How Animals Sense the Spirit World

Signs, Stories, and pets who guide us through love and loss

I believe animals come into our lives for a reason—to teach us something, to comfort or guide us—just like people and situations arrive through divine timing.

Whether it’s a beloved pet or a wild creature that crosses our path at just the right moment, their presence can feel orchestrated by something greater. We don’t always see the purpose in the moment, but looking back, the timing often reveals itself.

There’s a sacred kind of connection that forms between certain people and animals—an intuitive recognition that doesn’t need words. And I’ve come to notice that those who are drawn to animals often carry a kind of sensitivity, an openness to the unseen, and a reverence for the natural world.

For me, I’ve had several animals throughout my life that I felt a soul connection with. They’ve each arrived during turning points or seasons of change. The dog I have now—Jubilee—is a fiery little wood sprite who gives me a reason to get out of bed in the morning. And I mean that literally. Each morning, he puts his mouth over my toes, a paw on either side of my foot, and gently guides it to the floor.

I used to think he was attacking my feet—playful and wild puppy behavior. I would say to Rachel, “It’s so strange. Once my foot hits the floor it’s off-limits, but if it’s in motion, he must get it.”

But over time, as I slowed down and watched him closely, I realized: he’s not attacking me—he’s guiding me. The slower I go, the more clearly I can see it. His little mouth covering my toes, his paws bracketing my foot, and then—step by step—he ushers me into the day. We take our long morning walk together, eat breakfast together, and he rests next to me while I open my laptop to work.

I’ve only had Jubilee for a year, which is part of what makes this bond so surprising. In many ways, he became my baby after my adult kids moved out. His presence has put in perspective the dogs I’ve had before him—and the ways they, too, seemed to arrive at just the right time.

One striking example was our dog Teddy. We got Teddy when my son was starting kindergarten—he’s now twenty. At the time, my son would sometimes get “stuck,” frozen in the hallway or unable to go down the stairs because of anxiety. But when Teddy came along, he intuitively began to follow my son around the house, always staying close, seeming to know exactly what he needed. He became a kind of guardian, without ever being trained to be one.

Teddy passed to spirit on my birthday the year I met my wife—two weeks after we met, before she ever had the chance to meet him. And a year later, I had an experience that still lingers with me.

While visiting the Tower of London on our honeymoon, I found myself quietly trying to communicate with one of the famed ravens there, just to see what might happen. One of them began to follow me—not casually, but with intention. He chirped at me, tracked me through crowds, and kept offering me the same stick over and over again.

I turned to Rachel and said, “This raven is like Teddy.”

It didn’t feel like ordinary animal behavior. It felt like something deeper. I still carry that moment with me. So when Bella—another beloved dog—passed, and we were ready to welcome a new one into our lives, we named him Jubilee.

A video of my experience at the Tower of London

And here’s the thing: Jubilee feels like a medium.

Not a reincarnation of Teddy or Bella, but something else. A sensitive presence, attuned to spirit, aware of who’s still walking with us. Spirit later affirmed that for me—that Jubilee is, in his own way, letting me know they are still near. That he is speaking for them in the only way he knows how—through energy, presence, and instinct.

It’s made me wonder how many of our animals are doing the same.

Here are a few signs I’ve come to recognize that may mean your pet is tuned in to the spirit world:

1. Tracking what can’t be seen.

Your pet may watch something move across the room when there’s nothing there—eyes tracking, head tilting, even following something with their body. After Teddy passed, Bella would run to a particular corner of the yard and hop around like she was playing with someone. I could see the energy there, and I believe she could too.

2. Sudden reactions without clear cause.

Barking, growling, hiding, or excited behaviors during times of spiritual activity—like after a loved one passes or during meditation—can be a sign of sensitivity. When I used to run my mediumship circles over Zoom from the dining room table, our guinea pig Pepsi would popcorn (hop in the air) only during those sessions. I always felt she was playing with her sister Biscuit, who had passed.

3. Being drawn to or avoiding specific spaces.

If your pet consistently focuses on a certain room, chair, or corner—especially one with significance to a loved one who’s passed—it might be more than just preference. They may be sensing lingering energy or even a visiting spirit.

4. Responding strongly to certain people.

Animals often react to emotional or spiritual energy. Jubilee has approached people who later told us about a beloved pet who passed, or who were quietly grieving. Once, he gently licked a woman’s hands while she shared a memory—and she crouched down, overcome with emotion. And I knew, he just knew.

5. Sensing your grief or spiritual state.

Many pets seem to offer comfort when we’re missing someone. They may stare into an empty space, press close to you, or display unusually attentive behavior at moments when you sense a presence. During readings, I often feel the energy of the client’s pet in the room—and sometimes, that pet even communicates through me.

Teddy was so connected to spirit

6. Sensitivity to dreams, moon phases, or weather shifts.

Watch how your pet responds to full moons, storms, or dream states. Jubilee often howls in his sleep or runs in place like he’s chasing something. I’ve seen visions of him and Rachel running together in another lifetime, wild and free, and I believe he returns to that place in his dreams.

7. Mimicking traits of a previous pet.

Jubilee, Bella, Teddy 👅

Sometimes animals seem to borrow the behaviors of those who came before them—like they’re channeling or echoing the spirit of another. Jubilee often and strikingly takes on the traits of both Bella and Teddy. Bella used to lean her head into people and give what we called a hug—something Jubilee doesn’t usually do. But every so often, out of nowhere, he does it. Then there are the winks. Sometimes I’ll say, “Did Bella teach you to wink?” and he’ll wink right at me. And then there are moments—especially when he’s feeling bossy—where his body language, his presence, is pure Teddy. I can’t always explain it, but I know it when I see it. If you’ve ever had that feeling of déjà vu with a pet, as if they’re someone you’ve known before, they may be channeling those familiar spirits—finding a way to show you the connection still exists.

Animals are more attuned than we often give them credit for. Their sensitivity is pure, unfiltered, and deeply connected to both this world and the unseen. Sometimes, the medium in the room isn’t the human holding the message—it’s the animal who never left your side.

And sometimes, they are our first guide each morning—nudging us awake, slowing us down, placing their paw gently (or roughly) over our foot as if to say: You’re not alone.

With love,

Sheryl

P.S. I have a special event coming up on May 8th—An Evening of Spirit Messages is a live (online) demonstration of mediumship and animal communication. I’d love for you to join me if you feel called to. See all the details and sign up here »»

Tickets for An Evening of Spirit Messages