Last August I adopted a lovely little dog - a Pekingese named Winter - who had been abused and then abandoned on the streets of New York City. Since then I have been working to repair the damage, but it hasn't been easy. He is extremely nervous on the street, he gets very stressed out with any environmental changes, and even though he is very sweet, he snaps at random times when other people pet him. How can I help him to understand that he can relax now and trust that his world is safe? I sometimes meditate with him on my lap, and I try to repeat the mantra "I am safe" to him often, but he is still so traumatized that it's difficult for me to take him anywhere. I find myself wishing he could magically understand English for a half an hour so we could have a talk. Can you tell me what is still bothering him? How can I make him understand that he doesn't need to snap at people, and what can I do to help him transition into a happy and carefree dog? Should I have a psychic who specializes in pets talk to him?
Thank you in advance for any help you can give!
- Mary
Dreamchaser:
Mary, you are trying to overcome years of abuse here. He knows that when he is with you, he is safe. That is why he does not snap at YOU when you pet him. He understands that you are not going to harm him in any way. Like most animals, he does not understand abstract concepts, however.
Animals' worlds are pretty much "black and white" - there is not a lot of "gray" for them. Therefore, when he goes outside or when other people come around, he suddenly feels unsafe again. He doesn't understand that you are going to keep him safe in ANY situation - if you can.
You have to understand this little fellow. He is VERY sweet, but he was HORRIBLY abused. He was neglected, beaten, kicked, stomped on, etc. When they got tired of having to feed him, they put him out. Other dogs attacked him. He was hit or kicked by humans. He had to dodge traffic. He was on the streets for quite some time.
As he is so little, he was one of the lowest on the pecking order, so he was also hungry most of the time. The bigger animals got to eat first. There are alleys and trashcans that they know to go to. There are also some kind business owners who leave trays out for the strays. He made his way, but he was scared and hungry most of his waking hours. We also have to bear in mind that New York City can be quite cold or hot, and he had no shelter from the weather. He doesn't like lightning much, does he?
Now you've had him almost a year, but his whole life was spent being abused or neglected in one way or another. It is going to take quite a while for him to realize that he is safe. The streets will probably always scare him. He had such a horrific time out there. He is a strong survivor - please tell him I said so.
It would be a really good thing if you could take him to a pet psychic, but you could also try yourself. Instead of saying "you are safe," try explaining to him that he is with you now and that he will never again be put onto the street. His problem is that he thinks you are going to tire of him and put him out too. When he realizes that he will not be put back on the street, he will start to relax some. Try sending him mental images of him being with you in all types of weather, for a long time. THAT is what he needs to see.
Thanks for saving this special little creature. I wish you and your wonderful little friend many years of happiness.
*****
Astrea:
One of the hardest things in the World is to see an animal of any kind in pain, neglected, or abused. The laws on the books to protect children and animals are shamefully difficult to enforce. We need to change that!
Those little Souls are completely dependant on us for everything in their lives. It's always so rewarding to have a loving pet. It is an honor to serve an animal that has been hurt by another person, but it often poses difficulties like those you are facing with your puppy. Since they can't talk to us with words, we have to be able to tune into them a different way.
Start by keeping a daily journal for him in which you list everything: his diet, his interest in toys, whether or not he wants to go out or stay in, how the weather seems to affect him. Once you've done this for about 90 days, go back over that journal and patterns will begin to jump out! You'll see the MAIN factors that seem to affect his behavior, and what you can do to eliminate the things that trigger the behavior you don't want him to have any longer. You'll see the positive reinforcement he needs in order to feel loved and protected, too.
I believe that you will also see certain likes and dislikes in people, too. Since he's so afraid that he'll have to leave you again, even after the year he's been with you, he imagines some of these people would like to take him away from you. He remembers clearly the horrors he suffered from the OTHER people in his life. He reacts in an old way that he learned to try to protect himself in the early months of his life. The longer he is away from that, the more infrequently he'll snap at people.
Sometimes, he doesn't like how the person you are with is talking to or relating to YOU! Some of this is his little protective Spirit. He feels it when you come into contact with someone who doesn't want the best for him OR YOU! With your journal, you'll be able to easily tune into that in three months.
You can try using an animal communicator, but since your puppy is so nervous around strangers, it probably would be best for both of you if you could develop some kind of "language" of your own that works for the two of you. He'll teach it to you, but it takes time and patience to learn. You're very fortunate to have one another. He'll bring a new kind of healing force into YOUR life, just as you have into his. I know you'll be able to get through to him soon.
Astrea:
Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.
Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!
While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!
I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!
As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.
I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.
You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!
Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.
A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.
You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.