Pet Loss: Thoughtful Guide for Adults and Children, a Book

The copy I have is from 1982. While extremely dated (and possibly written before the whole "5 stages of grief" thing? It's the only book I read that doesn't talk about that.) this book was extremely helpful. Other books I read on the subject seemed to sort of go over the basics of the beginning of loss, but this one really handles the "it's a process - and you won't feel better overnight -- or even within months or years -- but the feelings you have are justified and the relationship you had was deserving of the sadness you feel no matter what others say" thing well. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone -- at any stage in their grief -- especially if you feel alone or embarrassed about just how depressed you feel.

My cat died a little over a month ago and I still have moments where I'm consumed with grief, and other books I read really didn't address that - but according to this book, it's pretty normal and to be expected, especially for someone like me who spent 24/7 with my companion. There was some relief in just reading other people's experiences -- there were quite a few cases mentioned -- and just accepting that the loss I'm feeling is valid and will take time to heal and that the grief I'm working through is normal.

There is a terrible introduction chapter, so don't judge this book by that. Also, when they give cost estimates, as I mentioned, it's extremely dated: according to this book, surgery for your pet can cost "up to $300" -- laughable! And also, according to this book, cremation is $20! and photocopies can't be made of photographic art! Oh, the 80s....

Still, the fact that it's old doesn't mean the compassion in its pages is outdated. There are also some helpful chapters on preparing yourself for the inevitable death of a sick pet, how to cope with a lost pet, guilt/info about euthanasia, some memorial readings, interviews with vets, etc making this a good primer for any pet owner at any stage to be well prepared for the awful possibilities (and, in the case of death, inevitabilities) that may lie ahead.