Ehrenkodex
I adhere to Penelope Smith's code of ethics. My work is guided by compassion, intuition, respect for all living beings on this earth, and the desire to help them be better understood.
I only communicate with pets if I have the owner's consent, if the pets trust me, ask for my help, and are willing to make changes for the animal's benefit if necessary. I do not judge or evaluate animals based on their mistakes or misunderstandings with us humans, and I am free of preconceived notions about them.
I do not give animals commands on behalf of their owners. I first introduce myself politely to the animals and ask them beforehand if they wish to communicate with me of their own free will and if I may relay their messages to their human companions. I give them the necessary space to speak with me and to say everything they wish to say and confide in me. At that moment, I am solely there for them. Animals are not obligated to answer our questions. It is entirely their decision and their free will, which we humans must respect in every case.
I am merely the messenger, not the message itself. For this reason, I write down everything exactly as the animals confide in me. Even if it seems strange or nonsensical to me at the time, it can be a helpful clue for the person who knows what to make of the animal's response. Perhaps not until a few days or weeks later.
Often, the human must change first so that the animal has the necessary space to change itself, as it very often mirrors the human and wants to draw their attention to something.
In my work, I respect the privacy of both people and animal companions and honor their desire for confidentiality. I try to help by asking deeper questions, but I never go so far as to violate the dignity and trust of the animals.
I know my limitations. It's not my job to diagnose and treat illnesses; I refer people to a veterinarian. However, I can perceive their thoughts and feelings, and accurately sense their pain and symptoms, which I can then relay to veterinarians. This can be very useful information. Animals don't always know what's wrong with them because they don't understand our terminology for illness.
Immediately following the conversation, or at a later agreed-upon time, I describe my personal impressions of the animal at the time of the conversation and summarize everything once more. This allows the owner to recognize their own animal in the connection, confirming that the conversation actually took place and that it was solely the animal's message. I always ask the animal to describe a memory from its life, its favorite place, or its home, so that the owner knows the conversation is with their animal.
