Saratogian NEWS: Support living pets and reach out to the dead

Support living pets and reach out to the dead: Animal-shelter fundraising dinner hosts medium Robert Gutro

By Jennie Grey, The Saratogian   Posted: 10/02/14, 4:30 PM EDT 

SOURCE: http://www.saratogian.com/general-news/20141002/support-living-pets-and-reach-out-to-the-dead-animal-shelter-fundraising-dinner-hosts-medium-robert-gutro

GLENS FALLS >> For animal lovers and pet owners who hold their four-footed friends close to their hearts, Adirondack Save-a-Stray is hosting a fundraising dinner that both supports living pets and might let grieving owners communicate with their beloved dead. Spiritual expression, communication and possible psychic experiences await Oct. 4 at 5:30 p.m. at 333 Glen Street in Glens Falls.
     For 25 years now, Adirondack Save-a-Stray has worked to keep animals alive. At 4880 Route 9N in Corinth, this no-kill 501(c)3 nonprofit animal shelter/rescue organization takes in abused, abandoned, stray and unwanted animals. The organization also offers a low-cost veterinary wellness clinic, a pet-food bank, a pet referral website, adoptions and community education.

   

PHOTO: Rob Gutro with his dogs, from left, Dolly the Weimaraner, Franklin the red dachshund, and Tyler the black and tan dachshund. Photos provided

     Adirondack Save-a-Stray receives no federal, state or local funding, so donations and fundraising make up 100 percent of its budget.
     At the Oct. 4 fundraiser on Monument Square Building’s (Traveler’s Building’s) ninth floor, shelter supporters can browse exhibits and sip cocktails until 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner and dessert. There will also be door prizes, a 50/50 raffle, a silent auction and two guest speakers.
     Meteorologist Robert Gutro of Washington, D.C., a writer, medium and paranormal investigator, will present his stories of ghosts and spirits. His newest book is “Pets in the Afterlife.” He will share how to connect with late loved ones, both human and animal.
      For him, it’s scientific. It’s all about energy, an energy that transcends boundaries.
“Physical energy is electrical impulses in the brain,” he said. “That energy has to go somewhere when you die. Energy transitions with memory and personality.”
     Science hasn’t caught up to paranormal studies yet, he said.

       In Gutro’s author biography, he considers himself an average guy who happens to be able to communicate with those who have died, both people and animals. He’s had the ability since he was a teenager, and it has improved over time. In 2005, his late puppy became a steadfast canine communicator and inspired Gutro to write his first book.
     “Ghost pets can assist us, nudge us and keep us away from danger,” he said.
In “Pets in the Afterlife,” Gutro writes, “ ... Keep an open mind to the things you may not immediately understand; realize that our souls are living energy, and that we are all connected both here in the physical realm and in the spiritual realm ... “ ... The intent in sharing these stories is so that others may come to believe there’s more to this world than meets the eye. Through relating these experiences, you will be better equipped to know what signs to look for from your own beloved pets and be able to recognize their attempts to communicate with you.”

   People can hear musical signs and other sounds, as well as feel cold spots where ghosts are standing, he said. Ghosts can also be seen.
Late pets come back to comfort their owners, as well as to perform such tasks as training a new dog, Gutro said.
    “I have seen a ghost Chihuahua named Chico return from the afterlife to train a woman’s black Labrador to be a better dog,” he said. “Chico was the woman’s grandmother’s dog.”
    Gutro does not charge for his messages from beyond; he doesn’t usually hold private medium sessions. He volunteers as a speaker to teach groups how everyone has the ability to reach lost loved ones, if an open mind is kept.
“I teach people how to find the messages without needing a medium,” he said. “It takes being open-minded and observant, and realizing there’s no such thing as a coincidence.”   
    At the New England Pet Expo in Wilmington, Mass., Gutro met a woman named Donna who spoke of missing her late dog, Basil. Gutro told her that dog spirits will sometimes lead to their owners other dogs that look just like them; and precisely then, a black French bulldog came marching down the aisle toward Donna — a dog that looked just like her lost pet and the only dog of that breed Gutro saw at the expo.
     “Learning how to communicate with your late pets is a great way to get comfort and confirmation that they are okay,” he said. “It gives people hope and understanding.”
   The Adirondack Save-a-Stray dinner’s second speaker, Ladybird Light owner Lindsey Bodkin, is a Reiki teacher who specializes in animal healing and communication. She will present about the physical, verbal and telepathic aspects of communicating with pets, an ability she said all people have and can deepen.
    “It’s so important to have an open dialogue with animals,” she said. “People can find out whether their pets are good with children, used to being the only dog or enjoy being part of a pack. Are the animals healthy and happy? Are they in pain? People can communicate with their pets about these things.”
Bodkin teaches workshops about the techniques, using meditation and energy work. She even works with animals at the end of their lives, seeking whether they are ready to let go and how they want to die.
    “We get lots of calls from people grieving the death of a pet,” said Adirondack Save-a-Stray Director Meredith Fiel. “People really feel deeply connected to their pet family members, and need comfort and closure before opening their hearts and homes to another animal.”
     After reading “Pets in the Afterlife,” the director wanted to have Gutro speak at the fundraising dinner, to help pet adopters heal and become willing to love a new dog or cat. Clients attested to Bodkin’s fine work, Fiel said.
“You have to believe in something,” Fiel said. “Our dinner will be a good venue for people who love their pets to explore these ideas, if they like.”
     Also, such people who love their pets dearly and grieve for their loss are the type of warm, kind-hearted rescuers Adirondack Save-a-Stray wants as adopters and readopters, she noted.
Call 654-6220 for ticket information. Tickets cost $35 in advance and $40 at the door.

Jennie Grey covers local schools, business and more. Reach the author at jgrey@digitalfirstmedia.com or follow Jennie on Twitter: @JGSaratogian.