Interview with Dana Miller Coburn, Animal Communicator, of What Animals Tell Us
Floppycats.com asked Dana Miller Coburn, a pet talker, to answer some questions we had about animal communication as well as questions about her services. Thank you, Dana for the interview.
Dana Miller Coburn is located in Montrose, CA can be reached through her website What Animals Tell Us
Answers are Copyright of Dana Miller Coburn
How long have you been communicating with animals?
Many communicators will tell you that they realize they had been communicating with animals all along, since early childhood. For me, I was just mostly aware of a high sensitivity to them for as long as I can remember. My first memories of having an acute awareness for animals came as early as 3 or 4 years old, when I remember being concerned about anything that might cause harm or bring unhappiness to the ones that were around me. At that age, I already felt as though they weren’t receiving their due respect from humans. I didn’t think that I was communicating with them then; I just wanted them to be considered in our family decisions and knew that they had feelings. Growing up, I could also strongly identify with them on an important level: I felt emotionally neglected as a young person and was rarely asked how I felt or what I thought. Consequently, I developed a rich “inner world” of thoughts and feelings that were all mine but never acknowledged by anyone. I imagined that animals too, must have had a similar emotional inner world that was being overlooked, and was intensely interested in what they felt.
How does one communicate with animals?
It mostly has to do with being able to quiet the mind long enough to hear them. Our problem as a society is that we are not encouraged to cultivate the ability to listen more carefully to what is around us. This is because our minds are too busy with conscious thought processes. Our minds are like telephones: no one can connect with you if your line is busy all the time. And since we process some 50,000 conscious thoughts each day, so much mental chatter continually bombards the quiet mental space that is required to hear what they are trying to say to us. It is, therefore, a discipline; the better one becomes at clearing away their conscious thoughts (by meditation or other practices), the easier it becomes to hear them. Once someone recognizes an animal’s voice, it becomes easier by the day. But it does take practice to become comfortable with what you are hearing. It is then a matter of trusting the voice and not dismissing it as something else.
Can you share with us, one of your favorite animal communication stories? How it impacted the owner or the animal or both?
There are many communications I have had with animals that have had a significant impact upon either the human, or the animal’s life. For me, animals can and do exchange dialogue about some very serious personal issues relating to their humans. A powerful example has to do with a recent lost animal case.
A young woman, college educated and of many talents, had for years been wasting her time and talent on lowly jobs that were far below her level of personal capability and intellectual range. She had really been under-utilizing herself. She had also come to place much of her personal “angst” on the dog, who had been serving as her primary confidante and best friend.
One day, the dog literally disappeared from her porch. There was no trace of her anywhere. The dog’s message to her was extremely direct:
[Paraphrased] “I left because you are using me as personal crutch, as a way to hide from yourself and not deal with what you should be doing with your life. You are not making choices that suit your capabilities. You are underserving yourself and wasting a lot of time in your life. When I am not here to lean on, perhaps you will re-consider your options.”
Up to this point, no one else had been able to get her to listen or motivate her to step up to do her best in life, given so much talent and education. The dog felt that as long as she remained there as an “emotional crutch” and continued to be relied upon so much upon her as sole company, that she would continue to stagnate without personal reflection. The dog also indicated that she might return, but that the woman should think about how she could improve her life rather than even spending the time looking for her.
The dog’s disappearance, along with her astute insight and personal message, brought about a sharp emotional impact and a shift in the woman’s energy and inspired a serious review of the life course she was on. She was also in disbelief that her own dog could know her better than anyone else did.
The dog did come home again eventually, but by then everyone had recognized that the “missing dog incident” was not just a coincidence, and that her disappearance and subsequent communication had genuinely jolted the woman into re-considering her life’s choices.
So, animals can—and do—change our lives for the better, if we listen.
Do you prefer to communicate with younger or older animals?
All animals have a point of view that is meaningful, regardless of their age. Sometimes their age will be consistent with the level of knowledge and maturity they possess; other times it won’t. Some animals just seem to know a lot, regardless of age. One never knows what they will find out until they ask them. Each one, regardless of age, has something meaningful to say.
Do you prefer to communicate with a certain type of animal? I mean, do you do better with cats, dogs, horses? Do you even talk to reptiles?
Different species often have an energy that is unique to them. For example, horses consistently convey a huge energy field, which feels different to me than do dogs or cats. Each species seems to have a kind of trademark “feel” to their collective energy. Coyotes and other non-domestics each have unique energy qualities as well. I am equally interested in all individuals, regardless of species. But I’d say that, perhaps, cats are the ones I know and understand best. But I’d be hard-pressed to just pick one species to work with if I had to.
How do your services work? Do you come to my home? Do I bring my pet to you? Do you communicate LIVE over the phone or in person?
My style and strong suit as a communicator is to go in-depth with them and be thorough in getting to know an animal and his or her individual energy. For me, this is accomplished by long-distance communication. I spend significant private time with each one and this approach is how I work best. A photograph of them (if available), and their location or address brings about great results. My ability to “hear” them is very strong, so I always end up with a complete written transcript of the communication, which can be of great benefit to the human listener. I have a very high regard for each one and want them to feel safe to share what is important during their time with me; thus, I prefer to invest more of a block of time rather than just a fixed hour. This way they can feel free to relax and open up. And since they may not get another “formal” opportunity to talk about it, they receive plenty of time and attention during their sessions. Some people think that in-person visits are more meaningful, but that really isn’t the case.
What do you charge for your services? Do you have a package deal?
My services may be different than other communicators in the field. I work on a flat-rate basis—not hourly—so that I can more fully accommodate the needs of the animal. I prefer to spend blocks of time with them in the interest of being thorough and complete. Fees for services are per case, and very reasonable. What Animals Tell Us has established session rates, but we will also work up individualized packages based upon need. I also offer rescue rates to rescuers and members of the welfare community as a way to support them in their work.
Why do you think animal communication is valuable?
It is valuable because, as a society, we have yet to recognize animals as the immense keepers of wisdom they are and the fact that they can teach us about ourselves in ways that no one else can. Our animals know us better than most, simply because they live with us, day in and day out. They cut right to the core when it comes to sharing what they know and feel. They typically do not have inhibitions like humans do, such as self-consciousness, vanity, and arrogance. Thus, their advice is pointed and uncomfortable at times because they don’t hold back anything. Most humans are buried by varying levels of emotional baggage, making it harder for us to see at the heart of something. Animals are also more in touch with their spiritual heritage, making them valuable teachers for us on many levels. Also, you cannot make a good decision about anything or anyone without two-party input. If a problem seems to revolve around them, then it is only fair to ask them their viewpoint, as a way to make a more informed decision. No one would want someone else to decide their fate without first asking them how they feel about it.
Do you think if a vet would incorporate animal communication into their practice it would be helpful?
Certainly, because there are more dimensions to animals than just the physical one. Like all other beings, their health issues often manifest because of emotional or energy blockage, or from something other than what medicine can heal. If more vets were willing to incorporate the emotional considerations of their patients, in conjunction with what their professional expertise offers, I believe that many would heal better and faster.
Are you able to communicate with an animal in the afterlife? How does that work?
Yes, certainly. Energy can never be created nor destroyed; it can only change form. The absence of a physical body does not eliminate the soul energy, which is invisible to the human eye anyway. But their spirit, and the part that we can always communicate with regardless of its form, continues on forever. The energy of an animal in spirit feels different in communication. It feels “lighter” to me. And, without a physical form to anchor them down to earthly concerns, they often transmit information of a much higher order and importance, rather than about things that no longer apply to them in their current form. A great deal of learning (and peace) can be found by communicating with an animal companion that has passed over.
Hi, I’m Jenny Dean, creator of Floppycats! Ever since my Aunt got the first Ragdoll cat in our family, I have loved the breed. Inspired by my childhood Ragdoll cat, Rags, I created Floppycats to connect, share and inspire other Ragdoll cat lovers around the world,
please, can you tell me if my franklin who went missing in chicago 3 yrs ago, if he found a new home or if he’s in kitty heaven? its a long story but i don’t know if he was taken or fell out the door because i may not have shut it good enough. i still miss him so terribly. it would help me to move past the guilt if i knew. thx. kp
Great interview, thanks ! 🙂