Because our relationships with our animal companions are unlike human relationships, the death of a pet is like no other loss that we will experience. In this book, Betty J. Carmack draws on the wisdom of Ecclesiastes, her own experience, and interviews with dozens of pet lovers to guide the reader through the initial loss of a pet to the dawning of new hope and reassurance.
Grieving the Death of a Pet
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
"Rocky's loss taught me how deeply we grieve for our loved animals, the intensity of pain and the length of time it can last," writes Betty Carmack, a nurse and professional pet loss counselor. In Grieving the Death of a Pet, Carmack draws from her experience of counseling more than two thousand people who have lost a beloved pet, as well as the loss of her Rocky and other furry friends. She offers the book as a kind of pet-loss support group to counter "a world that reminds us repeatedly that grief for an animal doesn't count as much as grief for a person." It's poignant and sometimes heartrending, filled with personal stories of love and loss as well as Scripture and thoughts on faith.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
"...a must read for everyone facing the intense pain that comes with losing a cherished animal companion." -- Ed Sayres, President, San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
"...offers the nurturing supportive hug that we all need when we experience the loss of a kindred spirit." -- Allen M. Schoen, DVM, author of Kindred Spirits
"...poignant and sometimes heartrending, filled with personal stories of love and loss." -- Publishers Weekly
"This book will touch your heart and help it to heal..." -- Bernie Siegel, MD, author of Love, Medicine & Miracles
"...offers the nurturing supportive hug that we all need when we experience the loss of a kindred spirit." -- Allen M. Schoen, DVM, author of Kindred Spirits
"...poignant and sometimes heartrending, filled with personal stories of love and loss." -- Publishers Weekly
"This book will touch your heart and help it to heal..." -- Bernie Siegel, MD, author of Love, Medicine & Miracles
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have been grieving for almost two years over the death of Ming, my cat, my child. This book has done more for me than all of the other books I've read, the articles, the hot line calls, the pet loss groups, the counseling, and every other attempt to deal with my grief. All of the other sources are important, but this book answered the tormenting question: "Why do I feel this way ?". Betty Carmack put it into words like noone else ever has. There was only one thing to do when I finished this book.......begin it and read it again.
110 of 130 people found the following review helpful
By Clare Corre
Format:Paperback
My nine-year-old Great Dane just died, and I am devastated. My sister sent me this book because she said that she knew the author and she thought it might help me cope with the loss of my lovely girl.
I am about halfway through this book, and it is actually making me feel worse. The reason that it is making me feel worse is that included in this book are stories where the pet owners -- out of their sheer stupidity, ignorance, and irresponsibility -- actually caused the death of the pets that they should have been protecting.
One pet owner caused their German Shepherd to get heat stroke. Another couple put their friendly Rottweiler to sleep because he had bitten other dogs, and they were afraid he would bite a child. There are numerous other alternatives to euthanasia in circumstances such as those. Even the author caused the death of her first dog by actually pulling her dog overboard into a fast-moving river and then let go of him, causing him to drown. The author never should have jumped in the river herself let alone pull her dog in.
I just can't finish this book because I can't read any more stories where pet owners caused the death of their pets. I am very sensitive in that regard, and I think other animal lovers are the same way. I would never put any of my pets in harm's way like the author did. I know accidents do happen, but many of these people could have and should have been better informed and made better decisions concerning the safety of their pets. Many of these people set the stage for an accident by making a series of bad decisions. This just angers me at a time when I already feel sad.
Furthermore, this book has not told me anything that I did not know already. The author spends a great deal of time letting the reader know that it is okay to grieve over the loss of a pet. It wouldn't have even occurred to me that it wasn't all right to grieve the loss of a pet. You would have to be heartless not to do so.
If you are grieving the loss of a pet, seek comfort in your friends and family and find a different book to comfort you.
I am about halfway through this book, and it is actually making me feel worse. The reason that it is making me feel worse is that included in this book are stories where the pet owners -- out of their sheer stupidity, ignorance, and irresponsibility -- actually caused the death of the pets that they should have been protecting.
One pet owner caused their German Shepherd to get heat stroke. Another couple put their friendly Rottweiler to sleep because he had bitten other dogs, and they were afraid he would bite a child. There are numerous other alternatives to euthanasia in circumstances such as those. Even the author caused the death of her first dog by actually pulling her dog overboard into a fast-moving river and then let go of him, causing him to drown. The author never should have jumped in the river herself let alone pull her dog in.
I just can't finish this book because I can't read any more stories where pet owners caused the death of their pets. I am very sensitive in that regard, and I think other animal lovers are the same way. I would never put any of my pets in harm's way like the author did. I know accidents do happen, but many of these people could have and should have been better informed and made better decisions concerning the safety of their pets. Many of these people set the stage for an accident by making a series of bad decisions. This just angers me at a time when I already feel sad.
Furthermore, this book has not told me anything that I did not know already. The author spends a great deal of time letting the reader know that it is okay to grieve over the loss of a pet. It wouldn't have even occurred to me that it wasn't all right to grieve the loss of a pet. You would have to be heartless not to do so.
If you are grieving the loss of a pet, seek comfort in your friends and family and find a different book to comfort you.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This book as touched me like no other ever has. The personal stories were real not text book examples. They authentically showed what it is truly like to love and lose that animal. The spiritual base of the book is woven throughout the manuscript in a way that everyone can relate.
This book has made me think about the impending death of one of my dogs along with the loss of my childhood dog. It was a way to look back and realize that the feelings that I have had all these years were real and were "ok"
I think one of the main themes of this book is that it's "ok" to feel what you are feeling. It's not just a dog, it's part of your family and greiving is natural and expected part of healing.
Betty Carmack also tells us that it's ok to move on. That we will know when the time is right to get the next pet.
I also liked how it didn't just focus on dogs or cats, there were people who were greiving the loss of their beloved bird.
This is a must read for anyone who has a pet or who has lost a pet. I will recommend this book to everyone I know.
This book has made me think about the impending death of one of my dogs along with the loss of my childhood dog. It was a way to look back and realize that the feelings that I have had all these years were real and were "ok"
I think one of the main themes of this book is that it's "ok" to feel what you are feeling. It's not just a dog, it's part of your family and greiving is natural and expected part of healing.
Betty Carmack also tells us that it's ok to move on. That we will know when the time is right to get the next pet.
I also liked how it didn't just focus on dogs or cats, there were people who were greiving the loss of their beloved bird.
This is a must read for anyone who has a pet or who has lost a pet. I will recommend this book to everyone I know.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fabulous book! A must read for every pet owner
Well written with a heart. It helped me to deal with my grief of losing my best friend of 22 years.
Published 27 days ago by Mongoose
5.0 out of 5 stars
Devistated
I lost my 17 year old siamese cat and can't even describe the absolute devistation and loss I feel. The evening this book came was yet another night I opened my door and my... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Dawn M. Battle
5.0 out of 5 stars
written so nice
This book helped us... We would sit @ night and I would read this @ night. We still miss our beloved Sadie but we found out it's ok to mourn and not to listen to people say "... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Terri Durham
5.0 out of 5 stars
So helpful
Her book has been an invauable resource to all to whom I have sent as a gift.
I have an extra copy on hand for my daughter when her 12 year old lab can't carry on anymore...
I have an extra copy on hand for my daughter when her 12 year old lab can't carry on anymore...
Published 4 months ago by Kay Wells
2.0 out of 5 stars
Heaven?
I live in San Francisco where Betty holds Grief Support meetings. I'm glad I read the reviews here. I won't go now. Read more
Published 22 months ago by WoodcutSanFrancisco
4.0 out of 5 stars
Extremely Sad....
I bought this book at the advice of a friend who had met the author. It is a wonderful, heartfelt book; however, I was expecting more advice on how to deal with the loss. Read more
Published on February 25, 2011 by SDSpell
3.0 out of 5 stars
Too soon to tell....
I know this book will help, but I have not been able to read to much of it yet.
Published on April 16, 2010 by ShelleyN.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Grieving the Death of a Pet Helps Animal Lovers Understand and Mourn...
I have read "Grieving the Death of a Pet" every time I've lost a beloved animal companion. I have found it to be an insightful and easy to read book which has helped me better... Read more
Published on March 30, 2010 by E. Eells
5.0 out of 5 stars
Grieving the Death of a Pet
An excellent book to help with the grieving process. Wonderful real life examples of others who have experienced the same overwhelming pain and how they were able to deal with... Read more
Published on August 14, 2007 by Georgeann M. Mckee
5.0 out of 5 stars
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. Read more
Published on July 15, 2006 by Jack Pantaleo
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