If Only They Could Talk: The Miracles of Spring Farm

by Dawn Hayman

Welcome to Spring Farm, where animals and people come together -- to explore their own natural ability to communicate with each other....
Something magical is happening on a small farm in upstate New York. Animals of all shapes and sizes are living side by side -- talking, listening, learning, and loving -- along with caring people who have come to learn the secrets of interspecies communication. It's a gift that all of us are born with, as long as we're willing to open our hearts and minds to the gentle creatures who share our world.
This is what happened at Spring Farm when two very special women gave shelter to animals that were sick or abandoned. As trust and affection grew between them, so did their capacity to exchange feelings and thoughts. Today, the miracle of Spring Farm CARES is shared through communication workshops for visitors, students, and animal lovers. So come discover the magic of Spring Farm. Humans are more than welcome....
You'll meet Ricardo the duck, who explains that he won't leave his warm nest in a nearby chimney even if the house owners disapprove... Chubby the horse, who shares her feelings of despair when her barn catches fire... Elvis the kitten, who wiggles like a rock star... Sugar the Shetland pony, who dedicates a poem to her long-lost herd...and a whole menagerie of mouse-friendly cats, loving llamas, gregarious guinea pigs, delightful dogs, and other amazing critters.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals

320 pages, Paperback

First published October 18, 2005

Reviews

[Kristin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought it would never end. I have to say, in the interest of fairness, that I never would have read this book if it wasn't for book club. There is ESP communication with animals, animals who "say" they've been reincarnated from Indian medicine women or will be reincarnated as llamas, animals who "dictate" poetry, animals who communicate after their deaths... the list goes on. There are signs. There's the Earth Mother. There is so much ridiculous New Age mumbo jumbo that it's hard to see past it.

If you can look past all of those things, you would see that Spring Farm CARES really is doing a wonderful thing in saving animals who would otherwise be put down, even if they do go about it in a strange way. Unfortunately, I think it's really hard to get a clear picture of their charity, because the narrative is so disjointed, jumping from year to year and back again. Added to that, it's almost like they assume the reader is already well acquainted with animal biology/veterinary medicine, the structure of their organization, and the process of running a farm.

Between rolling my eyes at the mumbo jumbo, fighting to keep up with the timeline, struggling to understand various technical details, and the abrupt ending, I found this to be a far from enjoyable read. Still, bravo for their good charity work.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to point out that I think this woman is a complete (though well-meaning) wacko and much of the book made me want to tear my hair out. However I also found it quite entertaining and interesting. I don't buy that cats are amazing engineers who design buildings, or that they relay these plans to animal psychics, but the animals who filled this book were obviously very much loved and their personalities shine through all of the silliness.

[Kathy]

a little bit "out there" - but these are my kind of people

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love animals, so this one was a simple read, topic wise. But the writing was definitely NOT my style.

[Malka Essock · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book starts out with a TERRIFYING first chapter!
the rest is so heartwarming though, my advice, is to start with the 2nd chapter and then go back and read about the fire, but, even out of the ashes of the fire, hope blossoms, what wonderful women and animals, and what wonderful hope for the world at large! and what inspiration... trust your heart and help yourself and others to have a good life!

[Judy Conlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love animals and am glad that Spring farm takes abuse cases in and doesn't euthanize them. The stories about them were interesting. I could not understand how they claimed to talk with animals, however, but I do believe animals understand a great deal more than we think. Still my brain could not handle a shetland pony who dictated a poem about his life.

[Sandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spring Farm is in upstate New York, a family farm where Bonnie Reynolds started taking in animals. Dawn Hayman became her business partner. This is their story. Is very well written. "An inpsiring true story about listening to the animals we love"

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I agree with Kathy on this. She wrote "A litle bit out there but my kind of people."

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was recommended to me by a friend. It was a great read if you love animals. It mixes animals, nature, and metaphysics.

[Jadi Kindred · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was truly my inspiration for writing my own book and helped me to realize how philosophical animals truly are. My dream one day is to visit Spring Farm and thank them in person.