2 comments about Conversations with My Old Dog: For Anyone Who Has Ever Loved and Lost a Pet.

1. This book offers a charming and candid view into the sorrows and joys of pet ownership, love and loss. I strongly recommend it to anyone who is looking for an honest, emotional and witty read. My favorite of all the poems, "Squirrel Killer," put a smile on my face as I thought of my old dog Blackie. It's refreshing to read such a relatable and lovely compilation of poetry.



2. Dr. Pasick's conversations and poems remind us why dogs are known as man's best friend. The book is a warm leisurely read that you will want to share with friends and family members.

3 comments about Coping With the Loss of a Pet.

1. This book is like receiving a hug from a whole bunch of people who have also lost their special pets and feel as bad as you do. It is brief, basically every chapter deals with one stage of the grieving process and offers stories/situations that you can identify with and offers advice on healing and validation. That's it no more and no less. Don't expect a bunch of info. on any issues of any sort. I would suggest that you also get another book such as "Coping with sorrow on the loss of your pet" by Moira Anderson, which is excellent and deals with a lot of issues and is very informational. However, do get this book it gives you what you need when you're in pain and need a shoulder to cry on.
   The fact this it is a short quick read can be a real blessing at those times when that will be the most you can manage.



2. My vet lent me a copy of this book after my dearly, beloved 17 1/2 year calico cat died. It's a quick read (which at a time like this is necessary -- my concentration level just isn't here) and deals well with such a tough subject.

   In a few places, the author describes exactly how I am feeling and lets me know it is OK to feel the way I do.

   One area the author didn't delve into was "do pets go to heaven?". I have found several other books which specifically address this topic.

   Since the book is older, it doesn't have quite the list of other resources one may be looking for, but I found it to be a help.

   Thank you, Christina, for helping us pet lovers cope with such a gigantic loss.




3. After having my animal put to sleep after trying other alternatives with no results, I had to deal not only with the grief but guilt.Why guilt, that I couldnt answer since I had spent thousands of dollars on a dog trying to make him live a little longer. I found this book and after reading this not only did it help ease my mind, it also helps me when Im feeling down.I miss my collie but I have come to realize there is a time you have to do whats best for them and not whats best for you. This author deals with a sensitive subject that adults and children deal with as long as there is a animal in their life.

No comments about Plump Pups and Fat Cats: A Seven-Point Weight Loss Program for Your Overweight Pet.

4 comments about The Heart That Is Loved Never Forgets: Recovering from Loss: When Humans and Animals Lose Their Companions.

1. This book was a literal life-line for me. I am very grateful that the little book store in my neighborhood happened to have this particular book available just hours after I had my beloved cat put down under unusually urgent and traumatic circumstances.
   I could not have imagined there being such a book, so full of feeling and understanding, so articulate and wise and gentle, about pets and pet loss.
   The author speaks from the heart with courage and sensitivity. This book literally was like a healing balm. It got me through.
   Immediately I called my vet to suggest that they have it in stock for pet owners, as well as the little book store I got it from to make sure they ordered another since I took the last copy (I couldn't stand the thought of depriving another mouring pet owner of the comfort I received from reading this book.)
   I don't know what I would've done without having come across this truly original and heart-mending book.



2. I actually lost my copy of this book, and I've added it to my wish list so I can replace it. The book is written in anecdotal format; the author uses case studies from her practice to demonstrate how particular remedies are used in particular cases of grief/shock. You don't have to be a Ph.D. or a hugely experienced homeopath to use this book.
   
   Over the years I have used recommendation from this book to help animals recover from the death of their owners and abandonment in shelters. My most recent rescue--a cat who had been surrendered to a shelter when his former owner became too sick to take care of him, almost died while in the shelter (from illness and a broken heart), found a home and then was kicked back to the shelter due to behavior issues, and finally moved into my house, where he lives happily and peacefully with my two older cats--benefited profoundly from the advice given in this book. Only yesterday I was able to use information I remembered from this book to help a baby goat whose mother orphaned him.
   
   If you are looking for a book to help YOU recover from pet loss, this book isn't for you. There are numerous books on the market to help humans recover from pet loss. This book is designed for you to help your animal companion cope with his or her grief and emotional turmoil after losing a beloved human or animal friend.
   
   One word of caution: The author (and I) believe that animals have souls and feelings--NOT that animals are people in fur suits, but that animals have feelings which they manifest in their own way unique to their species. If this approach to animal welfare is too "woo woo" for you, you may want to give this book a miss. But if you are interested in homeopathy and you sense that your animal is depressed or otherwise traumatized by a loss, this book will be a great reference tool. Shelter workers and animal "foster carers" could benefit from this book, too.



3. I am a volunteer foster mom for kittens and cats, having had about 200 animals adopted.I deal with animal loss-I have to deal with cats I raised in my home and personally feel the loss and adopters who call me in tears and are very distresses. I recommend this book-probably because it doesn't have poetry and stories that move readers to tears, I find people can read that their feelings of loss are very valid and extremely personal-and it helps. I am not a professional but I am asked for help when an animal is ill or passed away and this book is short enough that readers will stay with it. The homeopathic part of this book is not for everyone-probably only a small portion of animal owners.But I followed some suggestions and as they say "It can't hurt to try!"



4. I think potential buyers of this book should not be deceived by the title into thinking that it is a guide to healing from pet loss, as I was. The author is a fervent, not to say fanatic, veterinary homeopath. What starts out as personal anecdotes about euthanizing or losing beloved pets turns into anecdotes about rescuing traumatized animals (surely a laudable thing) and healing them with things like Natrum muriaticum (chloride of sodium)and Borax (borate of sodium). As a pet lover myself, I'm the last to point a finger at someone who anthropomorphizes animals, but I do start wondering when animal emotions are supposedly "understood" by a human to such a fine degree - is it really possible to distinguish "rage in general" vs. rage from being left alone" vs. "rage at having the throat touched", and that each of these different rages can be cured by a different herb? Perhaps it is possible, and since the author believes in long-distance telepathic communication with animals, perhaps she knows something that I don't. The communication I have experienced from animals has truly been deeper than anything I was ever taught could be possible - but I wonder if layering on too much human emotion spoils the purity, the difference of relating to an animal rather than another human. The book makes several good, though not original points; that giving our pets a peaceful end to suffering requires great courage of the heart, that animals do suffer emotional trauma and do grieve the loss of human or other animal companions. The human-animal bond is indeed a very special, very important bond to forge - the capacity to love another outside oneself is paramount to being a good human being. Becoming the "ambassador" for an animal requires commitment, watchfulness and care; what our companion animals give us in return is beyond measure. Had I been interested in learning homeopathic veterinary medicine, I would have purchased this author's other book "Homeopathic First Aid for Animals". If you are looking for a book to help you deal with grief at losing a beloved (pet of any type, parent, a love), buy "My Cat Saved My Life" by Philip Schreibman. It will help you much more.
   AFTERWORD: (9/5/01) It is now almost a year since I lost my beloved 17-year-old cat, Hugo. I felt moved to add a few words to what I wrote about this book in 11/00. I want to clarify that I believe with all my being that our companion animals DO indeed understand us when we talk to them and and touch them and can even read our moods. (Read Anthony Gugielmo's book, "The Walrus on My Table"). And I hope with all my heart that telepathic communication between animals and humans and healing with homeopathic remedies occur. But I bought this book based on the title, which is such a comforting statement when you are grieving a loss..."the heart that is loved never forgets". It would have been the perfect title for the books "Angel Paws" and "Angel Whiskers", both books that deal with coping with the grief over losing a companion animal better than the above volume. I hold no quarrel with this this book, nor this author's point of view. I just wanted others in my situation to know that better solace for sorrow could be found elsewhere. I have moved on to rescue two other cats since I lost Hugo; a 10-year-old cat whose owner had to enter a nursing home and could not take his cat and a starving kitten from my driveway. I say this not to glorify myself, but to make the point that, no matter how much I love my other feline companions, the hole in my heart left by my bright spirit, Hugo's, absence will never be filled as long as I am alive. I know that I will meet him again, when, as they say, I go over the "Rainbow Bridge" myself. I also want to tell seniors and their relatives/dear ones something very important - the animal shelter community has changed. If you are lonely for an animal companion, but are resisting because you worry about whether you will "be around"...stop hesitating! There are MANY animals out there who would be so happy to share your life, no matter for how long! I never in the world thought I would adopt a 10-year-old cat (I am turning 50 this year); but I did and it was a revelation. Even if one or both of you has only a few years left, don't they deserve to be happy ones?, full of love? There are so many sad animal stories around, but we should realize that things ARE getting better, that some people DO care, and that love can be just around the corner, for today, for tomorrow, for who knows how long? And there will be others to pick up the torch and carry the love forward. God Blesses All Creatures, if one can but see.

2 comments about Way of the Cat: Nap, Do Nothing and Stretch Your Way to a Blissful Life.

1. 
   The Way Of The Cat is not just a feline lovers book. It is a psychology/self-help book written from a very original angle. Learn a quieter, more relaxed style of living by observing your cat.
   
   For example learn the cat methods of meditation and yoga. If you are not usually interested in those arts this book still might be for you. Cat meditation does not require the strict rules of straight back, crossed legs, hands in the lotus position, staring at a candle for 20 minutes, all with a totally empty brain. Sit any way you feel comfortable. Move your head if you are bored with what you see. Think about what you might eat for tea. The methods you learn in this book will be totally natural and come easy.
   
   Other topics covered include getting the most out of sleeping, eating right, friendly relationships/personal space, growing old with dignity and religion. Each chapter ends with a set of practical exercises that will really change your life if you let them.
   
   I read this book some time ago but I still spend half an hour a day with my cat in the garden looking at clouds, ants, and plants, following my moggy, meditating about what I have read and sometimes thinking nothing at all.



2. This smart, spiritual and life affirming little book is not just for cat lovers. With wisdom and humor Dana Kramer-Rolls encourages her readers to make their lives more beautiful and fulfilling by looking to our furry friends. She gently shows us we can learn to be comfortable in our bodies, age beautifully and live passionate and spiritually.
   
   This is very sweet book for all kinds of people.

No comments about When Pets Die: It's Alright to Grieve.

1 comments about The Old Man.

1. All proceeds from will goto the humane society and dogs for seniors programs so please show your support! Its a great short story about a man who lost his wife and found comfort and friendship in a stray dog.

1 comments about Dogwood and Catnip: Living Tributes, Departed Pets We Have Loved and Lost.

1. Recovering from the loss of a beloved pet takes a lot of time and tears. Counselors in this field have always recognized that there are some special activities that can help the healing process. One of the most successful of these is the creation of a special garden of memory for a beloved deceased pet.
   Dogwood & Catnip is a unique book that offers bereaving pet owners a new approach to creating a memorial. Its monochrome illustrations beautifully compliment the individual stories that comprise part of this book. They tell how each person was helped by planting a garden, tree, plant, or even a memorial stone in the yard.
   This book offers an undertaking that would be a unique tribute, creating a beautiful and peaceful personal refuge, with an aura of peace and remembrance.
   The layout includes many profound and pertinent quotations, in the margins. The book follows through on the author's previous publication, A Garden of Love and Healing (which was also favorably reviewed in our newsletter). It also features a section listing many plants, with explanations of their traditional unique symbolisms. This is a gentle guide for the novice gardener, as well as the experienced.
   Going back to nature we can find beauties and healings we don't usually experience in our "normal" daily lives. A memorial garden or section can become a personal spiritual oasis - a place of serenity, reflection and special remembrance. Whether or not one has the time or ability to create a garden or just put in a single special plant, this book can help. As the author indicates, the psychological significance of greenery symbolizes a compassionate heart that is ready to bloom again. It is a welcoming back, and a reverence for life.
   There are many ways to memorialize a beloved pet, and of course, the best memorial is always in one's heart. But the recommendations and love expressed in this publication are unique and wonderful. We recommend Dogwood and Catnip, and feel sure that it can fill an important part of your bookshelf.

No comments about Fragile Tears: Stories & Guidance for Youth on the Passing Away of Beloved Animal Companions.

5 comments about Parting Words/Parting Ways: Saying Good-Bye to Your Pet.

1. Struggling to cope with the sudden, unexpected death of my two year old cat, I sought out many books on grief and bereavement. None helped until I encountered Laura Carlson's book. Through it and its letter writing process I began to work through my grief. My letter evolved into a framed memorial photo tribute. Thanks to this book and its process I found peace of mind and began to heal. PARTING WORDS/PARTING WAYS definitely provides a means to cope with your grief and move through the process.



2. For anyone who has lost a pet, those cherished loved ones of our family, this book will remind you of why you made an animal a part of your life in the first place. The memories of love and joy that our pets have brought us and why it was all worth it, even with the heartbreak of losing them. They give us comfort, love and laughter. This books brings forth those warm, sentimental feelings once again. This would not only make a nice gift for someone grieving the loss of a pet, but also bring comfort to us all.



3. In our society we have various acceptable ways to deal with the loss of a loved one. Everyone knows what is expected of them and the rituals that we go through to help us to work through the grief. However, the loss of a family pet can be very devastating and leaves the pet owner with no set of rituals to help move pass the pain. "Parting Words/Parting Ways: Saying Good-Bye to Your Pet" fills that void.

   In the first part of the book Laura Carlson discusses the five stages of grief, the five stages of healing, memorial services and memorializing your pet. Throughout the book one thing stands out, that it is okay to grieve over the loss of a pet and there are ways to work through the grief.

   The second part of the book contains many letters from pet owners who have lost a pet. The letters are written to the pets and show the deep emotions involved with the loss of a loyal companion. Reading the many letters one comes to realize the strength of the bond between many pet owners and their pets and the depth of grief that many go through. Recommended for those going through such a loss as it offers constructive methods of working through the loss and validation of their feelings.




4. A beautiful tribute to pets of many, like me, who loved them dearly. Personal testimonials and words of love spiced with writings of people like Winston Churchill, Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, George Eliot and those of whom you've never heard but whose thoughts are beautiful seques to the pet owners' loving messages. Laura Ritter Carlson has a heart of gold and a true understanding of God's gift to humans (our pets) and those of us who loved and continue to love them.

   Pam Hanna

   Texas




5. I love this book.
   When I lost my dog, there was such a feeling of being alone...but, with this book people can know that there are others out there..going through the same thing. It is such a comfort and that time of loss. Highly recommend.