Background:  My cousin, an animal communicator, sent us this information about our rescued dog, Zippy's, background based on a trans-continental telepathic session.  It's quite fascinating and it contains enough verifiable detail that its more than a bit amazing:

I checked in with Zippy yesterday, (Thursday), to ask about her past. Because the communication is in my head, I never know if it is valid or imagination, until the people reply and confirm. With her past, we can't do much checking, so I'll just tell you what I got, and take it for what it's worth. I have checked into other rescue animals' pasts many times, and never gotten a story so dramatic, just to let you know. Typically, they have very common background lives.
 
Zippy ~ August 12, 10 am ~ I think that Zippy was purchased from a mall pet store for a little girl. The girl looks about 8 yrs old (give or take a yr or two?), and she picked out Zippy a couple years ago. She looked into a glass window about her eye level to see Zippy in the pet store. The girl had some type of illness from when she was very young, probably since birth. I think something with her heart.....? The parents were aware of the condition, and that it meant their daughter would not have a long life. She always wanted a dog, though they weren't particularly 'dog people', but of course they decided to let her get one. When she chose Zippy, she wasn't  showing many symptoms, or having many difficulties yet. I don't think she knew at the time, even though her family and doctors did. She has one older brother, very close to her age, probably a year or two older.
 
Zippy was perfect for her; playful and gentle, funny and sweet. She always knew what the little girl needed.  As the girl's symptoms progressed, Zippy fit into whatever was needed: car rides to the clinic, or staying with a friend if the girl was gone for a while, but mostly sleeping curled up on the girl's bed with her. I think Zippy was used to staying with a neighbor/friend. Zippy was definitely for the little girl, and the rest of the family never had a 'heart connection' with her.
 
This happened in a home that was not theirs. They moved into the area to be close to the clinic. When their daughter died, they took Zippy to the shelter before moving back home. I think because of a combination of reasons: they weren't 'dog people', they were moving back home, it was too difficult emotionally to have Zippy, they never had 'connected' with her especially, etc. It just seemed like the better choice. They're kind people, and it was a sad decision for them, but they also had a lot on their plates.
 
Zippy settled in at the shelter, waiting for them to come back and get her, like they always had before. Of course, they didn't come back, and when someone else got her, this all fit with what she knew, too. She was used to other people taking care of her, taking her to other houses, and finally taking her back to her home when the little girl came back, so she handled all this pretty well, just expecting to get back home eventually. Your friend should be able to let you know how Zippy reacted along the way. It also might be interesting to check if there are any types of childrens' medical facilities within 40 minutes or so of the shelter where they got her.
 
So.... now Zippy finds herself at the next house, your house, where she thought she was still waiting to be taken home, to curl up in bed with the little girl. Very sad: as of yesterday (Thursday morning), I don't think Zippy knew you are her new family. She has a lot to process. Since she thought you were a temporary stop for her, she was never really invested in you or your home. I think this has much to do with the pooping in the house, too.
 
Everything in your house is pretty inter-changeable for either dog (beds, toys, etc). Once before, when a dog didn't believe that their new home would be their forever home, items with their name on it was what they wanted. I don't think that will help Zippy. Funny as it sounds, she shows a small painting of her up in your house, as a way for her to feel permanent.  I don't know if this is a literal description or just part of the 'painting' translation, but it looks pretty small ~ 7" X 7" - ish.... ? and not extremely realistic, but not cartoonish, either. Maybe watercolor, or something like this http://fineartamerica.com/featured/bernese-mountain-dog-kaytee-esser.html   ?
Do you know anyone who could paint something like that from a photo?
 
ALSO: I'll talk to Zippy more about  you are her family forever, and the importance of not pooping in the house. You two should tell her often how much you love her, and she's a part of your family forever now. You need to keep this up for a while. The other suggestion is for Randy to take Zippy on walks regularly, on a leash. This will help her see you as her pack leader, instead of a temporary stop. You can both be equal pack leaders, but I think Randy has a little more connection to her right now.
 
If this sounds goofy to you, just refer back to the original paragraph above. 

How to Get Here

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Current road conditions and construction delays

From Baltimore, Washington, Delaware and Other Points South

Take Interstate 95 North to Interstate 476 North, which is about 30 miles south of Philadelphia. If you pass Philadelphia International Airport on your right, you have gone too far. Pick-up directions from #2 below.
 

From Philadelphia International Airport

1. Exit the airport onto Interstate 95 South. Travel South for less than 5 miles to the entrance to Interstate 476 North (known in these parts as "The Blue Route.")
2. Follow Interstate 476 North for 16 miles to the entrance to Interstate 76 West (the Schuylkill Expressway.) The signs indicate Valley Forge, I76W, exit 16B.
3. Proceed on I76 West to the 422 West exit 328A. The signs indicate Pottstown/Swedesford Road. From the beginning of this exit ramp to the point at which it merges onto 422 West is .9 mile. Keep following the signs for Pottstown/422 West, not Swedesford Road.
4. Go 8.5 miles on 422 West The signs for your exit indicate Route 29/Phoenixville/Collegeville. At bottom of the exit ramp, turn left onto Route 29 South. Go .4 mile to the third light, not counting the light at the bottom of the exit ramp.) Turn right onto Black Rock Road and go .8 mile. You will pass the entrance to the River Crest Masters development.
5. Turn left into the development called Providence Hunt. The entrance is well-lighted and flanked by small brick walls and twin flagpoles. (In other words, you can't miss it. But don't be fooled: the development before ours has an even grander entrance with flags and walls!) Stay on the street onto which you have turned; this is Gateshead Way. 127 is the 11th house on the right, counting the house on the corner as you enter the community. Please park in the street rather than the driveway.

From Bucks County and parts of New Jersey East of Valley Forge accessible to the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Do what you do to get onto the PA Turnpike West (toward Harrisburg) to the Valley Forge Exit. Take 422 West exit once you are past the toll booths. EZ Pass is accepted. Pick-up directions from #4 above.

From Center City Philadelphia and Suburban New Jersey Communities Near Philadelphia and all other communities near the Schuylkill Expressway or the Blue Route

Take a bridge, don’t take a bridge, or the Blue Route (I 476) North or South and get yourself onto the Schuylkill Expressway ( I 76 West.) Pick-up directions from #3 above.

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David Kirk has been Accredited in Public Relations since 1982. 

What it means

Accreditation is a voluntary certification program co-sponsored by more than a dozen communication industry professional societies and administered by the Universal Accreditation Board. Successful completion of the Accreditation process results in the awarding of the designation Accredited in Public Relations (APR) to qualified public relations professionals.

Why APR?

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What's A Fellow?

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Why did I do it?

In this video, I share my personal story about Accreditation.

Where I've been.

HRN, Inc.
Senior Vice President
A public affairs research and software development company  

Ketchum Public Relations
Senior Vice President
One of the largest international Public Affairs and Public Relations agencies in the world.
 
Goebel, Kirk&Pilato, Inc.
Founder, Principal
Philadelphia's largest independent Public Relations firm, acquired in 1990 by Ketchum.  

McKinney Public Relations
Assistant General Manager
An industrial/manufacturing, business-to-business Public Relations firm.  

David Kirk Associates
Principal
First entrepreneurial venture  

Temple University
Public Relations Director
School of Communications and Theatre.
One of the top journalism and theatre training schools in the U.S.
 

"The practice of public relations stands on a strong, deep foundation of social science and other research ... so that when I argue for a course of action, there's solid evidence to support the case for doing so."
David Kirk, APR, Fellow PRSA

Then ...

In 1990 the large regional public relations firm that Chick Goebel, Claudia Pilato and I started in 1982 (Goebel, Kirk&Pilato) was acquired by one of the largest public relations firms in the world, Ketchum Public Relations. Chick and I then served as senior vice presidents at that firm.

Now...

In 1993, I returned to private practice, with the intention of building a work-at-home business without the issues and hassles associated with becoming an employer again. I have focused my work on three industries (healthcare, financial services and commercial real estate) in which I have substantial depth and experience, and in several communication specialties for clients with urgent or special needs. These specialties include the research, crisis management, employee communication, issues management, specialized writing and training.

I am honored to work with three to five ongoing clients in long-term relationships and with about a dozen other clients on short-term and episodic assignments.

Approach

I believe that, like Rodney Dangerfield, many people in my business "don't get any respect" because they shoot from the hip. They recommend that their clients spend thousands or millions of dollars and bet their precious reputations on this or that clever idea because it "makes sense" or "seems right." That way of doing business does not "seem right" to me. The practice of public relations stands on a strong, deep foundation of social science and other research. Some of us in this business have gone to the trouble to become familiar with that body of knowledge so that when we argue for a course of action, there's solid evidence to support the case for doing so. This way of operating means that when a client and I agree to a set of objectives, they can be measured in terms we can take to the bank, not in wiggle words such as "position the company as a leading provider of something."

I am proud to say that I was Accredited in Public Relations in 1982 by the Public Relations Society of America and that in 1994 I was inducted into the College of Fellows of this leading professional society.