A modern-day Dr. Doolittle, of sorts, Greene is the go-to person for those who want to get in touch with their pet's inner-self.

An animal communicator -- also known as a pet psychic -- Greene helps people like Kathy Brailean of Spring, who contacted the canine clairvoyant for help with Murphy, her five-year-old collie shepherd mix.

Murphy, who was adopted from a shelter, was having problems that hadn't been diagnosed by her veterinarian.

All Greene knew about her client before the appointment was that she would be working with a dog.

She doesn't like to be given any extra information, she said, because it's her job to give the owners information.

"I also tell them they have to have an open mind to do it, and to be willing to listen to your pet's point of view," said Green, who donates 10 percent of her profits from psychic readings to local animal shelters, including Citizens for Animal Protection, where she volunteers her time as an animal trainer.

"You can't have a preconceived notion of what your animal is going to say," she said.

Brailean -- along with her children, Amanda and Aric -- promised to keep an open mind. They all were eager to hear what was on Murphy's mind -- and help her feel better.

"We wanted to know what her life was like before we got her and how her health is," Brailean said.

Greene said she communicates with animals on a telepathic level -- a natural ability to sense feelings, thoughts, images and ideas of others, even animals, without the spoken word.

Like humans, she said, animals can be relieved of emotional traumas and other problems through similar counseling techniques.

And sometimes, like humans, they just need to know someone cares.

Greene said animals are just like people in how they communicate.

"I try to start off by asking them specific questions, then I just let them talk. Telepathically, they show me things in my frame of reference so I can understand it," Greene said. "I see pictures, sometimes movies, but mostly flashes of pictures."

With Murphy, Greene said she picked up on sensations and feelings along with images.

Murphy sat beside Greene, staring into her eyes for long periods of time.

"Ah," Greene said to Murphy. "You're a butt-scratching girl."

Brailean was amazed. Greene had zeroed in on the problem she was concerned about.

Greene then advised Kathy to request the veterinarian conduct a urinary tract test.

"Most of the time, animals will ignore me or turn their backs on me," Greene said. "I'm talking to them on a telepathic level and they're just not used to it."

Murphy also addressed her owners' concerns about her past.

"No, she wasn't abused," Greene told them. "But she was abandoned."

Murphy also `told' Greene how loud noises make her anxious. When family members wrestle around, Brailean always thought Murphy was reacting protectively.

"No," Greene said. "It's because she doesn't like all the noise and she wants you to be quieter."

That's not to say Murphy isn't protective of her family. She `told' Greene how she can't rest easy at night until all her "babies" are home and safely tucked in bed.

"That makes sense," Aric, 16, said. "Even when I'm out late at night she's right by the door waiting for me. After she sees me come in, she goes to bed."

Amanda, 12, was eager to see what her 1-year-old guinea pig, Ginger, would reveal.

"I wanted to know if her neck's okay, because when I got her she had an injury there," she said.

Ginger's neck seemed to be just fine. But Ginger had plenty of other things to say.

"She basically said, `I feel too exposed in my new big cage. Give me back my little igloo to sleep in. I need something to shred. I want a seed stick to chew because my teeth are getting sore, and could you please hold me to your heart more often? I really like that,' " Amanda said.

Greene, who has been a full-time pet psychic for two years, said she finds most people can wrap their brains about what she does for a living.

"People are curious, but they're usually open to the idea. And I love skeptics, because I'm a skeptic myself," she said.

If Brailean was a skeptic before the session, she's not anymore.

A visit to the vet later that week confirmed a urinary tract infection.

Murphy, who had to undergo a 10-day course of antibiotics, is now a happy puppy.

"It's nice to know she's content," said Kathy.

Lisa can be reached at 281-497-8073 and her website is www.petperceptions.com.