Angel Pawprints: Reflections on Loving and Losing a Canine Companion [Paperback]

Laurel E. Hunt (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0966027914 | ISBN-13: 978-0966027914 | Publication Date: April 1998

The loss of a cherished pet is a deeply painful experience. This unique approach to pet loss books presents a poignant collection of poetry and stories written as tributes to dogs and will tug at the heartstrings of dog lovers. It provides comfort and healing for anyone mourning the loss of a beloved dog. Including authors both famous and unknown from the 1800's to the present and compiled in one volume for the first time, these memorials form a heartwarming book for dog lovers, and a thoughtful gift of condolences. Beautifully illustrated with many vintage photographs of dogs.

- Includes "The Rainbow Bridge," "Where to Bury a Dog," "Little Dog Angel," "Dinah in Heaven," "Memories," "Elegy for a Dead Labrador," "Only a Dog," "Last Will and Testament of Silverdene Emblem O'Neill," "A Retriever's Epitaph," and nearly forty other classic and contemporary pet memorials and tributes compiled in one volume for the first time.

- Memorable selections by Rudyard Kipling, Eugene O'Neill, James Thurber, Susan Chernak McElroy, John Galsworthy, Robinson Jeffers and many others over the past two centuries.

- Illustrated with over sixty rare vintage photos of beloved dogs.

- An essential resource for veterinarians, bereavement counselors, pet loss support groups, and pet owners. Includes an appendix of additional pet loss resources.

- A heartwarming book for anyone who has ever loved a dog.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

I miss the little wagging tail;

I miss the plaintive, pleading wail;

I miss the wistful, loving glance;

I miss the circling welcome-dance.

- Henry Willett, from "In Memoriam," circa 1916 The above memoir was one of several I read at Chester's gravesite. As Angel Pawprints went to press, I was in the midst of losing another of my beloved dogs to cancer. In my desperate search to comfort myself during one of the most difficult times of my life, I discovered two things. First, that our society hasn't adequately acknowledged the grief people feel when they lose a pet. And, second, that as a result we haven't developed support systems and rituals that allow us to adequately heal. I found that reading memoirs written by others who had experienced the loss of a pet was most comforting to me. It allowed me to grieve and to feel like I was not alone with my feelings. And I wanted to share that with others who have lost a pet. So Angel Pawprints was born--a beautiful anthology of pet memorials expressing the deep love men and women have for their pets. Its 60 rare vintage photographs portray, in black and white, the sparkle in the animals' eyes and the unconditional love in their souls. The heartwarming poems and memoirs date back to the 1800's, written by noted writers as well as anonymous dog lovers, all cherishing the memories of their most faithful companions. In the same way that we tend to keep treasures of loved ones who've passed on, this classic and poignant book, with its vintage writings and photographs, creates a sense of peace and permanence. It provides us with a license to remember--and an urge to heal and cherish the memories. Angel Pawprints is a precious gift to be treasured by anyone who has ever loved or lost a dog. It's also an essential resource for veterinarians, bereavement counselors and pet loss support groups. As well as an exquisite work of art.

About the Author

Laurel E. Hunt, a life-long dog lover, has had a successful career in corporate communications, writing and producing marketing and financial materials including brochures and award-winning annual reports for a $300 million corporation. In 1991, Hunt recognized the need for reliable pet care when traveling and established All Creatures Great & Small, which quickly became Pasadena, CA's leading pet sitting service. Subsequently, she recognized the need of her customers for a source of quality pet accessories and gifts, and established a mail order catalog of upscale pet accessories. In 1994, she acquired Companions--Fine Pet Goods of San Francisco, manufacturer of an upscale dog bed line. Hunt became interested in pet loss following the deaths of two of her beloved dogs from cancer. Unable to find comfort in traditional books on pet loss, Hunt turned to her collection of antiquarian dog books where she found moving tributes to dogs who had died. Realizing the power of these verses to heal through the shared experience of others who had experienced this type of grief, Hunt decided to publish Angel Pawprints to help other pet owners.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 170 pages
• Publisher: Darrowby Pr (April 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966027914
• ISBN-13: 978-0966027914
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,364,167 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars To soothe the soul, April 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Angel Pawprints: Reflections On Loving and Losing a Canine Companion (Hardcover)

This book is an experience not to be missed; but just asanother reviewer said, it is perhaps best to wait until the hurt ofthe loss of your beloved pet has diminished somewhat.

For those who have suffered over such a loss, until very recently there were few books that addressed the grief of pet loss, or anything to do with the subject.

Now, at last, there are several books out addressing the subject from different perspectives. Since it is still not easy to find them, I would like to present a short list of books, several of which will be of great comfort, in my opinion, to those with a fresh loss, as well as those who have not yet been parted from a beloved pet.

These recommendations encompass different ways of presenting the subject of animal afterlife.

Since there is no category as of yet specifically on animal afterlife, on-line (or in any other lists for that matter), I hope this will be of help to anyone who is searching for comfort; I could not have coped without books like a number of these.

"Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates".Excellently done: inspired compassionate, fully-Biblical

"The Soul of Your Pet". Convincing, credible evidence regarding animals' existing after death. Interactions with pets that have passed on. Will defy skeptics. A chapter on animal intelligence and one on various religions as well as the many recountings of incidences mentioned above.

"Will I See Fido in Heaven?". Solidly Christian, inspired,loving; includes passages from 2 books of the Apocrypha that address the topic, as well.

"For Every Dog an Angel". Angel stays with pup from birth, on; we eventually are reunited, each "forever person" with his or her "forever pet(s)". Written for children, adults will love even more. Wonderful!

"Dog Heaven". For children; adults will enjoy as well

"Cat Heaven" Children/adults"All Dogs Go to Heaven". Well-known, has a story-line.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you have ever loved a dog, this is a must read., July 14, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Huntington Beach, CA.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Angel Pawprints: Reflections on Loving and Losing a Canine Companion (Paperback)

I am an avid reader of science, sometimes though it can be so dry and devoid of emotion. It trys too often to explain the inexplicable. For example, a recent article in the Atlantic Monthly was titled "Why your dog pretends to love you." It explained the genetics of dog behaivor. It really missed the point though of the human/dog relationship. It is not about behaviors, it is about love. For all its attempts, love is one of those things that science just cannot adequately explain. There is no grief greater for a human than dealing with the loss of love. Also, it seems, there a few bonds of love stronger than that we have for our pets. We feel so hopeless when we lose what we love, our grief seems to have no bounds. It all seems so hopeless. What this small book does is address, in a wonderful way, that grief. People famous and unknown share their thoughts on the loss of their cannine companions. In no way though is it ever morbid or indulgent. If you have lost a cherished dog companion I highly recommend this book. It is full of what you need the most-hope.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thanks for the Memories., March 16, 2000

By 

M. Tarman "Tarmans Books" (Hummelstown, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Angel Pawprints: Reflections On Loving and Losing a Canine Companion (Hardcover)

Angel Pawprints is a book every pet owner should purchase. When the inevitable time arrives and the cherished pet dies, this book will give support and comfort through those terribly sad and trying days and even years to come. Be sure to have a hanky at hand because the therapeutic tears are guaranteed to flow. "Pawprints" is a wonderful collection of sensitive poems and insights on the gift of love our animals bestow on us in their too short lives. The vintage photographs are a bonus.