Conversations with Animals:
Cherished Messages and Memories as Told by an Animal Communicator
Lydia Hiby
with Bonnie S. Weintraub
Truly, as companions, friends, equals, in opportunities of self-expression, they unfold to me the dignity of creation,
and their joy smiles the blessings of St. Francis.
—Helen Keller
Paperback Original ISBN 978-0939165-33-9
195 pages, photos, $15
Extensive Q & A with Author
Lydia Hiby calls herself an animal communicator; simply, she talks to animals. In Conversations with Animals, Hiby writes about
her own experiences communicating with animals, which started when she was a child. She was never discouraged by her parents nor told that what she was “hearing” was ridiculous or impossible. As a young adult, Hiby became a skeptic about her abilities to communicate with animals, but later reclaim and hone her skills as an animal communicator.
Hiby graduated from the Agriculture College in Delhi, New York, with an Animal Science Degree in Animal Health Technology. As an Animal Health Technician, she worked in a variety of animal clinics, including the nationally recognized Cat Practice in New York City.
Later, Hiby had the opportunity to study with Beatrice Lydecker, a renowned animal communicator based in Oregon, and develop her skills communicating with animals.
Lydia Hiby’s co-author, Bonnie S. Weintraub, encouraged Hiby to share her inspiring stories in a book. They first met in 1994 when Weintraub’s dog, Kodiak, faced a life-threatening situation. Hiby’s skills as a communicator, along with working with a vet, ultimately saved Kodi’s life. After that, Weintraub turned from skeptic to a strong supporter of Hiby’s work. Their mutual belief in communicating with animals and reaching out to thousands of others, inspired them to write this book.
In her book, Hiby discusses ways that others can learn to communicate with their animal companions, as well as how to search for lost pets and grief counseling. Hiby believes that anyone can learn to communicate with their animal companions. The authors also included an extensive Q&A with Hiby, providing more information on animal communication. Most importantly, Conversations with Animals reinforces the powerful connection that weaves together the lives of animals and humans.
Praise
I am a born skeptic, so I wasn’t about to buy into the accounts I’d heard of Lydia Hiby’s remarkable ability to communicate with animals. But one conversation with Lydia made a believer out of me. Lydia told me things about my dog—who was ill and dying—that she couldn’t have learned through conventional means. I still can’t explain it, but I realize there are forces in life that we’ll never understand and must just take on faith. And Lydia Hiby may be one of those.
Except for licking, tail wagging, and assorted woofs, I honestly don’t know if animals can communicate or how they think, but I have seen Lydia Hiby do her thing and her work with animals brought my entire audience to tears. She was even right on target with the thoughts of my own cat and dog!
During veterinary school at UC Davis, nonverbal communication was not a method I was trained to use. However, I have always kept an open mind. I use Lydia’s unique ability as a resource in difficult cases. Her insight is intriguing and exciting. Lydia’s accuracy continues to astound me.
About The Authors
Lydia Hiby had worked as an animal communicator for more than twenty years when her book was first published in 1998. She has communicated with thousands of animals, and their owners, seeking a higher level of understanding in their relationships.
Hiby graduated from the Agriculture College in Delhi, New York with an Animal Science Degree, and has worked with several animal clinics as a veterinarian’s assistant. She has an international following for her work as an animal communicator, and has received extensive media attention because of her accuracy and success in talking with animals from many different species. Hiby has been featured on “48 Hours,” “Late Night with David Letterman,” “Jay Leno,” “The View,” and numerous other television and radio shows. Newspaper features include The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune, and USA Today, among others.
As of 2020, Lydia lives in Panama City Beach, Florida with her animal family. She gives lectures, seminars, and in-person meetings with large groups of animals and owners nationwide as well as individual phone consultations. She can be reached directly through her web site: www.lydiahiby.com.
Bonnie S. Weintraub, raised and educated on the East Coast, comes from a scientific/ medical family background. She graduated with a degree in pre-school education and worked with elementary school children for several years, including special needs students. Since her dog Kodiak’s death in 1999, Bonnie has been involved in the field of grief counseling for bereaved pet owners. She and her husband have lived in California since the mid-1980s and have two grown children.
