I was at a psychic fair recently, and as it was hot as Hades, capital H, some of the practitioners and vendors brought their dogs. I assume it was to keep a close eye on them because of the 90-degree heat. In some areas of the Pacific Northwest, that kind of heat isn’t common. Yes, I know some people routinely live in that kind of heat, but it can be a challenge for people who aren’t used to it.

The fair had dogs of all sizes, from older dogs with thick fur to tiny dogs with thinning hair. It reminded me that animals play a part in our metaphysical journey. Most have heard that the wytches of olde were believed to have familiars. It was usually cats, but it could be any animal they favored depending on their beliefs and practices. Cats were also worshipped in Ancient Egypt.

If you’ve been paying attention, you have noticed that pets react badly to one person but are nice to another in the next minute. Why is that? Dog trainers will tell you it’s because that person did something to trigger an instinctual response, which it could be. It could also be that the dog didn’t like the person’s energy.

Animal trainers will tell you that the state of energy you project matters. Calm energy with a dog keeps the dog calm. Excited energy will stimulate an animal, and being anxious will cause the same. Let’s add another layer to this knowledge. Threatening an animal can lead to fight or flight mode. What if you, as the owner, can’t sense this energy?

The incident that triggered this post was of a woman with her puppy. I think the dog was a rottweiler mix. Adorable. The owner was speaking to a practitioner at the event. The practitioner tried to pet the puppy, and it barked at her, not once but three times. The owner apologized, confused as to why the dog, who had been quiet and affectionate with everyone all day, suddenly barked and squirmed to get away.

There was nothing about the situation that would have made anyone think twice about the practitioner going up to pet the dog. People had been doing it all day for the past two days. What was different?

Energy. The practitioner was pleasant. She smiled a lot and seemed nice. Her energy, however was a different story. I’m not saying she was a bad person. What I’m saying is that her energy was suspect. Whether that was a result of her practices or she had a demon attached to her, I don’t know. I didn’t check as it’s an ethics no-no to look at someone without their permission. I will make exceptions depending on circumstances, but for the most part, I mind my own business.

It doesn’t take a scan to feel that something is wrong with someone’s energy. As the practitioner walked away, I walked up to the dog, held my hand out, and the dog licked my fingers and settled down immediately. The owner was astonished and wondered out loud why the dog had reacted so decidedly around the other woman. I told her that her dog could sense that the other woman’s energy was not good so she barked to protect her owner. When I stepped up, she knew that I wasn’t a threat and let me pet her.

The owner’s eyes widened further, wondering about the situation even more. I didn’t stick around to give her more details about it, I had to get back to my table, but I think she will pay more attention to the people she allows to be close to her. I hope she listens to her dog when she gives her a warning as there might not be another.

Pets are here to help us. Unfortunately, in the past, there have been incidents when pets have died for their owners. Some of mine have died for me. This was years ago before I even knew it was possible for them to do that, or I would have put a stop to it. How this shows up in my work is when people tell me that they have been experiencing paranormal activity in the house that is affecting everyone.

One of the common things with dogs is that they bark at nothing. Of course, it’s something. It’s only that the owners can’t see it. If whatever is in the house is strong enough to give everyone nightmares, it’s strong enough for pets to want to defend us. It starts with them getting sick.

Negative entities drain us, potentially making us sick. Animals will take that energy drain away from us and allow themselves to get sick instead. Even if we take them to the vet and they get better, as long as there is something in the house attacking us, our pets will take that on again and again until they pass away. If there is more than one pet, they will decide among them who will take the hits and when. One of the first things I ask is if someone has pets and how they are doing.

The good news is that often if we catch it early enough, once the house has been cleared, the pet recovers. I’ve also told people who love their pets as much as I do that they can tell their pets that they are not allowed to take on anything coming at them. I have cats. We know how obedient they are, but I remind them from time to time that I can handle anything thrown at me, and they don’t need to worry about it.

Having a pet helps us in so many ways. Both cats and dogs can help during healing sessions. They can hold space for the healing to occur, and some can naturally send healing energy. They might be able to help you in your practices, such as enjoying a long meditation session in your lap. They help us in so many ways that enhance our lives. If you are able to, adopt an animal and give it all the love it deserves. You will be saving a life. In the future, who knows, they could be saving yours.