Customer Reviews

Animals and the Afterlife: True Stories of Our Best Friends' Journey Beyond Death

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I've read several books on this subject and this book is the best. The stories are heartwarming and miraculous!
If you've ever lost a beloved pet, then this is the book to read.
The loss of a pet can be so overwhelming. With this book, you know you are not alone in your grief. You will also know that your pet, without a doubt lives on and is most likely is still with you! You will know what signs to look for by hearing others tell their inspirational stories!
What a gift this book is, in the presence of grief!!
It is very well written and will keep you turning the pages for more.
I would highly recommend!!!! The value is priceless to someone who has lost a beloved animal companion.

As, for me -- I Do believe. And this book opens my eyes even further, to the wonderful, sometimes very spiritual connection we have with our animal companions (be they horse, cat, dog, goldfish, rat - and others) in this life and beyond.

Even those who consider themselves skeptics, I believe, might find themselves resonating with specific narratives -- perhaps even, in their hearts, saying to themselves "This happened to me once!!!"

"Anima" is the ancient Latin word for "soul" -- just add an "L" to "Anima" and what do you get? This book is a fitting tribute to those non-human beings who shower us with unconditional love and devotion, and whose actions towards us sometimes go far beyond the call of duty, these pets who touch our souls and emotions, even after their deaths, with a love and concern sometimes far above what we expect in this world.

I think Kim Sheridan (who shows a great compassion, love and sensitivity towards her animal companions) has done a masterful job in putting this book together; I especially admire the way she puts specific narratives together in certain sections. I know this book must have been a labor of love.

Mahatma Ghandi once said something about how "a nation is known by the way it treats its animals". Well, this book, "Animals and the Afterlife" is populated not only by a wonderful "nation" of caring human beings, but especially by a fascinating array of loving, caring pets who even after dying have not forgotten the beloved people with whom they shared their lives.

All I can say is, I'm glad I ignored the reviewer who said the book wasn't very helpful and only gave it two stars. I couldn't disagree more! I don't think that person actually read the entire book, because they kept referencing the stories, as if that's the only thing the book contained. When I first skimmed the book, it did look like just a collection of stories (and amazing ones at that), but when I sat down and read the whole thing, I realized that there was a LOT more to the book than that. Some of the most moving and convincing parts of the book were not the stories, but the sections where the author described her own journey, and her own conversion from being a skeptic, which I could really relate to.

The chapter on grief was immensely helpful to me in my own grief. By following the advice offered in that chapter, I was finally able to come to peace with my loss, which was huge. As for the evidence presented in the book, well, if that doesn't prove life after death, then I don't know what else would!

So, my advice is, don't just skim through the stories, but read the author's entire journey from start to finish. If you read the whole thing, like me, you'll be glad you did. Such a thick book may seem intimidating at first, but I was amazed at how fast it went. In fact, it was such a comfort to me, I actually missed reading it when I was finished.

I've never written a review before, but I wanted to take the time to write this one because I almost didn't order the book based on that two-star review (I try to only order products that get ALL great reviews). Something told me to order this one anyway, and that made a huge difference in my life, coming to peace with my loss and moving on. So, if my review can help even one person who is grieving, then it will have been worth the time it took me to write this. God bless.

My wife and I lost our beloved dog of 12 years, who was like a child to us, and needless to say, we were devastated. I got down on my knees and prayed to God for help with the overwhelming grief, and in a very miraculous way, we were guided to this incredible book, which has given us so much comfort. Then, just recently, my sister-in-law lost her cat quite suddenly and called us for support. So I suggested she get this book. She then called me back and said she didn't order it because there was a review on Amazon.com (December 24, 2005) that warned not to get the book because it was New Age and not Judeo-Christian. We are Christians, so I just had to see it for myself. When I read the review, I just felt sorry for the person who wrote it. They obviously didn't actually read the whole book. Not only did they deprive themselves of the comfort in the book, but now that review is depriving others of that comfort as well. It is completely unfair and unethical to write a review for a book without reading the whole book. I can tell from the review that the person only read the very beginning of the book and didn't read the other 300+ pages. The reviewer said the book goes on and on about the author's gifts of dreams that tell the future, but she actually only spent a few pages on that (at the most) in the very first chapter, as part of the background for the author's life leading up to the book. The author even talked about asking her pastor about her experiences when they happened as a child. There's nothing un-Christian about that. The author also talked about being raised Christian, about her pastor's views on the subject, and many other things that contradict what that reviewer said. The reviewer also said the author talked about telepathic animal communication, and this is true, the book did cover this topic, but there is nothing anti-religious about this either. The author even discussed saints, including St. Francis (who in fact communicated telepathically with animals himself), although that reviewer obviously didn't read far enough in the book to know any of that. It's clear that as soon as the author, early on, briefly mentioned the topic of animal reincarnation (animals returning from Heaven to be with their beloved humans again), that reviewer got scared and thought the book was New Age or somehow evil. Nothing could be further from the truth. The book actually can't be put under any label. It's simply a heartfelt book that will help anyone who reads it, regardless of their religion. It contains so much amazing information, so many incredible stories, so much indisputable evidence, and so much valuable advice for those in grief (there's a whole chapter devoted specifically to grief). So I encourage anyone who has lost a beloved animal to read the book, the whole book, and open your heart to the knowledge and the comfort found in its pages.

This is BY FAR the most comprehensive and fascinating book on this subject. The author has done an amazing job of covering the topic from so many different angles and so many different people's experiences, including her own. Another review said she talked about animal communication in the book, but that's just one of many, many topics she covers. This book is about far more than that! What I like about it is it isn't just about theories or interpretations. It's about actual evidence that can't be explained away. I like that the author herself started out as a skeptic, so she had to be convinced of things herself and clearly isn't just telling people what she thinks they want to hear. This book provided SO much comfort for me, and I know it will for so many others who are also looking for answers. No other book on this subject has even come close to providing the healing gift this book has given to me! I also like that it contains stories about so many different types of animals. Not only are there tons of stories about dogs and cats, but also stories about horses, bunnies, birds, rats, and even goldfish! Kim Sheridan is a wonderfully gifted author and such an Angel. Her heart, soul, and deep caring are so evident. Her beautiful and fascinating story is also throughout the book. Very well written, it kept me turning the pages. Wow! 414 pages has never gone so fast! I didn't want it to end! Highly recommended.

This is the most compelling, heart-opening book I've ever read in my life. In fact, I just logged on to Amazon to order a copy for a friend who just lost her cat, since I've already loaned mine out to my neighbor who also just lost a cat. This book was the single thing that got me through the loss of my dog and helped me to move forward in life, so I highly recommend it to anyone grieving the loss of a pet.

I wasn't planning to write a review today, but then I read the latest review ("I believe BUT..."), so I realized I just had to say something so that potential readers don't overlook this gem of a book. Some people say they want "proof," but I don't see how there's more proof than this. This book contains hundreds of pages of stories from people all over the world with all types of animals, so I can't see how someone could possibly say the author "mentions very few cases." I guess the only proof that some people will acknowledge as actual proof will have to wait until they die and see for themselves.

I am so grateful to the author for devoting her life to this work and creating such a valuable resource for those in grief, so I can't help but want to defend her when I read such an unfair review. Yes, the author does talk about her pet rats (rescues), but only in the context of her own stories relating to the afterlife and her journey that became this book. Rats are the main types of pets she had, so of course her own personal experiences would include them. Never once does she mention how "cute" they are...that other reviewer missed the point. The point is that ALL animals have an afterlife, even rats.

And yes, the author does address the important ethical issues that undoubtedly arise within this subject matter, and she does include a chapter that discusses more compassionate, humane treatment of animals. However, this chapter covers all aspects of this issue, from animal rescue to pet overpopulation and more. I suspect that her mention toward the end of the chapter of how this relates to more humane choices (including a totally non-judgmental mention of vegetarianism, among many other things) must have struck a chord in that other reader's heart that the reader wasn't ready to face. Instead of respecting this message of compassion, that reader lashed back with an unfair negative review of the entire book, including the other 20 chapters.

I, on the other hand, respect the author's selfless mission to make the world a better place for all, animals AND the humans who love them. This book, which is incredibly well researched, has made a world of difference for me, and I know it has for others as well. The grief chapter alone helped me more than I thought anything could, and the other chapters had so much amazing proof of an afterlife that washed away all my doubt and gave me a whole new understanding of life and death.

Books that change the world are never without their controversy. So I suspect that the aforementioned negative review is a sign that this book is already striking chords in the hearts of readers, which is the first step toward changing the world and ultimately making it a better, more compassionate place. Not everyone is ready for that, but I do believe that most of us are. In the end, that's what counts.

I think it likely that this book will in some way permanently change the consciousness of every animal lover -- whether believer, skeptic, or agnostic. the writing style is lucid and accessible, and the contents so compelling that I devoured it in record time.

Central to the book are scores of first-person accounts of contact with beloved animal companions from the "other side." The informants' demographics cut broadly across regional, cultural, educational and career lines. Ms. Sheridan adds her own commentaries, placing each anecdote in a more general context. These range from humane issues to metaphysical wisdom. Her own profound connection to animals provides a through-line of touching personal experiences and incisive observations as well. Types of "other-side" contact can take many forms, and Ms. Sheridan devotes a chapter to each. These include visual (in both dreams and waking visions), as well as hearing, smell, and touch. Some people receive messages through mediums or animal communicators.

While these are inescapably stories involving loss, tragedy, and grief, I found them uplifting rather than depressing. Each is a moving testament to the kind of love which can bind together individuals of different species, even beyond death. Each account attains closure with spiritual comfort, consolation and hope. The chapter on grief provides such wise counsel and compassionate insights, that it should be required reading for all veterinary and shelter personnel, as well as clergy and psychologists. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who is dealing with grief over the passing of a beloved animal companion, or who is facing such a loss. It will also be interesting to anyone curious about the spiritual aspect of animals.

I can't really find the words to describe this book. It's not only well researched, well organized, and well written, but it's also an incredible reading experience. I felt that I was traveling on the author's journey right along with her, and I truly didn't want the journey to end. I usually skip around different books, skimming them for interesting facts, and dropping them if I become bored or disinterested. I can honestly say that this is the first book I've ever read that captivated me right from the very first sentence and kept me turning the pages right to the end. It opened not only my mind, but also my heart and soul. I was a hardened skeptic and expected to find a lot of information that I could dispute. However, by the time I reached the end, in light of all the profound and varied evidence presented throughout the book, I had become a believer. I'm now ordering a copy for a friend, as I don't want to relinquish mine! This is one of those books that you never forget, and once you've read them, your life is never the same. Highly recommended!

Anyone exploring the field of life after death, will sooner or later ask the question whether the afterlife is limited to humans. Christian tradition usually holds that it is; although members of animal species would possess a soul, this would be a mortal soul. As far as I know, Kim Sheridan is one of the main contemporary authors who seriously challenge this view. She uses a wide range of spontaneous experiences of people who lost a beloved pet. In this respect, her book strongly resembles the work by the Guggenheims about spontaneous types of postmortem contact with human spirits. It is remarkable how many experiences with animal souls have been reported, ranging from telepathic messages and apparitions to stories about reincarnation. The sympathetic author has placed these against the background of her own experiences, which greatly enhances the liveliness of her book.
Chapter 7 is dedicated to Near-Death Experiences in animals. The author claims that some animals that were close to death sometimes show personality changes that remind one of the transformation in human NDE-ers. They appear to radiate a deep peace and are much more loving than they used to be, even if they had behavioral problems before the NDE.
She also gives attention to NDEs in which deceased pets play a prominent role. Such as Obie, the cat of Shelley Nunemaker that was accompanied by people in whites robes (p. 89).
Karen Young observed how her dying cat Strawberry Shortcake spiritually left her body. She saw two smiling persons opening a doorway with sunlight and a lot of activity beyond it. Strawberry ran toward the doorway after looking back at her dead body (p. 194).
Shortly before her horse Ella passed away, Tracey Pollard from England had a detailled panoramic vision of Ella's life.
'It flashed past in an instant buy she felt that both Ella and she experienced it. It was extremely moving' (p. 334).
One of the experiences that impressed me the most is the case of Daisy (p. 223). Daisy was a neglected dog that was always tied up and she had to guard the gate. When her owner went on a trip, he asked Regina Fetrat to take care of Daisy for a while. Regina bathed her and gave her a good time. Years later, when Regina had lost all contact to Daisy or her owner, she dreamed that the dog thanked her for the good time they had spent together. During the following week, Regina felt the urge to call her owner. He told her that Daisy had passed away the week before.
Animals and the Afterlife puts the controversial topic of an immortal animal soul on a higher level by the author's thorough, intelligent approach.
Kim Sheridan defends the notion of the survival of an individual animal soul (rather than a fusion into an impersonal group soul).
Furthermore, in the last chapters Sheridan explores the general consequences of her findings for our perspective on animals. She also mentions some remarkable recent discoveries from mainstream animal psychology and advocates a much more respectful attitude to animals, that is expressed among other things in a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle.
Warmly recommended!

Animal "spirits" do survive physical death. I among countless others do not need biblical validation for this. Down through history the Bible has been rewritten so many times with many things taken out (such as reincarnation which was in the original bible prior to 325 AD.)and or added, that it's very hard if not impossible to state that there is no biblical scriptures to support the fact that animal spirits survive death. Our pets are very important to us, why would God deny us that? Even Reverend Billy Graham when asked about this stated that he sees no reason why we would not have our beloved pets with us. How arrogant to think that we humans are the only creatures of God who survive death.