Want to read Rover's mind? Hire a pet communicator

Dr. Doolittle's got nothing on Greater Seattle's pack of animal communicators. These dog, cat and canary whisperers help owners get to the bottom of behavior and health problems, locate lost pets, even talk to their dearly departed furry friends.

If you've ever watched Animal Planet's popular TV show "The Pet Psychic," you know that these critter clairvoyants "talk" with animals telepathically, by exchanging mental images rather than words. Like Sonia Fitzpatrick, the show's star, many pet communicators say they discovered their knack for chatting with animals by accident (often with a family pet).

Some hone their telepathic chops in classes taught by seasoned communicators. Others do so on their own, practicing on their own pets or those of friends and family. While some boast a background in veterinary medicine or animal behavior, many more do not. Understandably, the profession incites as many skeptics as supporters.

To find out how these mind-melders work their magic, and how you can benefit from their services, we had a word with two of the region's top pet communicators.

Oh, behave!
It's the bane of every pet owner's existence: After years of domestic bliss, Fifi has suddenly become hell-bent on eviscerating the sofa with her incisors. Since reasoning with such four-legged charmers is out of the question, many pet owners at their wits' end call animal communicators like Orcas Island resident Mary J. Getten to save the day -- and the home furnishings.

Before each session, Getten asks owners to make a list of rewards they're prepared to dole out if their pet gives up the dreaded behavior -- and the consequences the pet will face if he or she does not comply. During the session, which she conducts by phone, Getten silently asks the animal why the sudden change in behavior. Though the pet doesn't have to be sitting near the phone, Getten does ask owners for a physical description of their pet and home.

Then the negotiations begin. For instance, if Fifi reveals that she's sorely lacking in exercise, Getten may help broker a deal where Mom agrees to walk Fifi more, Fifi agrees to leave the couch be, and nobody has to wait in a crate while Mom's at work.

TINA ROSE

What's on your mind, Lester? Mary J. Getten knows.

Tell me where it hurts
When Buddy is limping or Bella hasn't eaten in days, but the doctor can't find anything wrong, many pet owners turn to a trusted telepath. In fact, next to pets behaving badly, pets who've stumped the vet account for the biggest chunk of Getten's business. And although animal communicators can't diagnose injuries or disease, they often can pinpoint the exact body part that's causing the animal discomfort or pain. "I can sometimes feel in my body that a dog's back is out," says Getten. "Then the owner takes them to a chiropractic vet [for a spinal adjustment] and boom, they're okay."

Owners of terminally ill pets will also call Getten, particularly when they're weighing whether to continue medical treatment. "I had a cat the other day with leukemia and he was on a lot of meds and he said, 'No more. Just let me go,'" she says. "It's really great for people to get a chance to talk to their animals so they don't feel like they're making the decision themselves."

Land of the lost
An AWOL pet can drive even the most skeptical owner to contact a telepath. "A lot of people who would never, never in their wildest dreams contact an animal communicator contact one when their beloved pet is missing," says Seattle-based communicator Hilary Renaissance, who's best known for locating lost cats and dogs.

To find missing pets -- and determine whether they're alive, injured or dead -- Renaissance asks the animal if it's inside or out, what it can see and hear and if it has heard its owner calling its name. Unlike Getten, she gets off the phone to chat with the pet, then calls the owner back with the results. Usually these conversations reveal whether the pet has crossed a major thoroughfare, how many blocks or miles it's traveled and what buildings and landscape are in immediate view.

Even when the news is bad, many owners are grateful to hear it. "A lot times I tell people that their pets have crossed over into the spirit world and it gives them the closure they need," she says. "Some of the kindest thank-you notes I've received are from people telling me that they would have always wondered what happened to their companion."

Tracking down a communicator
Some animal communicators make house calls. Others work exclusively by phone. Though most get calls from dog and cat owners, many also work with lizards, snakes, birds, ferrets and horses.

Because there's no governing board of animal communicators, it's wise to hire one who's been in business several years, backs that up with client testimonials, and teaches classes on the topic. It's also best to get a referral from a trainer or a fellow pet owner. Here are a few names to get you started:

Mary J. Getten, animal communicator who works with behavior and health issues and speaks with deceased pets. Works by phone; can talk with more than one pet per session. Fees are $50 for 30 minutes, $75 for 45 minutes, $100 for one hour.

Hilary Renaissance, animal communicator who locates missing pets and works with behavior problems. Works by phone. Lost animal phone consults are $105; other consults are $85. Consults last approximately 90 minutes.

Martha Norwalk, animal behavior therapist with telepathic skills who teaches pet owners to communicate with their pets to correct bad behavior. Fees are $53 an hour for house calls (plus free audiotape of in-home session and follow-up phone calls); $15 per 15 minutes via phone.

Kim Miller, animal communicator and medium who helps resolve behavior and health issues and communicates with deceased pets. Prefers to meet in person; fee is $75 an hour.