| /h1> | | | | development principals. |
| THE HEART BOND | | | | THE HEART-TO-HEART CONNECTION: ANIMAL |
| There’s an Indian myth. When the world was | | | | COMMUNICATORS |
| created and all the people and animals were present, | | | | Mammals are equipped to communicate with us, |
| suddenly there was an earthquake. It started to rend | | | | though the means are non-verbal. How does this |
| the world in half, splitting the people from the animals. | | | | work? |
| Just before the split became too great to navigate, the | | | | We communicate with each other all the time by |
| dog jumped over to be with man. | | | | intuitive and nonverbal means. We sense how |
| We feel intuitively that we have a special bond with | | | | someone else is feeling, or know’ our boss is |
| dogs, cats and other mammals. There’s a | | | | sick, or detect a sad tone beneath the cheerful words |
| scientific basis for this as well, and it’s called a | | | | of our spouse, or get a chill down our spine when |
| limbic connection. Read more about this in A | | | | someone enters the room. Extending this more |
| General Theory of Love, by Amini et al - ). | | | | intentionally to our animal companions can be joyful |
| HOW THIS WORKS | | | | and healing for all concerned, and this is what Animal |
| Our brain is really three brains: the reptilian brain, the | | | | Communicators do. This growing field helps pet |
| limbic brain, and the neocortex. Automatic instinctive | | | | owners make a stronger connection with their animal |
| processes are controlled by the reptilian brain, also | | | | companions. |
| known as the brain stem, such as breathing, and heart | | | | Valentine’s day is a celebration of love, and |
| beat. We think, as only human’s can, with our | | | | who gives us the most steady and unconditional love |
| neocortex. | | | | in our lives? |
| The limbic brain is the seat of our emotions and we | | | | Here are some suggestions if you want to celebrate |
| share this with mammals. We share a limbic | | | | your love for your animal companion. Great ideas to |
| connection with them — we send emotional | | | | give to the animal-lovers on your list, too. Remember |
| signals back and forth. We need this connection to | | | | the old saying, Love me love my dog? |
| thrive. | | | | GIFT SUGGESTIONS FOR VALENTINE’S |
| Our intuition that life is better with a dog or cat, ferret | | | | DAY |
| or rabbit in the house is backed by scientific study | | | | 1.Gift your special someone with a deeper connection |
| after scientific study. People heal more quickly from | | | | with their beloved animal companion. Animal |
| heart attacks if there is a dog in the home, moreso | | | | communicators such as Georgina Cyr, and Jacquelin |
| than if there’s another human in the home. Being | | | | Smith, , offer consultations in pet communication and |
| with a pet lowers our blood pressure, and pets are | | | | healing. |
| egalitarian: The mere presence of a dog will lower the | | | | 2.How about a great heart-shaped dog or cat bed? |
| blood pressure of an ailing senior, a healthy college | | | | 3.This gifts packs a double wollop. — a Valentine |
| student, or a child reading a book alone in a room. | | | | toile and chenille dog bed by Companion Road. A |
| THE HEALING CONNECTION | | | | portion from the sale of all Companion Road items is |
| We’re recognizing this bond and its mutual | | | | donated to charities to assist local animal shelters. Go |
| healing power through the growing fields of | | | | here: |
| Animal-assisted Therapy, and Animal Communicators. | | | | 4.How about a sharp red doggy or ferret t-shirt with |
| The Pacific Animal Therapy Society ( ) offers an | | | | Xs and Os all over it? |
| active animal therapy program, bringing pets to | | | | 5.PetCo offers a whole Valentine’s store for |
| hospitals, retirement homes and other facilities where | | | | pets — heart-shaped catnip, bone buddies and |
| residents benefit from interaction with animal | | | | more! |
| companions. herapy.html also offers animal assisted | | | | 6.Give them a gift membership to the Divine Prayer |
| therapy. An animal visit offers entertainment, distraction | | | | Line for Animals. |
| from pains and infirmity, and comfort. | | | | 7.All Natural Dogs offers vitamins, supplements, holistic |
| People often talk to dogs, and share with them their | | | | products, homeopathic remedies, and natural food for |
| thoughts and feelings and memories, they say. A | | | | dogs. |
| visiting animal companion provides something to look | | | | 8.Need something for a ferret or rabbit? Try here: |
| forward to, and makes conversation easier between | | | | 9.Try the high-flying Crackler Moth for the cat-lover, |
| two strangers, giving a common interest and a focus | | | | from Blue Pet Co., UK. |
| for conversation. | | | | 10.Get a carrier pet-pocket for their small cat, dog, |
| The Pet Therapy Society of Northern Alberta offers | | | | ferret or rabbit here: |
| the PAWS in the Classroom program, an | | | | 11.Love Bites! Heart-shaped doggy biscuits. |
| animal-facilitated learning experience for special junior | | | | 12.Valentine’s scarves for dogs or cats: |
| high students, where students learn about human and | | | | 13.Bake some homemade dog biscuits. Recipes here: |
| animal relationships, including intra and inter-species | | | | 14.Canine Sweet Hearts available here — |
| attachments and bonding, the benefits and | | | | red-colored, heart-shaped corn and wheat-free vanilla |
| responsibilities of involvement with pets, and behavior | | | | or Carob flavored treats. |