I get emails nearly everyday from people all over the world, asking me for my healing assistance with their pet companions.

Q: What do you know about abused animals?

A: We are all wounded animals.

Many animals suffer abuse of some kind during their lives. Abuse can take the form of physical assaults or punishment, but many pets suffer from the silent abuse of neglect.

Just as in humans, when abuse occurs during a sensitive stage of a pet’s development, it can have a profound impact for the rest of its life, even if the pet is removed from the abusive environment.

An older animal may bounce back from a bad situation, but a young, impressionable pet will show lasting mental scars. He or she often has to be coaxed out of a shell of resistance and will likely never be fully trusting.

A large mixed breed dog once jumped the fence and grabbed Fritzl, my miniature dachshund, when he was 2 years old by the neck. He shook Fritzl back and forth so hard that Fritzl was crying and screaming like a baby. I began screaming too, yelling HELP! The dog’s owner quickly came out and commanded his dog to stop. From that day forward, Fritzl will never walk by that house, even though they moved 4 years ago. Whenever Fritzl sees a dog similar to this one, he shakes, barks and runs.

Someone told me that the best way to stop a dog from attacking your pet is to pick him up by his back legs. This will surprise and unbalance him and then he will drop your pet. I, too, was so shook up after this. I pray it never happens to you.

The many forms of abuse:
* Unnecessarily early weaning (maternal deprivation)
* Social isolation (partial or complete)
* Deprivation of proper learning experiences
* Physical restraint (tying, too small crates or cages)
* Verbal or physical punishment (yelling, hitting, beating)
* Improper or indifferent feeding, hygiene, grooming, care and maintenance
* Deliberate or unconscious infliction of chronic stress or pain

I would like to add another form of animal abuse which stems from surgically altering your animal. Why do so many dogs get their tails cut off ritually? Dogs express themseves through their tails. I look at an amputated tail trying to wag and could cry! It reminds me of unnecessary ritual circumcision. And surgically cutting a dog’s ears so that they can stick up looks so artificial! That’s an improvement? Fritzl has an extra thumb that never gets in the way. One vet, that I no longer see, suggested it be cut off. Who does that benefit? Me? Fritzl? Or the vet’s wallet? May I also add that these practices are mainly in the U.S.

The response to abuse is mistrust, withdrawal, inactivity, and depression. Severely affected animals may not want or know how to play. They remain vigilant, reclusive and often quiet.

I rescued Fritzl from a woman who attempted suicide and was brought to the hospital. I was away at the time. Fritzl was so wild when anyone came to his apartment to feed, water and walk him. He ran and hid so he could not be caught. He was home alone for four days before I could get him. He was forced to so spend many hours alone and feared the return of this situation with such intensity that he became overly attached to me.

I take Fritzl wherever I go. But sometimes I need to go to places where pets are prohibited, such as a restaurant. Fritzl knows when I’m leaving him. He runs out the door and tries to hide in the garden or basement. When I finally catch him, he shows extreme anxiety. He quivers and shakes. Fritzl hates being left alone. I give him hugs and kisses before I leave and tell him I’ll be right back.

And boy is he ever happy and excited to see me again. It’s like we first met!

IF YOU SUSPECT YOUR PET HAS BEEN ABUSED IN THE PAST, PLEASE EMAIL ME WITH THE DETAILS. OR IF YOUR PET HAS NATURAL FEARS, SUCH AS FEAR OF LOUD NOISES OR OF BEING LEFT ALONE, PLEASE EMAIL ME FOR SUGGESTIONS.

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