Customer Reviews

Journey Through Pet Loss

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4 star:		(4)
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The author uses moving vignettes from the death of her own pet to help others review their own feelings of grief. After each topic, she encourages the listener to turn off the tape and reflect on his or her own memories and feelings.

She discusses pet memorials, stages of grief, euthanasia and hospice options. She emphasizes that each person has his or her own unique feelings. Different individuals might make different, equally valid choices for the beloved pet.

I liked the sections on complicated grief. Pet loss can often reactivate deeper feelings about past losses. The pet's death may be a chance to work through other life experiences.

Many of her general suggestions for dealing with pet loss could be useful for the entire family.

The section on children's reactions to pet loss could have been stronger. I had a sense that the author was more comfortable dealing with adults and their animals. However, she did bolster her section on children with quotes from other authors and gave useful references.

Carol E. Watkins, M.D.

Journey Through Pet Loss...takes us in the steps of grieving for a loved family pet. Deborah's audio also seems more personal to the listener. It touches you--because she understands the loss."

Bennet Pomerantz AUDIOWORLD

Sometimes losing a dear animal friend can seem more overwhelming than the loss of a human in our lives. This is one of the many things that complicate the grieving process. The author explains that there are many bounds set by society and our own inner voice that attempt to dictate how long and how much we should mourn a beloved companion's passing. She explains why the loss of an animal can be a much more raw experience than the loss of a family member, friend or relative because of the mixed feelings and complicated relationships that we have with other humans. That simple, loving animal spirit that was so close to you is suddenly gone. There is no buffering element, no memories of a heated exchange that soured your relationship - nothing to blunt the pain. This can bring feelings of confusion and guilt, or painful memories of the loss of a child or spouse, and many other emotions. The author does an excellent job of explaining the reasons for these feelings, and suggests many different ways of working through them. She explains the phases of the grieving process and where to find help if serious emotional states are triggered. She also explains that we frequently project a part of our own psyche onto our pets, which can unleash unexpected effects on their passing.

Despite the fact that I might have made this sound rather technical, it is not. The author puts forth a very gentle and concerned effort to do what the title implies - help you through the journey of pet loss.

My Annabelle Kitty was 6 years old and one amazing kitty. She came every time I called her name. She was very loving to me, always petting me and purring. She got sick and in less than 11 hours she was unexpectedly gone. The vet thinks it was a blot clot. She died New Years morning 2008. I have other pets, but none like my Annabelle. She always had a way of always being there and she was so comforting. My first step in truly healing was this tape program. I would go lie down, but on my earphones and just close my eyes and listen to the woman talk about her dog. It helped to have my feelings validated by someone who has been there. These tapes helped me not to feel so alone. I have the support of my husband and 10 year old daughter, but the woman on the tapes helped me to deal with my grief. I was not doing very well and was not being there for my daughter and husband like I needed to be because of the loss I felt. It took a few days of focusing on what the woman said on the tapes, but I did what she said and it helped more than anything else. I am very grateful for the tapes. (I am not sure if my tapes were the revised edition or not)
Blessings,
Stephanie

In Journey Through Pet Loss, Deborah Antinori address every aspect of losing a beloved family pet including coping with feelings, memorial tributes for animals, burial and cremation issues, grief phases and tasks, complicated mourning, associations to other losses, what to tell children, and other forms of pet loss such as lost pets and pets who must be given away. This two-cassette, three hour, audiobook production is technically flawless and will prove to be an invaluable and much appreciated addition to personal, school, and public library collections.

A friend sent me a copy of Journey Through Pet Loss a few months after my 17 yr old terrior passed away. I took off the afternoon and went to bed to listen to the tape. Deborah spoke of many of the feelings I'd been having, including holding on to the grief as a way of keeping my terrior with me. While listening to the tape I realized that I had forgotten some of my most precious memories as a way of protecting myself. And while listening to the tape those memories came back. Journey Through Pet Loss helped me get through this very difficult time. Thanks to Deborah and to my friend who thoughtfully sent me the tape.

"Journey through Pet Loss" brought to my ears "full-throated authenticity" of the subject at hand. I relistened to explanations, not for clarification, but as information to pay attention to, words to learn by, and as words of wisdom. On-the-mark suggestions and activities are given to pet owners who have lost beloved animals, while the "All of a Sudden" poetry collection illustrates the concepts of complicated mourning and more. With adeptness, the issue of human loss is woven into the "journey" - a plus for pet owners and non-pet owners, alike. My counselor ears have been greatly perked, and I am pleased to have in my possession a resource that I can recommend to those who are living with poignancy in their lives. This non-pet owner was moved to tears, as I heard captured on tape the depth of love one can have for pets and the devastation that comes with the loss of them. This has deepened my own awareness of furry and feathered creatures who have flown high above to "Heaven's Nest," but possess a "magical spirit" so as not to be entirely out of reach of their (former) pet owners' hearts.

As a Hospice Social Worker of l5 years, I listened to Journey Through Pet Loss with great interest. For many people, the loss of a beloved pet was the first true experience of loss and grief. The way in which a first experience with death is dealt with often lays the foundation for dealing with future losses. I now keep two copies of this wonderful set to share with children and adults alike. I also have found it useful and healing to adapt the recommended exercises to use with clients who are dealing with the loss of a beloved human companion. Journey Through Pet Loss is carefully thought out- I expect that listeners will laugh through their tears, as I have, while listening.

Journey Through Pet Loss is an insightful, creative, and heartfelt odyssey through the loss of a beloved companion animal. As an experienced drama therapist, Deborah Antinori understands the importance of using creativity and imagery to help move grief from the intellectual realm, to the emotional one. Anyone suffering from the loss of a special friend should experience Deborah's unique approach to healing. She provides valuable ideas in a way that feels very personal and meaningful.

I found "Journey Through Pet Loss" to be quite helpful as I stumbled through the greiving process. Some of the poems Deborah wrote in dealing with her own pet loss were quite moving. The tape make me realize that part of the greiving process is the unwillingness to let go. It also made me realize that the strength of that emotion was a statement on the bond I shared with my beloved kitty cat "Booie". For that I am most grateful. Bonds that strong certainly bring much comfort and happiness to both parties, so there is comfort in knowing that I made as big a difference in my kitty's life as he did in mine.

One thing that also helped me get through the greiving process was getting another kitty. The new kitty can't replace the one I lost, but he does help me keep my mind occupied with other thoughts. I still shed a few tears over the loss of my old kitty, but the new kitty helps me remember the good times I shared with Booie, rather than the bad times at the end. And giving the new kitty some of the love I still feel for my dearly departed can't help but form new bonds with the new little guy. I think Booie would approve of that!