A native of Penfield, NY, I grew up on a small farm on the edge of the Thousand-Acre Swamp. Besides the horses, geese, cats, dogs, rabbits that were an everyday part of our family, I had my own pets to take care of. A rat named “Joey”, salamanders, turtles, goldfish and probably a few I can’t remember. Living in a wildlife refuge area also game me the opportunity to see and hear coydogs, bobcats, hawks, owls & pheasants to name a few. 

Sharing my life with animals didn’t end when I left my childhood home. I enjoyed the company of several cats through the years, a lab/shepherd dog “Yonkle” and a husky/shepherd mix named “Jessie.” Jessie succumbed to bladder cancer in October 2005. She was 15 yrs. old. We loved every minute with “Elmo” our F2 Asian Leopard Cat. Their memorials are both at Animal Tributes.

As a young girl I felt I could communicate with the family poodle using my mind. I would lay in bed and call him using my version of mental telepathy – and it worked. He would come to me. I communicate with animals automatically – even though I don’t always feel a connection, I believe most of them are listening. I attended a week-long seminar at Spring Farm Cares to develop my animal communication skills and continue to practice.

The ASPCA provides me with a great reference for up-to-date information about behavior and health & safety issues for all species. In addition I receive the monthly reference newsletters “CATNIP” from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and “The Whole Dog Journal.”