Psychics, Animal Communicators and Dousers

Scared border collie lost in the woods

Recently we have had a woman who claims to be “psychic” try to post under our flyers on one of our state Facebook pages.

We want to share with your our warning about Psychics, (may be called Animal Communicators or Dousers). There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that psychics can find lost dogs. In fact, many people (including us) believe that psychics are simply taking advantage of pet owners who are desperate to find their lost animals. They are almost always a scam. Or they may be well-meaning people who think they have a connection with animals but know very little about lost dog behavior.

They may appear to be “psychic” but they are usually studying google maps and satellite photos to talk about landmarks, even though they live far away. Some may do the first reading for free, but then ask for a credit card number for subsequent “readings”. They advertise on Craigslist and they may contact you offering their services. They may ask for payment via credit card and then continue to charge your card for subsequent “readings”. The readings will be vague. “I see your dog with an older couple.” “I see your dog in a yellow house.” They may offer just enough information to give you hope and keep you hooked, thereby allowing for them to scam you further.

Getting the word out through the use of flyers and signs brings lost dogs home. Psychics can send you in the wrong direction or worst of all tell you that your dog was injured or has “passed”. Don’t give up unless you find the remains of the missing dog. He is out there somewhere and perseverance, common sense and logic will bring him home.

We are proud to partner with Pet FBI, a free, searchable centralized database for lost and found pets. When you file a report with Pet FBI, one of our volunteers will post your dog’s listing to the appropriate state or provincial Facebook page.

5-13-2023