If you’ve ever looked at your dog and wondered what they were thinking, or watched your cat do something baffling and wished you could simply ask why, you’ve already had a desire for animal communication.
Most people who find their way to this work are curious, a little hopeful, and sometimes a little skeptical. All three are welcome here. This guide explains what animal communication is, how it works, what happens in a session, and what it can and can’t do, so you can decide for yourself whether it’s right for you and your animal.
I’m Michelle Hawk, a professional animal communicator and pet psychic based in Portland, Oregon. I’ve been offering sessions since 2008, with more than 1,000 sessions for clients in Portland, across the US, and around the world.
What Is Animal Communication?
Animal communication is the practice of forming an intuitive, energetic connection with an animal and translating what they share into words a person can understand. It is a form of mediumship, based on the idea that all living beings are connected through a shared consciousness. When that connection forms, a practitioner can receive information from the animal and relay it to the person who loves them.
In a session, I act as a translator. You bring your questions and concerns, I connect with your animal, and I relay what they share as closely as possible to their own words. Animals also communicate through sharing images, emotions, body sensations and other senses.
Animal Communicator, Pet Psychic, Pet Medium: What’s the Difference?
You’ll see several terms for this work: animal communicator, pet psychic, animal whisperer, and pet medium. In practice they describe the same thing. “Pet medium” is most often used when the animal being contacted has passed on, and “pet psychic” is the term many people search for. Whatever it’s called, the process is the same: connecting with an animal and translating what they share.
How Does Animal Communication Work?
Animal communication works energetically rather than physically. The connection doesn’t depend on being in the same room, which is why most of my sessions happen over Zoom with clients across the US and worldwide. Your pet doesn’t need to be present, awake, or nearby. A clear photo and your pet’s name is all I need to establish the connection.
How Animals Communicate
Animals don’t communicate in sentences the way we do. In my experience they share information in several ways: pictures, words or phrases, body sensations, emotions, smells, and a sense of direct knowing. Just as some people are more visual or more auditory, some animals show more pictures, some use more words, and some share more feelings. My job is to receive all of that and translate it clearly.
When I was a child, I felt very connected to animals, and animals always seemed to like me. It felt like we understood each other. Even wild animals who would run if anyone else approached felt comfortable in my presence. At the time, it just felt like a natural state of being. I wasn’t yet consciously identifying messages or information from the animals.
That changed when my childhood dog passed away in 2008. I was devastated and desperate to feel connected with her again. I found a weekend workshop with renowned animal communicator Karen Anderson and immediately signed up.
During that workshop, my world view completely changed, because I realized I had been subconsciously communicating with animals for my entire life. The practice exercises with animals in the class felt effortless, and people confirmed my answers every time. I began to distinguish the images, words and feelings as messages from the animals, rather than my own thoughts or imagination. Since then, I have continued to develop my practice over thousands of sessions with animals worldwide.
What Can Animal Communication Help With?
People come to animal communication for many reasons, ranging from everyday curiosity to some of the hardest moments of loving an animal.
Behavior Challenges
Reactivity, anxiety, aggression, litter box problems, and sudden changes in behavior all have a reason behind them. Animal communication helps uncover what your animal is experiencing so you can respond to the cause rather than only the symptom. It works well alongside training. (Read more: how animal communication helps with dog behavior problems.)
Health Concerns
I’m not a veterinarian and can’t diagnose anything. What I can do is ask your animal how they’re feeling, where they feel discomfort, and what they need, which gives you information to bring to your vet. This is especially helpful for puzzling symptoms and for checking whether a treatment plan feels right to your animal.
End-of-Life Support
When an animal is aging or ill, sessions can help you understand what they need for comfort and whether they feel ready to go. Many clients tell me this brings peace to one of the hardest decisions they will ever make.
Connecting With Animals Who Have Passed On
Many people book sessions to connect with an animal who has passed away, for reassurance, closure, or one more conversation. I recommend waiting about a month after a pet passes to allow for a clearer connection. (Read more: what a pet medium does.)
Lost or Missing Pets
Animal communication can sometimes offer location clues and help guide an animal toward home, though there are no guarantees. If your pet is missing, email me directly for priority booking. (Read more: can animal communication help find a lost pet?)
Life Changes
Moving, a new baby, a new pet, or a change in the household can all be hard on animals. A session gives them a chance to be heard and helps them feel included in what’s happening.
What Happens in an Animal Communication Session?
Before Your Session
When you book your appointment, you’ll receive an intake form. The most important part is a clear, recent photo of your animal. To prepare for your session, think about your questions ahead of time. All questions are welcome.
During Your Session
I begin by connecting with your animal and confirming with you that I’m speaking with the right one based on their energy. I then invite them to share whatever is on their mind, which is often related to why you booked, though sometimes something unexpected comes through. Then I turn to your questions, one at a time, and relay the answers as closely as I can to what your animal shares. At the end I ask whether they have anything more to say.
On Zoom, you can record the session to revisit later.
After Your Session
Depending on what comes up, I may send a follow-up email with recommendations or resources, such as nutrition ideas, training or behavior support, or referrals to other practitioners.
Is Animal Communication Real?
Let’s just say the science is still catching up. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence out there about telepathic communication, but studies in consciousness and quantum physics are barely beginning to scratch the surface to prove it. My academic background is in biology, so I understand why this question matters.
What I can tell you with confidence is what I’ve seen and personally experienced over 20 years of practice. Clients regularly confirm details I couldn’t have known: a specific spot an animal loves, a physical symptom, a personality quirk, a favorite object. Then they notice changes in their animals afterward. You can read what clients say in the reviews and weigh it for yourself.
Some of my clients arrive skeptical, and you don’t need to believe in this for a session to be worthwhile. A good approach is to treat it as an experiment: go in curious and open, notice what comes through, and see for yourself.
“I was a little skeptical at first to be truly honest. I really wanted closure after my dog passed and to also see how my other dog is doing, so decided to book a session. I was truly blown away with what was said during the session. There were things said that no one knows about. I have a necklace with my pups ashes that I was wearing underneath my hoodie and the last thing Michelle shared with me is that Bentley would like me to wear my necklace more often. Now again she could not see the necklace nor has it been posted. 10/10 recommend. ”
What Animal Communication Is Not
It is not a substitute for veterinary care or training. If your animal is sick or hurt, see your vet. Animal communication works best alongside veterinary and training support, not instead of it.
It also comes with no guarantees. I do my best to connect clearly and share what comes through, and every animal and situation is different.
One client contacted me because their dog had been acting a bit off and a little lethargic. It didn’t look too serious on the surface, but they wanted to know what was going on. In our session, the dog told me that it was an issue with her kidneys. The person took the dog into the vet and they immediately confirmed that she had an acute kidney injury as a result of a secondary infection, and the dog spent over a week in urgent care. The client kept me updated of the situation and expressed how grateful they were to have had the information from our session that allowed them to act right away before things got worse.
How to Get Started
Sessions start at $100 for 20 minutes and $250 for 60 minutes, held via Zoom from anywhere in the world. Choose 60 minutes if you have several questions or more than one animal, since 20 minutes is best for a focused check-in. I also offer longer sessions for more complex or multi-animal households, and in-person sessions in the Portland, Oregon area and the Columbia River Gorge.
To get started, book a session here, complete the intake form with a photo of your animal, and jot down your questions. If you’d like to know more first, you can learn more about how animal communication works or email me with any questions before you book.
For horses, barn visits, or hands-on energy healing, in-person sessions in Portland may be a better fit.
Michelle Hawk is a professional animal communicator and pet psychic based in Portland, Oregon, with a biology degree in animal behavior from the University of Puget Sound. She offers virtual sessions worldwide and in-person sessions in the greater Portland area and Columbia River Gorge. Learn more about Michelle →