"

Franklin says, "I like the way my mom pets me and how she talks to all of us cats the same way. I like the way she tells people stories of our adventures. It is nice to know that you are understood so well. I like her slippers. I am very happy. The scariest thing is...