She Charges $550 for 90 Minutes and Has a Wait List of 7,600 People

livemint.com:

Tech worker and part-time dog trainer Maddie Guy, 33, couldn’t figure out what was going on with her English Springer Spaniel, Rudder. He was being snippy with other dogs and facing a medical issue so mysterious that every test had been run and a doggy MRI ordered. Comfort came in the form of a birthday present from friends: a phone session with an animal communicator.

Guy, who lives in Chicago, says the communicator, while looking at a picture of Rudder, began talking with the dog. She informed Guy that Rudder was being cautious with other dogs because he wasn’t sure if he could trust his front legs in the event the dog wasn’t friendly. Several months later, Rudder’s front leg started wobbling and his eyes looked goofy.

Guy remembered the conversation. She called the vet, shared what had been said and requested a neuro consult. The vet wasn’t fazed, saying other clients had referenced animal communicators before.

Rudder is now on seizure medication. “I’ve told a lot of people about my experience," says Guy. “The most common response I get is, ‘Oh wow, that’s really interesting.’" Pet psychics are making their way from the fringe to socially acceptable.

Those who tell others about their experiences with animal communicators say they are more likely to be asked for referrals than be mocked. It is perhaps a natural progression in a world where guinea pig spa services exist. About half of U.S.

pet owners think of their pets as much a part of the family as a human member, according to Pew Research Center. Even amid inflation, spending on pets continued to increase. And a 2022 YouGov survey found that 67% of Americans said they have had a paranormal experience.