As an animal communicator, I am very careful in my selection of words when speaking about animals. For example, I never say that someone “owns an animal”. It is my personal belief that we do NOT own animals. I prefer to say that I am my animal’s caretaker, person, or guardian. The terminology that we use when referring to animals reveals our thoughts and feelings. It is also indicative of the manner in which we choose to treat animals.

How many times have we heard someone say, I need to “get rid of” my dog, cat, horse, etc? This expression implies that we no longer want the animal and that we don’t care what happens to it. I prefer to use the term “re-home” when discussing the future placement of an animal. A genuine desire to re-home an animal reflects a much greater level of concern for its well-being.

I have had the great honor of sharing my life with numerous dogs, cats, and horses. If these animals had lived with someone previously, I always wanted to know why they were being re-homed. The sincerity of a person’s response about an animal speaks volumes to me. Unfortunately, it seems that people sometimes feel that older animals and people can outlive their usefulness. Many indigenous cultures respect the elderly for their knowledge and wisdom. These cultures realize that the elderly play a valuable role in sharing their knowledge so that traditions can continue. My how things have changed!

One of my daughters was the caretaker of a sweet mare who was the apple of her eye for many years. After my daughter left for college, she no longer had time for her treasured mare. As time went on, I felt strongly that this mare needed to once again be the apple of someone’s eye. I spread the word that this horse would possibly be happier with a new family. You can imagine my horror when I received a telephone call from someone who said, “I heard you have a horse that YOU WANT TO GET RID OF”! That was the last thing I wanted to do! It was my desire to find a perfect home for her, not to get rid of her. Ultimately, I decided that she has the perfect home right where she is. This sweet mare has always had a strong bond with her pasture mates. After I started performing the Waterhole Rituals with her, an amazing thing happened. She and I developed a very strong bond also. I always knew she was kind and sweet, but until I worked toward developing our relationship with the Waterhole Rituals, I really had no idea what a truly wonderful horse she really is! She is an amazing teacher for novice riders and enjoys experiencing relationships with many people. This horse resembles the knowledgeable elder who is wise enough to pass on her wisdom and experience.

Ultimately, I am very happy that I did not re-home this particular horse. It is not always easy to make the right decisions where animals are concerned. When debating whether to keep an animal or to find a new home for it, remember to choose your words carefully. Our animal companions are counting on us. Right thinking will allow us to RE-HOME, not “get rid of” our animal friends. With perseverance and patience the right answers will be revealed.

Have a great rest of the week as you remain thankful for the heart-felt connection we are blessed to have with our two-legged, four-legged, and feathered friends.

RE-HOME or GET RID OF ???