Reviews (10)

The Gift of Betty Carmack and Her Book
I have been waiting for Betty Carmack's book all of my life.My feelings have never before been so validated.Throughout childhood, I have had numerous little creatures: hamsters, birds, dogs, turtles, and mice.Now after 45 years, I can finally grieve the loss of those precious creatures without anyone calling me foolish or overly sentimental.No one will ever again tell me that "little boy's don't cry."Little boys cry--right along with the rest of humanity--at the loss of one of these precious companions.
Thank you Ms. Carmack!
This book is a touching and insightful look at how people grieve when their beloved pet passes on. Many overlook how pets have helped people get through tough times, and given unconditional love to their owners. I've seen dogs that help heal (in the sense that they give lots of attention and love) people with acute and/or chronic illnesses.
Just a question
FOr the reviewer who does not beleive animals go to heaven. Well why not? Didnt God create animals as well? Why would He discriminate against the most innocent creatures on earth by not letting them into heaven. I just lost my cat whom I considered to be my child and I dearly hope that when I get to heaven that she is waiting there for me. It just shows how egotisitcal human beings can be. I hope others that lose a beloved pet do not share this persons view and look forward to reuniting with their special pet one day. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bereavement    2. Death    3. Death / Grief / Consolation    4. Death, Grief, Bereavement    5. Family & Relationships    6. Family/Marriage    7. General    8. Pet owners    9. Pets    10. Psychological aspects    11. Psychology    12. Reference    13. Christian life & practice    14. Coping with death & bereavement   

Reviews (3)

I Found This Very Helpful for Myself
I'm 22 and I still find comfort in reading this book when I think of lost ones.This book is not just for kids!

Helps the very young child understand the death of a pet.
Many children have experienced the death of a pet. This can be their first experience with grief and can help shape how they deal with later experiences with loss. This illustrated book deals with a child's feelings about the loss of a beloved pet. Mr. Rogers is sensitive but clear and direct when he explainsthe finality of death. This book can also be used to initiate a conversation about the death of a relative in a less threatening way. The parent may want to read the book as well to help explain it to the child. a very direct approach
While I found this book to be a good tool to discuss the loss of a pet with my 7 year old. I was a bit shocked at the directness of the issue at hand. It did bring forward the emotions that we were all feeling with the loss. This book however, does allow the child to greive and know that what they are feeling is "normal" and crying is okay. This was well done in the typical manner of "Mr. Rogers" he got me through alot as a child and now is helping me with my children. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Pets    2. Bereavement    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Death    6. Juvenile literature    7. Pet owners    8. Pets    9. Psychological aspects    10. Psychology    11. Social Issues - Death & Dying    12. Juvenile Nonfiction / Social Situations / Death & Dying   

Subjects:  1. Pets / General    2. Religion / Bible / Criticism, Interpretation / General    3. Bible - Criticism, Interpretation - General    4. Death, Grief, Bereavement    5. Encouragement    6. Grief    7. Pet loss    8. Pets    9. Religion   

Subjects:  1. Animal Behavior (Ethology)    2. Animals    3. Animals / Pets    4. Bighorn sheep    5. Individual Species Of Mammals    6. Nature    7. Nature/Ecology    8. Psychological aspects    9. Southwestern States    10. Nature / Animals   

Reviews (34)

Support at your fingertips.
"The Loss Of A Pet", third edition, is the most comprehensive book on pet loss and bereavement that I have read - and there have been many.Dr. Sife's keen insight into the emotions that surface after pet loss is illustrated in the pages of this book, and somewhere in each chapter you feel as if he were talking directly to you.He thoroughly explains the stages of grief that we go through, and helps us understand why we feel as we do going through them.It is easier to process our grief when we understand that we are normal in every strange feeling that comes over us, and that those feelings are temporary, and that we are not alone in our terrible pain. The human/animal bond is unique, as is the bereavement.This book also illustrates how deep a love can be between a human and a beloved animal companion, and because of the pure relationship that is shared every day, the loss can be much more painful than losing a human loved one.I highly recommend this book.

This book works well in combination with APLB on-line support
As a Pet Loss Bereavement Therapist and active volunteer and member of Dr. Wallace Sife's "Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement" [...],for the past 8 years, I highly recommend his bookas I truly feel his book "The Loss of a Pet", now in its third expanded edition, offers the clearest, most practical and detailed analysis of the grief process; chock full of good advice, coping strategies, resources and insights.
The Loss of a Pet by Wallace Sife - Hardback
This is a wonderful book.It is very helpful during an extremely difficult time of extreme heartache, sadness and great loss.I highly recommend this book.I purchased the book after losing my beloved canine only 3 years old to a pool accident in 1997.The book was pulled off my book shelf for a second time in 2002, when I lost another beloved canine only 3 years old to genetic health problems. On April 28,2006, my first born, precious baby girl (toy poodle) passed away due to health problems and age (14 yrs).Once again this book has been pulled off my book shelf as I need and want to re-read it.
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Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Bereavement    3. Death    4. Essays    5. General    6. Pet owners    7. Pets    8. Psychological aspects    9. Psychology    10. NATURAL HISTORY, COUNTRY LIFE & PETS    11. Pets / General   

Editorial Review

When rain finally comes to "the land of little rain," the results are spectacular. Desert washes run thick with water only to become, a few months later, a raging current of wildflowers. But even drought doesn't drain the desert of its stark beauty. In Read more

Reviews (7)

Dry, but not Arid
As I went through this book, I kept asking myself, am I looking at the dessert or am I looking at the landscape photographs of Jack Dykinga?I've been to the Mojave and to Death Valley and I don't remember them looking so beautiful.
Superb Photography
This book is a beauty, some of the most beautiful photographs I have ever seen. A mastefterful work by one of the world's best photographers
There is a knock at my door and here is the UPS man delivering my order from Amazon.com. Among the books: Desert, The Mojave and Death Valley Photographs by Jack Dykinga, text by Janice Emily Bowers. I barely had time to read more than a page or two of the text before it made me want to go straight to the photos to see the place she was clearly, and intelligently writing about. And I was not disappointed: It was overwhelmed with joy of at being able to share the keeness of Mr. Dykinga's fine and perceptive photographic vision of that place. This is a more subtle body of work than the previous books based around his photographs. Read more

Subjects:  1. Essays    2. Photo Techniques    3. Photography    4. Subjects & Themes - Plants & Animals    5. Subjects & Themes - Travel - U.S./West    6. California    7. NATURAL HISTORY, COUNTRY LIFE & PETS    8. Photographs: collections    9. Photography / Nature & Wildlife    10. Places & peoples: general interest    11. Western & Pacific Coast states   

Reviews (4)

God-send for emotional pain through loss
This is the most cathartic experience I've EVER had, for it releases unconscious emotions which need to be unharnessed, leading you gently toward healing.Please be good to yourself and read this book, which has been a true God-send to me!
It Was Thoughtful
I found the book encouraging in that it gave me a feeling of not being the only one who ever suffered from the loss of a pet.I just do not know if I am ready to get over it yet as the book tells me to.I guess I was hoping for more - but it delivered what it promised, so I cannot complain.

Better than nothing, but not the best
I was glad to see the previous reader found great solace in this book. I am glad I bought it because at the time it was the only book I could find as I dashed to the airport, and it was better to have something on this topic than nothing as I grieved the new loss of my dear Kitty. But I would not recommend this book highly -- and if you are on Amazon you have a lot of books available at your fingertips. This author is a psychologist and takes a distinctly psychological approach to the subject. I was seeking a more spiritual/emotional approach, particularly because my Kitty died very young and under mysterious circumstances. The psychologist author identifies the process of grief and frequently discusses what is appropriate or inappropriate. If that interests you, this book will be helpful. Personally, I was not at all interested in clinical definitions of inappropriate grief when I was feeling overwhelmed with my own. But everyone is different, so this book may be helpful to you; we each grieve in our own way. I at least was grateful to have a book/person to validate my grief, which so many people seemed to want to dismiss with the attitude "It's only an animal."Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Bereavement    3. Death    4. Death, Grief, Bereavement    5. General    6. Nature    7. Nature/Ecology    8. Pet owners    9. Pets    10. Psychological aspects    11. Psychology    12. Nature / Animals   

Reviews (3)

how to roar
a very heartwarming book to help one through the feelings how to get thru the pain of a lost dear friend and companion. a very healpful guide

THANK YOU For This Book
Losing Marvin, my frisky Siamese cat, was extremely painful for me.He'd been my baby for almost 10 years. He was the sort of cat who'd always follow you around the house and would sleep on your bed.
Helped Me Work Through My Pain
When my darling lab mix died recently, I bought several books on pet loss grief recovery and this one helped me the most.
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Subjects:  1. General    2. Pets    3. Reference    4. Domestic animals & pets    5. Pets / General   

Reviews (7)

He's a Genius
I love his work and collecting these pet posters is a stroke of genius.Anyone who's ever had a pet and who has had to write one of these posters will be blinking back tears of sympathy, even if you acknowledge the ugliness of other people's pets, for some here are real lollapoloozas.Mostly you take your hat off to the eternal virtue of hope, for some of these people have faith deeper than rivers if they believe that you'd be able to recognize their cat or dog from the miserably scanned old photo of the animal, sometimes off in a corner of a photo looking completely anonymous or so dark you can't tell what you're supposed to be looking at.The texts Phillips collects are as heartbreaking as the photos, and again for every clearcut description of an animal, there's quite a few in which it's like the old parable of the blind man and the elephant
Heartbreakingly Honest
This fabulous, funny, poignant book is a compendium of lost pet posters -- homemade and heartfelt -- collected from around the world. Pets are depicted in everything from old photos (my favorite is the picture of "Pudding," a rotund and grouchy-looking cat) to children's scratchy drawings, and you will fall in love with every one of these poor misplaced animals and their ever-hopeful owners. They range from the strangely strident (witness the fellow who has produced a poster announcing he has found a Siamese cat, but will only return it if the owner can produce five forms of I.D.) to the hysterically funny (often unintentionally -- like that very same Siamese-finder). Ian Phillips has put together a charming, whimsical little book, and it would make a completely brilliant gift for any pet lover on your list.

What a horror
Some weasel of a book packager, you can't call this hack an author, takes down signs for lost pets and has it published as a book. Meanwhile, people are missing their dogs!Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Catalogs    4. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions - Private    5. Folk & Outsider Art    6. Humor    7. Pet loss    8. Pets    9. Phillips, Ian    10. Posters    11. Subjects & Themes - General    12. Topic - Animals    13. Animals depicted in art    14. Art / Folk Art    15. Poster art   

Reviews (2)

A neat little book
This is a neat little book, very special. I think it would be very helpful for those facing the loss of a pet. As a veterinarian, dealing with owner grief is an important part of my practice. I'm happy to recommend this to all of my special clients who may experience the trauma associated with pet loss. Well done!
Outstanding!
As an animal lover myself, as a certified hospice bereavement counselor, and as another author who's written about pet loss and specialized in pet loss counseling since 1992, I loved this book.Like all the rest of Alan's books, this one is clearly stated, clinically accurate and beautifully written -- and it comes from the heart of the author's own personal experience with pet loss.Because Alan Wolfelt is so very well known and respected in the field of death education and counseling, I believe his book about pet loss will do more than help bereaved animal lovers.I think it will lift the experience of pet loss into the mainstream of professional grief literature where it rightfully belongs, and that alone is a cause for celebration.For many years I have felt that uninformed and insensitive mental health professionals can do more damage to disenfranchised bereaved animal lovers than any member of the lay public can do, because they should know better -- and it is up to those of us who know the agony of pet loss to teach them.I want to thank Alan for writing this book, and I wish him every success in its sales and distribution.For my part, I've already listed it under the BOOKS ABOUT PET LOSS category on the Articles and Books page of my own Grief Healing Web site (http://www.griefhealing.com), I've recommended it to both pet loss support organizations with whom I consult, and I will continue to recommend it to my clients and participants in my pet loss support groups as well. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Death / Grief / Consolation    2. Death, Grief, Bereavement    3. General    4. Self-Help    5. Coping with death & bereavement    6. Domestic animals & pets    7. Self-Help / Death, Grief, Bereavement   

Subjects:  1. Animals - General    2. Biodegradation    3. Biogeochemical cycles    4. Children's 9-12 - Animals/Pets    5. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Science    6. Children: Grades 4-6    7. Death (Biology)    8. Juvenile literature    9. Science & Nature - General    10. Science & Technology - General   

Reviews (5)

Very nice devotional style book.
WHEN YOUR PET DIES was written primarly for children but is a comfort to adults too.The book can be read very quickly and is bascially in the style of a devotional type book full of nice comforting thoughts.I bought one for myself and have one on reserve for friends and family when the need arises.

Uplifting and Hopeful
I have read several books and articles on experiencing grief from the loss of a beloved animal.No book has brought as much hope and a feeling of calmness to me as Ms. Pomerance's "When Your Pet Dies".Written primarily for children, it is as helpful and reassuring to adults as it will be to children. Parents should feel comfortable in allowing their children to read this book.Parents should read it as well.It traces a very realistic picture, both figuratively, as well factually, of the process that humans go through during the life of their beloved pet.The pictures in the book, done by a 13 year old girl, are both colorful and beautiful.They add a great deal to this journey through life into death. I have reread it many times, enjoying it more each time.I highly recommend this book to anyone going through the grief related to pet loss. five stars
A great book, with good insight about people who have experienced a loss of a pet. Compassionate and understanding. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Games/Puzzles    3. General    4. Juvenile Nonfiction / Animals / Pets    5. Juvenile Nonfiction / Social Situations / Death & Dying    6. Animals - Pets    7. Children's 4-8    8. Death    9. Grief    10. Juvenile Nonfiction    11. Juvenile literature    12. Pet loss    13. Pets    14. Social Situations - Death & Dying   

Editorial Review

My roommate laughed when he saw that I was reviewing this book, but after I pointed out how close he is to his cat, he looked at the book more seriously. Sometimes as "pet owners" we don't realize how close we are to our animal companions until we loose them, and even then we're afraid or ashamed to openly mourn and memorialize them. In Read more

Reviews (5)

A must have book for pet lovers & guardians
When my German Shepherd died I was given three books.This was one, and the best.I'm married man with two kids.The kids were devastated, as was my wife & I.This author writes from the heart.There is a special chapter on the difficult decision of euthansia, which we needed because Teg had cancer, and a chapter on how-to help children cope.What sets this book a part from the others is that there is no psycho-babble.No new age theatrics.The author writes from a generic spiritual angle that allows you to tap into your own spirituality, even if you feel that you have none.She presents how different world religions view pet loss and how they counsel their congregations.This is just a great book that should be on every pet lover's shelf.One word of caution - make sure you get the book by JULIA Harris.It was released 2003 by Lantern Books.There is an older book by the same title written by Eleanor Harris and it's different.

Some good things
I appreciated the author's candidness in dealing with grief.She was straightforward and connected quickly with me.If it weren't for the fence-straddling on religious views I probably would have rated this book higher.But when I read a book I want to know the author has answers and is strong on them.I still recommend this book for general help.Thank you for writing it.

Excellent Coping Resource for Adults and Children!
Having lost my beloved dog, Sasha, I read three books on pet loss.This was the only book which truly comforted my children and myself.It offers spiritual viewpoints from global religions.Doesn't matter if yourChristian, Buddhist, Native American, Jewish - the author offers wisdomtaken from all paths.A beautiful book which guides you through helpingchildren cope, the difficult decision of euthansia, terminally ill orinjured pets - even stolen or runaway pets.I highly recommend this book. You won't be disappointed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bereavement    2. Death    3. Death / Grief / Consolation    4. Death, Grief, Bereavement    5. General    6. Pet owners    7. Pets    8. Psychological aspects    9. Psychology    10. Reference    11. Coping with death & bereavement    12. Domestic animals & pets   

Editorial Review

It's tempting to write off Read more

Reviews (9)

Really good reading
I haven't had so much fun in a long time. I wanted to go up and down the river with this one. I found it interesting and challenging too.Good book.

I want to run rivers
Having navigated only a few rivers, none of them virgin, my interest was piqued when a former boss of mine told me about this guy Richard Bangs she knows.So I ... read the reviews, ...Suffice it to say I sat down with the book in hand, looked up roughly three hours later, and noticed I finished the book.The last book I recall which captivated me so was Dostoevsky's Notes From Underground. Lost River
Richard Bangs and his Sobek rafting company were clearly the early trend setters in world-wide adventure travel.Those who enjoyed other books by Bangs includingRiver Gods and Riding the Dragon's Back will enjoy this first-hand account of Bangs's early development as a world-class rafter including his teen adventures on the Potomac, his first summer working on the Colorado as a swamper and finally a guide through the Grand, and his first major first descent of the Omo River in Ethiopia.It was the Omo trip, which cost the members a total of $1400, where Sobek beat a well-financed National Geographic expedition by three months to what was then billed as the Mt. Everest of Whitewater, a distinction many now bestow on the Tsangpo in Tibet.Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Essays & Travelogues    3. Special Interest - Adventure    4. Travel    5. Travel - General    6. Active outdoor pursuits    7. Biography & Autobiography / General    8. Ethiopia    9. NATURAL HISTORY, COUNTRY LIFE & PETS    10. Travel writing   

Subjects:  1. Death    2. Death / Grief / Consolation    3. Death, Grief, Bereavement    4. General    5. Pet owners    6. Pets    7. Psychological aspects    8. Psychology    9. Self-Help    10. Coping with death & bereavement    11. Domestic animals & pets    12. Self-Help / Death, Grief, Bereavement    13. Pet Loss   

Reviews (3)

Story of a Front Yard
This book relates some of the observations that Alcock made when he converted his grassy lawn in front of his Arizona house from grass to desert flora.In his neighborhood, residents dutifully maintained wide swaths of green grass through continuous fertilizing, watering, cutting, and trimming.They controlled pests and weeds through spraying, but if they missed one chemical treatment or watering, unwanted species would begin to take over.When Alcock first moved to the area, he went along with local custom for several years.Finally, he asked himself why he was working so hard to maintain grass at such high economic and environmental costs, when it was really the desert surroundings that he enjoyed.It took some effort to kill his lawn and replace it with a yard filled with thriving desert species, but maintenance eventually became much easier and cheaper once he had landscaping fit for the local environment.
Nature, neighbours and night quests
John Alcock loves Nature.Sometimes, though, getting from a suburban home to the wilderness he relishes can be tedious.So he brought some of his favoured Sonoran Desert environment to his front yard.Using a ramshackle Kubota tractor, he stripped away the layer of Bermuda grass surrounding his house.Over time, and with no little effort, he transformed that yard into a little pocket of desert environment.All this was more than an exercise in redecorating, however.Alcock studies insects, especially their mating rituals, and this transplanted environment gave him ample opportunity.Even if his practice of crouching over desert shrubbery at odd hours raised a few neighbourhood eyebrows. Fabulous, witty, insightful
I thoroughly enjoyed this intersting, thought provoking book from John Alcock. His thoughts on the modern American lawn should be required reading in the suburbs. The world would be a better place if all would read andcomprehend his thoughts on connecting ourselves to the myriad wonders thatgo on all around us every day. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arizona    2. Behavior    3. Desert Ecology    4. Desert animals    5. Desert gardening    6. Gardening / Horticulture    7. Insects    8. Insects & Spiders    9. Life Sciences - Ecology    10. Nature/Ecology    11. Regional - General    12. Science    13. Tempe    14. Animal ecology    15. Applied ecology    16. Insects (entomology)    17. NATURAL HISTORY, COUNTRY LIFE & PETS    18. Plant ecology    19. USA   

Reviews (1)

Different from the rest.....
"Now that your loved one is gone, what'll you do?" I might suggest you first buy this book.When I lost my Bitsy, besides being devastated, I had burning questions - Where was she?, Was she safe?, Is she still around?, Will I see her again?, In this lifetime?, and the all-important, Why?My search has been ongoing for the past 3 years she's been gone.I have read nearly everything available written exclusively on the spirituality of animals and their afterlife as well as many books that may contain so much as a sentence in reference to their continued existence.When I discovered Anita Perry's Arf Angels and Other Heavenly Creatures I found a vein of gold in my mining expedition.While each of the stories offer the reader comfort in that we are not alone in our grief, (and in some cases in the decisions we've been forced to make), Ms. Perry gives us stories of purpose and hope.We are given the unique opportunity to look back on a life lived with purpose, give some meaning to the painful end process and banish some of our regrets.Each story relates to us how our individual lives are changed for having had our loved ones in them.The book takes for granted the grief is as real for our animal family as it is for anyone else.No words are wasted defending a position.For that I was refreshed and grateful.It's a matter of fact that animals come into our lives for a reason.It's a matter of fact that we usually survive them and have to come to terms with losing them.It's a matter of fact that our beloved family has an afterlife and find ways to let us know they are safe, that they still love us, and are around us even still.Reading these stories has given me comfort, hope, and peace.They will you, too.Now, Ms Perry, Will they come back? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Agriculture - General    2. Death, Grief, Bereavement    3. Essays    4. Pets    5. Agriculture & Farming    6. Animal ghosts    7. Self-Help    8. New Age   

Reviews (2)

Saviour
This book was difficult to read right after I made the decision to have my best friend put to sleep, so I had to wait for a couple of months.When I did finally pick it up (a gift from a friend), I could feel my chest lose its tightness, and a sense of calm come over me. I Can't Say Enough!
This book was extremely helpful!Having to choose death for my best friend of 20 years was incredibly painful and brought feelings of guilt, despair, relief and depression.At the time, I felt I might just be loosing my mind.This book helped me work through all of my feelings.It gave me a peaceful feeling.It let me know, that I was not alone.There are a number of useful references in the back.I really can't recommend this book enough.I was so helped by this book that I have since made it available to my local vets office.Read more

Subjects:  1. Death / Grief / Consolation    2. Death, Grief, Bereavement    3. Euthanasia of animals    4. General    5. Moral and ethical aspects    6. Pet owners    7. Pets    8. Psychological aspects    9. Psychology   

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Bereavement    3. Death, Grief, Bereavement    4. General    5. Pet loss    6. Pet owners    7. Pets    8. Psychological aspects    9. Psychology    10. Pets / General   

Reviews (7)

A Moving Collection of Stories for Dog Lovers
This is a great book to read if you are grieving the death of a beloved dog.This a great collection of short, long, moving, funny, serious, and sentimental stories about dogs.Many of the writers are unfamiliar names to me and I found myself wishing that the book included a brief bio of each author, or at least the date of the first publication of each story.

Great Writers Humbled Before Dogs...
Some of the greatest writers of our times have humbled themselves to celebrate the memory of lost dog-friends amd provide us with a spiritual boost. To experience the depth of feeling and understanding a human and dog can share is only possible through direct experience, or through the masterful language of these gifted people.
Who can forget?
Old Dogs Remembered is a wonderful collection that reflects on the joy of being owned by a dog and being the object of unquestioning devotion.While it is the collected remembrances and obituaries for famous people's dogs long past, it also focuses the reader on the dogs in our lives now.Our dogs pass away, but we have the power to make sure they are remembered.Take a minute to reflect on your current companion or one that awaits you in an afterlife that can only exist because we love our pets.Write his or her story, and save it, for yourself, your children, or just for the future.All old dogs deserve to be remembered. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American literature    2. Animals    3. Dogs    4. Dogs - General    5. English literature    6. Literary collections    7. Pets    8. Collections & anthologies of various literary forms    9. English    10. Pet loss