Cathy it is wonderful you love animals so much (i understand the animal rather than people work - animals give so much love back to us)
Marilyn wrote something about animals that i can't find now but what she said is so truthful as i have read this as well;
Animals were created from extra etheric forces that were left over as a help-mate for humans.
Loved ones who have passed over will leave a bit of their fragment in a family pet or other animal that is in close contact with the person they have left.
This needs to be understood properly ... it is just a tiny piece or fragment of the passed over person .. just to stay in touch and close with the loved one left behind.
It is NOT re-incarnation of a person .. this is how the whole misconception came about that people re-incarnate into animals .. NO WE NOT .. it is a fragment of the spirit that does.
Please do ask if there is any further questions about this phenomena.. taken from Rudolf Steiner work. And maybe Marilyn would like to add further or comment ..
Keep up the great work with animals Cathy .. they are so special.