Well, why not?
Theyve made reality shows about dating a millionaire, about surviving in the Outback, about racing around the world, about becoming the next supermodel or the next pop sensation.
And we couldnt get enough.
So lets face it. It was only a matter of time until The Pet Psychic hit the small screen. Yep, thats a show about a woman who can talk to animals.
The same idea worked for Hugh Lofting when he penned The Story of Doctor Dolittle. Later it worked for Eddie Murphy who played Dr. Dolittle in the movie version of the book.
Humans are fascinated by whats going on inside the heads of our furry, scaly, four-legged and winged companions. Im the first to admit that at times it seems as though theyre trying to desperately tell us something, if only they could talk.
Well, according to Sonya Fitzpatrick, they can.
Fitzpatrick claims to communicate with dead animals. She even talks to the ones who are living.
She does this every Monday night on her reality TV show The Pet Psychic, which is aired on the digital channel Animal Planet.
But even more surprising than the fact the Fitzpatrick can talk to animals is the fact that people are actually using her to channel conversations with their dead pets.
The TV show goes something like this: desperate owners clutch pictures of their departed pets, Fitzsimmons telepathically communicates with the dead and she then reassures the owners that Fluffy is happy where she is now, Duke isnt mad he was put down, and Blackie isnt in pain any longer.
She also has a special connection among living creatures, relaying conversations with pets so that their owners know their likes and dislikes, things that make them uncomfortable or past traumas in their life.
Mind-boggling, when you think about it.
According to the Pet Psychics Web site she first discovered in talents when she was a little girl living in England. As her terrier Judy began to get older, Fitzpatrick could feel the dogs aches and pains in her own body and by using her hands on Judys body she could heal her pain.
Then she discovered that if she really concentrated she could communicate with any animal in the village.
She shut off all animal telepathy channels however after her father killed the family geese for Christmas dinner one year. It was so traumatic that she didnt talk to the animals again until 1994.
Since then through conversations with mutts, felines, birds and reptiles, she has helped over 3,000 clients.
So just how does she cope with the constant conversation among the birds and the bees, the dogs and the cats, and things that snake and slither?
Fitzpatrick says she switches to another part of her brain when she talks to the animals. She goes to a higher level of consciousness to communicate.
Some may scoff but Fitzpatrick says its within all of us to tap into this higher level consciousness and talk to the animals too. Even you can too!
There are seven simple steps on the Animal Planet Web site. Communication begins with a calm and tranquil mind in a peaceful atmosphere for you and your pet. Start to say your animals name telepathically to get his attention, visualizing your pet the whole time.
Eventually you can start to ask your pet questions "and remember to trust your imagination for what you are receiving back from your animal."
Its true that in the past, staring into Whiskeys soulful brown eyes, her head cocked to the side, Ive shared a private thought or two. Weve chatted, shot the breeze, and had a good ole chinwag, especially when I was feeling particularly blue. Whiskey was always there to listen and lament.
True enough, I think the only thing she was trying to say to me as she offered me her paw was hurry up and open this patio door before I pee all over the kitchen floor.
But I can see why many believe.
Without a doubt believers and non-believers will tune in to The Pet Psychic .
This begs the obvious question what does this say about our society that there is actually a reality show where pet owners communicate with their dead pets?
You can only assume producers have seen a potentially lucrative niche, tapping into the wildly popular reality show market. Combine animals, real life stories, desperate pet owners and a kooky psychic and youve got a winner.
Why else do we watch these shows if not to poke fun at our fellow man?
We stare riveted as women burst into tears when they get dumped, their chances of becoming the next Mrs. Firestone fizzling quickly into the ashes.
We goggle as men chicken out of daring stunts, too afraid to lie in a bed of cockroaches for $50,000.
We soak it all in as alliances crack apart under the pressure, brief friendships ripped apart as people back stab and betray each other to be the ultimate survivor.
Laughing at someone elses expense is what keeps us coming back for more.
Still even my parents who have relegated our dog to the status of third child would be skeptical about communicating one-on-one with Whiskey.
Its true they believe the dog understands English. She responds to walk, cottage, cat in the backyard in sheer delirium but then words like Carl the vet or bath or get down put her into a complete depression.
When it all comes down to it Im sure I dont want to know what shes saying when she gets pushed off the couch onto the floor or when she gets dry dog food for dinner instead of her usual left over steak pie.
I can only imagine what I would be thinking if a bowl of brown pellets were placed in front on me.
Or better yet, who really wants to know what shes saying to herself when shes dragging her butt across the living room floor. Some things are just better left unsaid.