Goodbye, Friend: Healing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has Ever Lost a Pet [Paperback]

Gary Kowalski (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 25, 2006

For pet lovers, the loss of a cherished pet ranks almost as high as the loss of a close family member in terms of grief experienced. In Goodbye, Friend, Gary Kowalski takes you on a journey of healing offering warmth, guidance, and practical advice on how to deal effectively with death by honoring your animal companion's life. A superb and comforting book for both adults and children.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

After Gary Kowalski, author and the minister of Burlington Vermont's Unitarian Universalist church, completed his new book, Goodbye, Friend, on dealing with losing your pet, his own elderly dog, Chinook, died. In his first book, The Souls of Animals, Kowalski wrote: "My own wise friend is my dog. He has deep knowledge to impart." Apparently, Chinook did his good work up until the end. Kowalski's new book is full of sound, compassionate advice to get you through the loss of your pet(s). Included are ideas for rituals and ceremonies, spiritual guidance and readings and poems to use for solace. The author's voice is a soothing one, not surprising for a minister whose job it is to be wise and reflective. The book also addresses animals' grieving; their life spans; their growth, illnesses and needs. These are similar to ours: need to eat, to exercise, to sleep, to have fun, to enjoy companionship and to expect routine. Kowalski includes advice on how to take care of yourself after the death of a pet and the importance of honesty when talking with children about this event. Kowalski's book is not only useful for healing when a good friend dies, but also reasserts his primary message: that animals are important, that "pets are not petty," that they deserve our respect and our kind care. As Kowalski writes, "Animals enrich our lives in countless ways, with their playfulness, their tranquility [sic], their constancy, and their love..." This book will help readers mourn and remember them well. -- From Independent Publisher

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: New World Library; 1 edition (July 25, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1883478227
• ISBN-13: 978-1883478223
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #54,718 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #19 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Animal Care & Pets > Pet Loss

More About the Author

Reverend Gary Kowalski is the author of bestselling books on animals, nature, history and spirituality. A graduate of Harvard College and the Harvard Divinity School, his work has been translated into German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese and Czech and been voted a "Reader's Favorite" by the Quality Paperback Book Club. Whether investigating the moral instinct in animals, de-mystifying faith of America's Founding Fathers, unpacking the Bible or pondering the frontiers of modern physics, Gary's work centers on the connection of spirit and nature ... acknowledging our kinship with each other and with a universe that is passionate, evolving and alive. Gary currently serves as interim minister to the First Parish of Sudbury, Massachusetts. Visit his website at www.kowalskibooks.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gives Hope, Understanding and Peace...., January 10, 2002

By 

T. Phillips (Toutle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Goodbye, Friend: Healing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has Ever Lost a Pet (Paperback)

After losing my beloved cat "Red" to cancer, I began searching for something about the death of animals and where they may go. It was a hard search...something people do not talk about these days. I found Goodbye Friend and it helped relieve the sorrow and pain of losing Red. It also helps to understand that what you are going through is normal. Also that you are not crazy because you grieve for your "family member" (e.i. pet) like a human. It helps to understand that everyone has their own process to get through their own loss. The poems and little stories were nice to reflect upon. This book barely touches on animal afterlife...but is a very good book with good information, reflective thoughts and validates your emotions and what you are experiencing. Another good book which has short stories of afterlife happenings of pets is "The Soul of Your Pet". ---- Bless all who have loved and lost a special animal companion for your lives are the richer!

67 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I highly recommend it., June 19, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Goodbye, Friend: Healing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has Ever Lost a Pet (Paperback)

I read this book a few months ago after I had to put my pal Puddin Head to sleep after 11 wonderful years. This book gave me the most comfort and relief of the four I read. In fact, the reason I am here is to order another copy for my best friend who is facing this ordeal today.

56 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HEALING WORDS AND HOPE IN MY TIME OF SORROW, December 28, 2001

By 

Susan W. McDaniel (Pearl, MS United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Goodbye, Friend: Healing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has Ever Lost a Pet (Paperback)

I was desperately searching for some comfort after the loss of my beloved dog, when my daughter found this book for me. This book was such help and comfort and made me feel better after reading it. Of course, I cried a lot during my reading of the book but it is very healing. I was very impressed that the author knows the heartache that many people experience in losing their pet that he took a six-month sabbatical leave to write this book in order to help people deal with their loss. I am truly grateful to him for doing this.

Please read this book if you are suffering from the loss of your pet. This book can help bring you comfort.