With the help of these: data sheet, tutorial and Arduino reference, I was able to get the ultrasonic sensor to send back data in centimeters.  I did some hacking and mapped the sensor to turn on an LED should it sense something within 6 centimeters of it.

NEXT STEP:

Get the DC motor to run, moving the tail, based on the distance of the use to the sensor.

UPDATE:

In a fun turn of events, Amazon alerted me that the special parts to my project that I ordered have been shipped to my mother’s house…in Central Florida.

(UPDATE: 11/24/2014, 11:32PM: All shipments have arrived safely in Florida. Hopefully my mother has fun building something with “a magnifying glass” and “some wires.” (translation – helping hand with magnifying glass and servo motors.))