With the 18th anniversary of September 11th this month, I thought I would republish the article that I wrote following this tragic loss. It is a reminder that we can all help those people and animals who are emotionally hurting under whatever circumstances by sending positive, healing thoughts their way.
Here is the Animal Connection Newsletter article that was published in 2001.
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September 11, 2001 will always be in our memories. As we mourn the loss of all those who tragically died from this event, we all deal with this in our own way.
Just like all of you, I was shocked when I heard the first reports coming over the news. Since I live on the West Coast, this was all happening before 6am our time. My husband was on his way to work and it didn’t take me long to ask him to please come home, since he works in a high rise building in San Diego, which is the home of the Pacific Navy Fleet.
Over the next few days, like many of you, I was glued to the TV and wondering what I could do to help. As I watched one of the search and rescue dogs coming out of the rubble, I burst into tears as I could feel his emotions. This brave Golden Retriever was doing his job so diligently. His job was to find bodies and yet, he had found none. He was depressed and confused. He only wanted to do his job.
I immediately shut off the TV and tried to communicate with him. I introduced myself, as I always do, and asked if he would communicate with me. He didn’t seem to question my presence at all. I told him that I had seen him on TV and he made me cry because he was so sad. I explained how many people were so proud of the work he was doing. I told him that I know how hard it is to keep searching and not have any success. But the work he was doing was helping so many families who were worried about their loved ones. I told him that I thought he was so brave and so special to have such an important job where he could be of service to so many.
I could feel this friendly Golden Retriever sigh. Although he felt that he had the weight of the world on his shoulders, it seemed to be a slight bit less heavy now.
Over the next few days I heard stories of the dog handlers hiding in the rubble, so that their dogs could find them. They knew their dogs needed to feel some sense of success and reward. The rescuers might not admit that they telepathically communicate with their dogs but certainly they were feeling the depression and sense of failure that their dogs were feeling.
After this one communication, I decided that what I could do for those in NYC was to help their animals. There were stories of animals being left behind, stories of so many who had perished and then there were happy stories about those who had been reunited with their people. With this in mind I decided to do what I would call a broadcast communication, inviting all the animals in that area to hear to what I had to say.
Within seconds, I felt as though I was surrounded by animals…mostly cats and dogs but also a few fish, snakes, iguanas, mice, gerbils, and hamsters. The emotions and confusion that poured from these animals was so huge that I had to quickly tell them that I was there to help but I needed to have some order in how I would help.
I began with the group that I felt was most frightened, those who were still separated from their people. I explained that their own people and others were trying to reunite them with their families if they could. I told them that I was sorry to say that many people lost their lives and I did not know who would be reunited and who would not. I also reassured them that there were many people there to care for them and they would be treated kindly, no matter what. Almost all of them calmed down and said they were willing to wait. A few that were too overcome with emotion to comprehend what I was telling them required some individual communication, which I provided.
The next group I met with were those animals who had passed away but due to the suddenness and shock of it all, they didn’t realize that they had passed on into the spirit world. I explained that they needed to move on. Some would meet their people in the spirit world and others would be cared for by spirits they did not know but who loved them. At that point, one of the deceased search and rescue dogs asked if he could show them the way. He had been waiting for his partner to come back but now realized his partner was alive but he was not. He felt his last act of service was to guide the others on their way.
And finally, I met with the group of animals who had found their people again but were so frightened by all the events. Even some who were not right in the immediate area joined this group because the incident was too close for comfort. These animals told me how grateful they were to find their people and be reunited. Most wanted to give comfort to their human family but felt so needy themselves. I reassured them that what they were feeling was to be expected. They should try to stay close to their family for now, so they could all heal together. Apparently my youngest dog also picked up this message, because she would not stop begging me to touch her, which I think helped to heal us both.
I invite all of you who can communicate to send a message of reassurance to the animals in NYC. If you have not learned how to communicate yet then send positive, healing thoughts to the animals in the area. Just like us, their world has been shaken and they need our support.
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Although this tragic event and this communication with the animals is now 18 years ago, I know it still touches my heart, especially at this time of the year. Please join me to continue sending positive, healing thoughts and prayers to the animals and families who were personally involved in this tragic day.