Healing the Pain of Pet Loss: Letters in Memoriam Book

Healing the Pain of Pet Loss: Letters in Memoriam contains thirty-eight letters from men, women, and children who have lost their beloved animal companions. These stories are quite intense and laden with profound narratives and emotions. Some letters include accounts of: deathbed vigils; friends and families reactions (some good, some not so good); feelings of guilt; suicidal thoughts; religious viewpoints; and how they coped, or are having trouble coping. The circumstances of loss are extensive and varied; they include disappearance, death, forced separation, and natural disaster.

The book also includes a section discussing Western and Eastern spiritual philosophies regarding the soul and/or afterlife of animals. An additional chapter contains a guide to inform readers of other useful resources such as hotlines, organizations, and on-line web sites.

Healing the Pain of Pet Loss: Letters in Memoriam is a unique book - a type of "portable support-group" for anyone who may lack supporters, suffer feelings of grieving alone, or who simply seek a bit more understanding. The last lines of the "Preface" sum up the meaning and purpose of this book - ". . .there is something extremely powerful that exists between people who are bonded in traumatic experience. We can help each other. As you make your journey through sorrow toward acceptance and healing, I hope you find empathy and reassurance in the pages of this book."

Julia Brannan

This is a unique book devoted to helping grieving pet owners realize that they are not alone when mourning the loss of a beloved animal companion. The author's purpose was to create a book "that would really help people who ... were suffering from the loss of their animal friend." Many of the books on pet loss are designed to give people the facts that they may need to begin coping with their grief. Since everyone grieves differently, I believe that the author's objectives are very worthy, and that her unique book will be of great comfort to many people. This book is written for anyone who has suffered the loss of a beloved animal friend. The author and the many contributors to this book are credible authorities on the emotions encountered with pet loss. Their true stories will touch and comfort many people who are seeking resolution regarding their own feelings of sadness and loss. Many people will find comfort in simply not being alone in the intensity of their own emotions. I love the cover of the book. I found it to be soft and comforting to the touch. The layout of the book was simple and not overwhelming in structure, format, or length of each chapter -- good characteristics for a book with this subject matter. I like that the pages of the book do not tear stain. This is a unique and emotionally cathartic book that will help many people begin to cope with the loss of their animal friends. I would highly recommend that any store or library interested in serving the public carry this book.