Thanks to all of you for your comments. Yes the attraction / control / alignment of astral elementals could make sense and be related to some kind of spiritual progress taking place with(in) me, maybe also supported by the fact that I work to become a healer and retriever - this can be for humans and animals. The elephant herd dream also reminds me of a retrieval situation for animals, which I also wrote about in my journal now. However, I only remember one example of an animal retrieval by a human. It is mentioned in Bruce Moen's Afterlife Knowledge Guide Book, the discarnate 'angel' helper was, however, another dog then.

Just a question to Korpo: As you said "my" elementals. Does it mean we create them or just attract them as conscious beings of their own and they then stay and become "ours" - just like pets can become "ours" in physical life? Or just like power animals in shamanic teachings?

And yes, the elementals-interpretation does not at all contradict the more 'mundane' interpretation of caring for animals in this physical life - or even in the astral, too?
I looked out for jobs in animal care / protection but it is difficult. So far, I only applied to charities that care for humans (famine relief, Third World child sponsoring, ...), but I will keep an eye on this possibility, as I am still on the search for a good part-time job opportunity to finance my healer training (.... I need to as it seems I've given up on winning the lottery by now ).