Grieving the Death of a Pet [Paperback]

Betty J. Carmack (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2003

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.

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.

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

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 148 pages
• Publisher: AUGSBURG BOOKS (January 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080664348X
• ISBN-13: 978-0806643489
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #344,523 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #70 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Animal Care & Pets > Pet Loss

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

97 of 115 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This Book Could Make You Feel Worse If You Are Grieving, January 20, 2005

By 

Clare Corre (Camarillo, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Grieving the Death of a Pet (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.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank You Betty Carmack., January 6, 2004

By 

Shari Greenberg (Belmont, Ca.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Grieving the Death of a Pet (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.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautifully written, spiritually based book, January 20, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Grieving the Death of a Pet (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.