At some point, most pet owners wonder what their animal would say to them if they could speak. But there are ways to find out.

On Friday, March 6, local psychics and animal communicators Kathleen Stone and Sara Moore will headline a fundraiser for the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland where they’ll do just that, offering readings for guests about their furry friends.

“An Evening of Communication” will take place at the Westbrook Performing Arts Center at Westbrook Middle School from 6-8 p.m., with a “gallery-style” approach. According to an Animal Refuge League press release, Moore and Stone will interact with the audience and translate messages from pets and people. Tickets are $35, or $50 for a VIP post-event meet and greet with Moore and Stone.

Both psychics have years of experience, and have countless stories of connecting and communicating with animals.

Moore, 42, lives in Eaton, N.H., but has offices in North Conway and Portland, where she offers sessions as a psychic medium, animal communicator, hypnotist and Reiki master. Moore said she began to understand how to use her gifts 13 years ago, and since that time, has evolved her approach to include sessions over the phone and in person.

Stone, 57, has lived in Old Orchard Beach since moving to Maine from New York in 2000, and has decades of experience as a psychic medium and intuitive healer.

The American Journal spoke with Moore and Stone leading up to the fundraiser this week about their gifts, their experiences communicating with animals, and how it can help people.

Q: What led to your interest in communicating with animals? Is it something that came naturally?

Moore: Working with animals sort of happened by default. I’ve always loved animals and have felt a special connection with them, even as a child. When I got my Reiki training my friends would ask me to work on their dogs or cats, and after my divorce I needed a way to support myself financially. My friends in the dog show world encouraged me to offer Reiki at dog shows as a way to help animals and also find a way to work and be a mom. I was skeptical of the need for what I do, so I offered a day of mini-sessions at Telling Tails in Fryeburg and was stunned when nine people signed up right away. That is also the day I learned that I could hear dogs “talk.”

Stone: I love animals – I have two dogs and a cat and know how sad it is to lose a beloved pet. I guess that when pets began to come into readings and it gave the person I was reading comfort I realized it was helpful. Animals are unique and it’s nice to share their thoughts. Dogs, cats and birds just seemed to “pop in” some readings. Since they showed themselves to me, I guess you’d say it came naturally; to be honest I’ve never thought of it like that before. I’m in awe of my gifts, having animals come in has added to it.

Q: What does a typical reading look like? What are some common things that pet owners are looking to find out about their animal?

Moore: When I do a reading over the phone or in person, I close my eyes to create a blank slate and to help turn off my ego. It also helps at big dog events where there are hundreds of people around for me to create my own little space. I ask for the name of the animal and breed if they’re not present and if they’re living or deceased. Then I feel my body to relay how they are feeling. If they’ve already crossed over to the other side, I feel whatever they were feeling towards the end. I think they do this to help validate that I have the right animal. If I see an image in my head of an animal other than the one that they’ve described to me I tell them about it. Often a pet from years ago or currently living decides they want to share the spotlight.

Once the animal says what they feel the owner needs to know, the owner gets to ask me anything they want. This includes are they happy (the No. 1 all time question), do they love us, do they know we love them, does it like its food, does anything hurt, does it want anything, and if there are any behavioral issues that need to be addressed, I negotiate with the animal to shift it.

Stone: For the most part, loved ones want to know how their pet is. If it’s about a “living” pet, often folks want to know about their pets health and if they’re happy.

Q: Do you ever find that a pet owner is skeptical of the findings of your communication?

Moore: Skeptics are some of my best references after a session. I’m not here to convince or convert. I can’t read someone who doesn’t want to be read. It would be hard for me to wrap my head around the messages I’ve relayed if I wasn’t here to be witness to them.

Stone: I’ve been lucky and haven’t had very many skeptical people, or at least they haven’t told me up front and by the time a reading is done they aren’t. I don’t think people are going to pay money to try to prove that I’m wrong, why would they waste their time and money?

Q: Do you have any unusual stories from these conversations? What is something that has stuck with you?

Moore: At a dog show I had a dog ask for fireballs. I kept seeing a red, hot fireball candy. The owner and I were mystified, because that’s not a normal request. She called me the next day to tell me her husband always shares his pieces of pepperoni with the dog and that the dog went crazy when he started cutting up the little hot, red pieces. I have had old dogs ask to be assisted to the other side. One even had a special request to go to the ocean one last time. It didn’t want to get out of the car, it just wanted to drive there and watch out the window. They honored that request and the dog passed the next day on her own.

Stone: A number of years ago a dear friend called me in a panic – his dog had been hit by a car and my friend didn’t know if his dog was going to live. I honed in on the dog and immediately felt the pain in my body and relayed the information to my friend. I kept going to certain areas on the dog but my friend said those areas were fine. I insisted on it because I felt it as the dog did. My friend called the animal hospital and told the vet, the vet rechecked the dog and confirmed the issues.

Q: How does animal communication differ from other readings you conduct? How does it change when the animal is deceased or isn’t present?

Moore: Most of the animal readings I do end up being about the owner. They come into our lives to teach us something that we may otherwise overlook. This means that a lot of times the dogs will mirror us or make us become aware of our behaviors that need to change.

Stone: If I think about it, communicating with animals is “pure.” Animals tell it like it is. I guess the difference is with living animals compared to people; animals don’t have “walls” up. If an animal was in pain before they passed, they love to show moving pain free. Animals don’t have to be present for readings, but people don’t have to be in the same room with me for readings either. At least half of my readings are done over the phone or Skype.

Kathleen StoneSara Moore