Impact
What participants are saying!!
After Giving Animals Voice was incorporated, a third pilot was initiated that allowed multiple shelters and rescues to experience animal communication. The third pilot focused on dogs and on streamlining the process. After each session, the organizations were asked questions related to 1) whether the dogs benefited; and 2) whether animal communication could be an innovative tool for the caregivers. Surveys were sent to participants and participants impressions and feedback were gathered and are available for review: What Participants Said about Pilot 3.
Giving Animals Voice continues to allow rescues and shelters to experience free animal communication sessions. We have improved and streamlined the process to make it easy for the organizations to participate. We try to tailor each session to the unique questions and needs of the animals and the caregiver. We continue to ask for the organization’s impressions and feedback and may share it with those interested in animal well-being.
The comments below are some actual quotes from participants’ Survey Responses and follow up emails.
Chance’s Story
Chance, a blind dog, was asked what they could do to make him less agitated.
“I took the key points from the communication with Chance (as far as his requests for interacting with people) and made an information sheet that is hanging on his kennel for volunteers to read before interacting with him. This has prompted a lot more discussion around Chance and his well-being with volunteers and his helping them to be more aware. In the last few weeks Chance seems less disoriented, more settled, and is navigating the spaces he is in with more awareness. He’s also been less restless at night and responding to more of the verbal cues we give him. The communication session with Chance was so helpful to us in being able to better meet his needs and I feel like is a big part of the positive changes we are noticing with him!”
“Also, I wanted to share with you that Chance is now in a foster home!
We’ve received many good updates from the foster about how well Chance is doing there and how he’s showing more of his personality. The foster does have another dog also. I know in the communication session it came up about him wanting to be around another dog, so I’m so happy he has that now. We are so thrilled with him getting to be in a home and are keeping our fingers crossed that this will turn into an adoption! “
Blackie’s Story
Blackie was asked about his experience with an adopter who returned him.
“The communicator did a great job in giving me a good sense of Blackie’s personality and needs and the session provided great insights that we can use in looking for a potential foster or adoption placement for Blackie.”
“Approximately 1 week after the communication session, Blackie went into a foster to adopt situation. This is what was brought up in the communication session with him as an ideal scenario for him. They didn’t intentionally come to our organization that day to meet Blackie. They came to meet another dog. But Blackie won them over and I feel there is a strong correlation from Blackie being heard in the communication session and this foster to adopt situation happening for him. Also in the week that we had him still with us after the communication session, he seemed calmer, happier, and was more willing to go on walks than he previously had been. Those were all very positive changes for him.”
When Blackie had to go back to the sanctuary for medical treatment, he was asked how he was feeling physically and whether he would like to go back to the foster. The results of that session were extremely helpful for guiding Blackie’s treatment and also conversations with his foster family because we know that his wish was to return there so we continued to pursue that for him. Also I believe it was very helpful for Blackie to hear about the care we were giving him so that he could return to this foster family and through that supported him in his recovery.” Blackie returned to the foster.
Odin’s Story
Odin was asked about his stress and his sociability with other dogs
Founder – Survey Response
”This session, too, was reinforcing to us in our “read” of Odin and in the fact that he described feeling “seen” by us and that he was free to be himself with us. It also revealed Odin’s perspective about himself and that the struggles we are having in “stabilizing” him and helping him to respond more predictably is something that is truly his struggle…and that he said he will continue to struggle as such. I so wish we had the time and space to allow every dog everything they need to successfully find their person….”
Hulk’s Story
Hulk was asked about his preferences for his forever home
Board member – Survey 1
“In the beginning of the session she mentioned his ears. This is something I didn’t mention (past injury and ongoing issues) and it’s not published anywhere so I was impressed. I would definitely recommend. Very professional and easy to communicate with.”
Board member – email follow up
“I did bring him home after the session and so many things were true! He went to the vet about his ears, he wanted to play with my big dogs so bad and he was so easy going here. I shared his recording with our director and few different board members and they loves it, too!”
