When Athena D'Amato scheduled her Aussiedoodle Bluey to see an animal communicator, she knew it would be a fun activity for her husband and dog to do together.
But after her 2022 session, the Toronto resident said she realized animal communicators, also known as pet psychics, had much more to offer.
“She knew things about our family that she never knew. And she gave us some advice that continued to help Bluey with his anxiety. I did.”
D'Amato said her pet psychic, Angel Morgan, was really concerned that she left Bluey alone at home without telling him where she was going and wanted to know how long Bluey would be gone.
“This brings us back to Angel being part of Bluey's health care.”
Mr. D'Amato is not alone in this. Believe it or not, there appears to be a growing demand for pet psychic services across Canada and the United States, with house calls costing up to $500 and wait times sometimes months. be.
Angel Morgan performs psychic readings for Bluey and his owner Athena D'Amato.
In a world where people can now take their pets to high-end spas that offer services like facials, buy them designer clothing, and hire party planners for their pet's birthdays, perhaps pets Psychicism may be a natural next step.
Some people offering the service say people are willing to pay to gain insight into their pets' minds, from understanding their anxious thoughts to finding their favorite food.
Animal communicators claim to have the ability to communicate with any animal, living or dead. Some psychics say their business is booming.
“Honestly, we can't keep up with the demand,” said Meg Wickel, who has offered her services primarily online for the past seven years. He is also available for house calls within the Greater Toronto Area, but costs can run as high as $500.
“It's growing really fast.”
Wickel said her business, which includes Canadians and U.S. residents, has tripled in the past 18 months. As the practice grows in popularity, more pet psychics are entering the field, she said.
“It's growing really fast, and I don't know why. I think a lot of communicators across North America are getting more active.”
Wickel also trains other communicators to help them find their place in the budding industry and help with their workload.
“People are really appreciating the ability to connect with their pets on a deeper level these days, and they're now learning that they can do that.”
Wickel said it can help with communication between people and pets, whether living or dead.
“Many people are looking for help connecting with animals that have died or will die.”
Pet psychic Meg Wickel talks about how she receives communications from animals.
Vickel, who used to work in marketing and communications, said she moved into the field of animal communication about seven years ago after another psychic told her she had the ability to communicate with animals.
“She said you have the ability to experience animals in a way that most people don't have.”
Morgan has customers in other regions, including Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Like Wickel, Morgan claims to be able to communicate with any animal. Her customers have a variety of pets, from cats and birds to chickens and horses. Some people come to her in connection with her deceased pets.
“Business is definitely picking up,” said Morgan, who occasionally works at a store called The Hedge Witch in East Gwillimbury, north of Toronto.
“I think the more people know about this existence, the more people will seek it out.”
After receiving a psychic reading from Angel Morgan, Leanne Delap said she was able to connect with Delap's deceased pet.
“A member of our family”
For D'Amato, spending time with a pet psychic is about your dog's overall health.
“He's part of our family. This is a health check, just like at the vet. Because we don't understand what's going on, [Broui] They say these sessions are helpful,” D’Amato said.
“She's not predicting my future or my dog's future, but she's communicating with Bluey on a level I can't.”
D'Amato says this is especially helpful when figuring out what kind of food to feed.
But beyond that, what might once have caused some judgment seems less applicable to some people.
Mr. D'Amato introduced several of his friends who are also current clients of Mr. Morgan.
A nation of believers?
according to Research conducted by Pollara Strategic Insightsmore than half of Canadians believe psychic powers can be real, and 28% believe psychics can predict the future. pew research It was found that over 60 percent of American adults hold at least one New Age belief.
Separately, the amount of money Canadians are willing to spend on their pets continues to soar.
According to a survey conducted by Statista, Canadians spent more than $7 billion on their furry friends in 2019, an increase of 17% from 2015.
Some animal experts believe that in the post-pandemic era, people will not only treat their pets more like humans, but also be more interested in a deeper connection with them.
“Increasingly, we're not just looking at pets as family members, we're starting to look at them as children,” said Stanley Coren, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia. he said.
“One of the big developments in my relationship with my children is when they start talking. [people] I want that kind of communication [with their pets]. And even if your dog can't talk, he'll say something like, “Does Mommy love you?” I know you are. ” When a dog wags its tail, it makes you feel good. people want it. ”
But Koren also cautions that we shouldn't expect too much from communicating with animals. Science shows that dogs have the mental capacity of a young child.
Several of Morgan's clients told CBC News that it was reassuring to visit with her and that there were some profound revelations about the animals, past and present.
“Animals once told me that their mother wasn't taking her medication. A long time ago, I had a bird tell me that its young owner was having very dark thoughts. It sparked a big conversation,''' Morgan said.
While it may be growing in popularity, critics say the sales pitch is nothing new.
“It's like selling snake oil. It's an old story. Psychics are not new and they're not real,” said Kenny Biddle, a paranormal investigator at the Center for Investigations in Amherst, New York. Ta.
“There's no communication happening,” he said. “They're just taking your money.”
Part of Mr. Biddle's work includes researching the tactics used by psychics through television, psychic events, and online services.
“Any paranormal claim, I look into it and see if it's real. That's my job,” he said.
Kenny Biddle is a paranormal investigator at the Investigative Center in Amherst, New York. He explained on his CBC News an example of a pet psychic being misunderstood.
Mr. Biddle is now a skeptic, but said he was once a believer.
“I want to believe that psychic powers are real. I really do. But I have yet to find a single claim in my work that convinces me that they are real.”
Both Mr. Wickel and Mr. Morgan said they are not concerned about non-believers.
“I'm not here to debunk the skeptics,” Wickel said. “I have so much work on my plate that I can't handle it, but the reason I keep doing this job is because people keep coming to work.”
Wickel himself used to be a skeptic.
“I didn't believe it myself. But when you start helping people and really touching people and helping them heal, you wonder why you can't do it too.”
In a recent follow-up with Morgan, D'Amato asked about Bluei's possible concerns regarding the baby she and her husband are expecting.
“She told me not to worry because he would be the baby's guardian, which was a real relief,” D'Amato said.
“If we can help him in this way, why wouldn't we?”
If you think reading your pet's mind is unbelievable, you're probably not on the ever-growing waiting list for a popular pet psychic. CBC's Ioana Romeliotis looks at why more people are seeking a special connection with animals, and why skeptics say we should hold on to money.
Watch all episodes of The National on CBC Gem, CBC's streaming service.
