Shannon Spring ’94 has turned her love of animals into a career connecting people with their beloved pets on earth and beyond. Over the years as an animal communicator and medium, she’s helped thousands of critters live happier, healthier lives by serving as their voice so people better understand them. 

Whether they are happy and healthy, sick, or have a behavioral challenge, Shannon says animals have a lot to say. And pet owners everywhere want to know what their dogs and cats are thinking. “Animals are also wildly funny,” says Spring. “Don’t be surprised if they give you some of the best advice you could ask for regarding your career or your love life!”

Spring’s special connection with animals started as a child with her first dog, Teddy. Devastated by his death, Spring was told by a school administrator that dogs don’t go to Heaven. “I knew that was wrong,” she recalls in her 2024 memoir, Open Mic for Animals: Evidential Fairy Tails. “Without a doubt, they not only go to Heaven but watch over me daily, like guardian angels.” Years later, someone Spring had never met before graced her with this message: “There’s someone here with an apology who says dogs do go to Heaven—and he’s met Teddy.” Spring’s inner child was delighted by this “holy hello”, having never doubted that Teddy’s spirit was there.

After graduating from Boston College with a bachelor’s degree, Spring went on to earn a master’s degree in education from The Citadel. For decades, she has been an inspirational and comedic keynote speaker on how to use humor to manage life’s challenges. Through her work, she’s living her purpose providing grief relief, connection, laughter, and closure. 

“If there’s nothing else I can do for people, it’s that I want them to know that they will see their pets again,” Spring says. “You don’t have to hope for it. You don’t have to wish for it. It’s going to happen. As long as you’re good to your pets, you will ‘pawsitively’ see them again.”