Addison Independent, Monday, March 18,2013 – Animal Families — PAGE 17

Animal Families Special Section

The participation in our first annual Addy Indy Best Pet Contest was astonishing! Thanks to all the families that shared photos and stories of their animal families through this contest. Please flip to pages 20-21 for this year’s contest winners.

PAGE 18 — Animal Families – Addison Independent, Monday, March 18, 2013

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BY CHRISTY LYNNIt isn’t just Dr. Doolittle and Ace Ventura

who can talk to animals. There are animal communicators that live and work every-where, even here in Addison County. One of these communicators is Alyson Young, a certified energy medicine practitioner and animal communicator (as well as certified practitioner of several other holistic healing practices).

Young believes she has been communicating with animals throughout her life, but it became most appar-ent when she was a student of wildlife biology at the Washington State University, where she had an opportu-nity to work with Mari, a young moose that was aban-doned by her mother.

“For my whole life I was perceiving things from animals and people, but it really started to become very solidified in the experience (of working with Mari),” Young says.

The young woman and the young moose worked together from when Mari was only three weeks old until she was full grown. Having bonded over that time, the adult moose continued to snuggle and lay her massive head on Young’s lap.

Young’s animal communicator prac-tice developed as she began learning more about energy work and shamanism and the opportunity to do specific work with animal communication.

“It gave me a tool to utilize and ability to practice what I had been doing all along with intention and clarity,” she says.

In her practice, Young routinely works with animals to establish a relationship of trust and compassion. Whether in situations of abuse, neglect, anxiety, trauma or loss, Young connects with an animal and begins to learn about his or her complex histories and

experiences. Using information that

comes to her through sensory cues such as images, words and visceral or emotional reactions, Young is often able to help bring owners and their pets to a deeper understanding of each other.

“Sometimes animal communication becomes as simple as offering myself as a liaison or facil-itator between the people and the animals that they live with,” she says.

When behavioral or health issues present them-selves, a more complex

energetic component is called for, which Young employs, incorporating energy heal-ing methods similar to reiki and other touch healing practices.

Consulting a professional animal commu-nicator could be appropriate in many ordinary as well as complex situations. If a rescued animal displays signs of trauma or stress, is sick or injured, or acts aggressively or violently, an expert may be able to work with

that animal to correct or understand behavior. The communicator may also help find lost

animals, too.Communicator services can be relevant

for families bringing a new animal into their home or to determine whether a specific match is going to be positive or negative. When families are going away on vacation, moving, experiencing a change in their household or experience loss, an animal communicator can help facilitate an easier transition for the

animals. Young says that in these types of situa-

tions, communicating with an animal as well as working with them through energy medi-cine and therapy can be an effective way for understanding why an animal is behaving the way it is and helping that animal realize that they are safe and secure.

“In discovering what is really the issue, we can learn what’s going on with the animal and

“Sometimes animal commu-nication becomes as simple as offering myself as a liaison or facili-tator between the people and the animals that they live with.”

— Animal communicator Alyson Young

Animal communicator helps people understand their pets

(Continued on next page)

Alyson Young, a certified energy medicine practitioner and animal communicator, is seen here with Mari, a young moose who was abandoned by her mother.

Addison Independent, Monday, March 18,2013 – Animal Families — PAGE 19

what it needs, so that the family understands better how to support it,” Young says.ENERGY WORK

The other piece, Young says, is finding the energetic component that is present in the animal’s body. Young works with the energy fields until the balance is restored and it’s no longer causing a continuous problem.

“Everything in its most basic form is simply energy,” she says. “So when things exist within our energetic body that cause imbal-ance or inhibit the flow of the life-force energy — when left like that unresolved, it can begin to manifest into physical or emotional condi-tions: discomfort, illness, disease.”

Young has had opportunities to work with animals on short-term bases for specific trau-mas or illness, as well as long-term sustained care with animals. She says her services can be helpful alone or as a part of a larger healing process to help facilitate care and recovery.

A typical course of work with an animal first involves a remote healing session, Young says. During these sessions, Young works to establish a connec-tion with the animal while there is as little disrup-tion to that animal as possible and they can remain in a neutral, safe environment.

Animal commu-nicators and healers have many different ways of receiving information from animals. Some feel it kinesthetically, some empatheti-cally, some receive images, words, scents or telepathic messages.

Young says she is able to receive many different kinds of feel-ings from animals, but most often she feels during these sessions as if she is present with the animal and is able to witness what they are experiencing. Sometimes she says she can feel a particular energy in her own body when she is communicating with an animal, indicating to her that the animal has an issue with that body part. Other times Young will receive images of such things as plants or flowers that may be helpful in finding an aid for the animal.

Young combines these clues to draft a picture of that animal and what it needs. She

conducts research on words, images, maps and other information she receives, to make sense of how each piece can help solve the puzzle.

Sometimes it doesn’t make sense at first, Young says.

“But inevitably when I go look it up I find that it makes perfect sense. It’s amazing!”

An office visit can be followed by home visits to see the animal in their environment, which helps the communicator collect more information and observe how that animal is reacting to various objects, other animals and people. Hands-on work that could include energy healing, use of herbal or floral essences and further dialogue with that animal would help supplement further care.

Young was once brought in to help with a donkey who had ongoing behavioral chal-lenges that owner Pam Dunne was seeking to understand and better adapt to.

“Alyson’s work with my donkey Jenny was a special e x p e r i e n c e for all of us,” Dunne said. “She showed me that there is indeed a wider and deeper rela-tionship that we can have with animals, espe-cially the ones we share our lives with.”

Young works with many species of animals, from cats and dogs to horses and other barn animals. She has also communicated with wild animals, from Mari the moose to a swarm of hornets follow-ing an incident where a young

child in their neighborhood was stung after stepping on the nest.

Young says she communicated the safety concerns to the hornets and requested that they relocate.

“I never saw them again after that,” she says. This case demonstrated a universal truth for

Young.“When you’re speaking authentically with

an animal about their safety and well-being — it’s not just ‘I don’t like you,’ but it’s ‘Here’s the situation,’” she said. “There’s usually a response.”

(Continued from previous page)

As a student of wildlife biology at the Washington State University, Young had the unique opportunity to work with Mari as she grew into an adult moose.

PAGE 20 — Animal Families – Addison Independent, Monday, March 18, 2013

Best Action Shot

Cutest Pet

Best Couch Potato

The Winners!

Hooligan‘Pet Pillow’

Mason ‘Soccer Face’

Mason is a one-year-old Collie/Lab mix with a lot of energy. He gets many Frisbees thrown to him daily. He loves to jump and catch....

Sadie‘Sleeping Mastiff Pup’

Hi! My mom calls me Sadie

Bug. I am a 6-month-old

English mastiff and, yup, I

am the queen of couch pota-

toes. I live in Shoreham with

my mom and dad, Patsy and

Scott Munson.

Sadie‘Sleeping Mastiff Pup’

Hi! My mom calls me Sadie

Bug. I am a 6-month-old

English mastiff and, yup, I

am the queen of couch pota-

toes. I live in Shoreham with

my mom and dad, Patsy and

Scott Munson.

Mason‘Frisbee Dog’

Penny‘Cat Karate’Penny‘Cat Karate’

As voted on by Addison Independent readers

Reeva‘Lounging’

Cruiser‘Nap Time’Cruiser‘Nap Time’

Lily ‘Puppy Eyes’

Congratulations to all the winners of our first ever Pet Photo Contest!

We received many wonderful entires and found it hard to narrow it down to our

top ten. More than 300 of our readers voted for who they liked best and here are

the results. Thank you to everyone who submitted photos and we look forward

to seeing even more next year!

2nd

2nd

2nd

3rd

3rd

3rd

1st

1st

Addison Independent, Monday, March 18,2013 – Animal Families — PAGE 21

Best Action Shot

Best DressedBest Couch Potato

Funniest Expression

Tucker‘Straw Hat’

Oliver‘Winter Sweater’

This is a picture of our new puppy. He is a Shichon. His name is Oliver. Of course we think he is adorable!

Penny‘Cat Karate’Penny‘Cat Karate’

Harley and Davidson‘Moto Dogs’

Hi! We love living in Vermont. In the wintertime we love to chase squirrels from the bird feeders and play in the snow. In the summer months, Mom and Dad take us for a ride on the motor-cycle and most of our trips end up at a creemee stand — OH BOY — vanilla with sprinkles!!!!

Max ‘Ball?’

Callie and Freckles ‘Tongue Out’

Leo ‘Dinner Time Angst’

Leo, a Dachshund/Terrier mix, is so excited

for dinner that he cannot

keep his face in place.

Jeremy‘Post Surgery

Stripes’

Jeremy‘Post Surgery

Stripes’

2nd

2nd

3rd

3rd

3rd

1st1st

1st

PAGE 22 — Animal Families – Addison Independent, Monday, March 18, 2013

Hilarity daysBOULDER, A STANDARD poodle puppy, and Monty, a 1-year-old golden retriever/

Great Pyrenees mix have lots of puppy fun.Photo submitted by Gayle Grim

Stare downBELLA, A 9-YEAR-OLD springer spaniel, loves to hunt! She got this mouse away

from a cat and the chase ensued. The mouse put up a good fight, but needless to say, it was no match for such a fine hunter.

Photo submitted by Shannon Kayhart

If you ever wonder what your teeth would look like if you never brushed or flossed, take a look at your dog or cat’s teeth.

According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, more than 85 percent of dogs and cats show signs of oral disease by age three. The trouble begins when food particles and bacteria build up in the mouth to form plaque and tartar, which leads to reversible gingivitis. Gingivitis, if ignored, will progress to periodontal disease.

Irreversible periodontal disease is a painful process that leads to tooth decay, bad breath, bleeding gums and, in severe cases, tooth loss. When bacteria from periodontal disease trav-els into a pet’s bloodstream, the lungs, heart, kidneys, liver and nervous system can be affected.

These infections usually are treatable when caught at an early stage. However, if they are not caught in time, they can cause serious organ damage and even death.

All pets are at risk for developing dental problems, so it is important for you to have your pets examined by a veterinarian annually

to detect problems early. It also is important for owners to check their pets often between visits for these warning signs:

• Bad breath.• Tartar buildup on the teeth.• Swollen, receding or bleeding gums.• Fractured or abscessed teeth.• Change in eating habits.Experts recommend that a pet be taken to a

veterinarian immediately if it shows any of the above symptoms. While February was officially “National Pet Dental Health Care Month,” any month will do to review a pet’s dental care and take the necessary steps to ensure the pet has healthy teeth and gums.

These steps include an annual checkup, where recommendations may be made for cleaning, polishing and other dental care in the hospital and a program of home dental care, which may include regular brushing, specific diets and dental chews.

Editor’s note: This story was provided by Dr. M. Kathleen Shaw, DVM, of the Vermont Veterinary Medical Association.

Vt. vets say animals need regular dental checkups

Addison Independent, Monday, March 18,2013 – Animal Families — PAGE 23

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PAGE 24 — Animal Families – Addison Independent, Monday, March 18, 2013