This brings me to other questions I get constantly about our beloved pets.  What happens to them after they've passed on? Do they have spirit bodies too? Do they hang around their loved ones here after they pass away? Do they talk to you when they come through in readings? How do we know they are around?

First, yes (and I realize my answers are in different order than the questions, hehe), they pass into the spirit realm just like humans do. At the time of physical "death", they leave their physical body and become an etheric body (or body double of what they were physically). They remain in this body for a little while, and then, when it's time, they shed the etheric body where they then become a spirit body. From what spirit has taught me, just like humans, the spirit animals join their circle of loved ones on the other side, and many times they are with the spirit people of their owners. Sometimes, these spirit people will help bring to bring them through, but normally, I see them holding the animal saying "tell her I've got her cat", or "the dog is ok; it's important for him to know", etc.  At this point, I'll ask for descriptions or names of the animal just as I would ask for evidence from the spirit person about themselves.

Many people already know their spirit pets are around because they'll hear, feel or see them near after the pet has passed away. And no, it doesn't have to be only dogs or cats.  I believe that all animals have souls and therefore return to a spirit form and back home just as we do. My step-mom is an avid animal lover and took care of injured birds primarily in her career as a wildlife rehabilitator. I remember stories when I was really young, about hearing her favorite bird chirp or fly by after he'd passed away.  Our hamsters did the same thing - we'd hear the wheel turning when there was no hamster in the cage - late at night - same hamster noises. A woman at a store once told my step-mom that she had a cute dog - and then realized it wasn't there anymore. My step-mom said, "what dog?" and the woman said, "I just saw a large black dog near your legs". This was a few years after my favorite dog, Sunshine, passed away. She was a beautiful black dog and loved my step-mom and obviously had stopped in for a visit.

Do they ALWAYS stay around us? No, I don't believe they do; they have things to do just as our spirit people do. But I do know they check in here and there just like our spirit people do because they love us and are still connected by that bond of love.  I've found that some animals who suffered with an illness or debilitating disease before they passed (many times these are animals who had to be put down) are so relieved and happy to not be in that hurting body any more, that they just GO and don't look back! :) I felt that so much with our sweet dog, Sammy - he just seemed to float up and away in a hurry! He had suffered briefly but intensely with liver failure after having epilepsy for years before. The liver failure came out of the blue and so fast, and we couldn't bear him being in pain - but he seemed relieved. I felt him just drift off and away and it was so peaceful. You could just sense how much better things were for him. Sometimes, my son says he sees him under the table, but I haven't seen or felt him much except for hearing from him once during a reading I had, and I also connected to him once during a meditation. He came in so clearly and it was wonderful to see him again.  He also looked just like he did when he was healthy and younger.

How else do we know our spirit pets are around? They will sometimes manifest partially or fully like my black dog did with my step-mom. You may be able to smell them or hear them meow or bark or squawk, squeak, etc., you may feel them run by you or just really know they're in the room. Many times (and this STILL happens to me with a cat I had 20 years ago) if they slept with you on the bed, you may feel them jump up and lie down on the bed just as they did when they were physically here. I love that when that happens.  I'll feel a plop near my feet and circling (like cats do when they are trying to get comfy laying down) and then it's still.

Do they talk to me when they come through in readings? Yes, but in the way they did here on the earth plane - with symbols and emotions (our issue as silly humans is not understanding THEIR language rather than expecting them to learn ours!). So, they will give info in a way I can understand it - with symbols and feelings just like the spirit people who are from a different country than I am, do. I've had them tell me how they passed or what they went through before the passed, about the homes they lived in, their owners, what they ate, etc. All to identify themselves. I've had 5 dogs show up for one owner one time, but each was SO dear to this man - I think they came in over this man's spirit people! I had a group of animals come in once for a woman grief stricken to help her move forward from her grief. Spirit is amazing.

Our spirit animals love us unconditionally just like they did when they were here on the earth plane, and do hang around us when they aren't busy themselves - again, just like spirit people. They seem to make sure to come in with our spirit people during most readings, especially when my client is a huge animal lover or there is a specific reason to come through. Sometimes we feel or see them around, sometimes not, but we always know they love us and they know we did the best job we could. Keep them in your prayers and just remember to keep talking to them. They can hear you! :)