Customer Reviews

Parting Words/Parting Ways: Saying Good-Bye to Your Pet

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I found this book to be a beautiful and tenderly loving approach to supporting anyone who is experiencing the painful feelings of losing a beloved pet. Or someone who must prepare themselves to face the difficult decision of letting-go of an ill or elderly pet. Laura lets you know you are not alone. She is a warm and loving woman who speaks from the heart of someone who has been there. I felt as if I were wrapped in a blanket of safe-love that allowed me to go to the heart of my grief and cry the cleansing tears of release that I so needed to do. This is a book for healing the heart. I found it encouraging to know that Laura and a world wide community of many other "animal angel's" are alive and well on the planet. Thank you Laura! I highly recommend this book.

I was very anxious to receive this book, and had it pre-ordered for some time. I was mainly interested in seeing my pet letter in the book. I had written a story about my feelings about losing my dog Seger on a website some time ago. I was honored to be contacted and asked if it could be included in a book. I thought this could help people and I was touched to have Seger memorialized in such a special way. I knew nothing more than that until the book recently arrived. What I didn't know was how touching and comforting I have found this book of letters, written by people from all over, men, women, and children. No matter what walk of life they have come from we all share a common thread...the love of our pets and the pain of losing them. I also did not know how dedicated the author was, and how she has helped so many animals. I have never met her and although I assumed she was a wonderful person to take on this project..after reading the book..I now know she is a wonderful person. I was surprised and happy to know that proceeds will go to help animals. I have already given copies to friends and family who have lost pets, and plan on giving one to my vet. I had no idea of the real format or outcome of this book, and I think it is unique and amazing. I have been touched by the stories, and the personal way each person handles it. I hope this helps others the way it has helped me.

In our society we have various acceptable ways to deal with the loss of a loved one. Everyone knows what is expected of them and the rituals that we go through to help us to work through the grief. However, the loss of a family pet can be very devastating and leaves the pet owner with no set of rituals to help move pass the pain. "Parting Words/Parting Ways: Saying Good-Bye to Your Pet" fills that void.

In the first part of the book Laura Carlson discusses the five stages of grief, the five stages of healing, memorial services and memorializing your pet. Throughout the book one thing stands out, that it is okay to grieve over the loss of a pet and there are ways to work through the grief.

The second part of the book contains many letters from pet owners who have lost a pet. The letters are written to the pets and show the deep emotions involved with the loss of a loyal companion. Reading the many letters one comes to realize the strength of the bond between many pet owners and their pets and the depth of grief that many go through. Recommended for those going through such a loss as it offers constructive methods of working through the loss and validation of their feelings.

This book is a warm blanket to the soul of every loving pet owner who has ever faced the inevitable death of their pet.
Beautifully conceived. The stories and the writing are first rate.
Thank you for this loving book.

I am deathly allergic to animals and so, of course, do not keep them as pets. this left me at a loss for words when my three nephews recently lost a lifelong companion. the book not only gave them comfort, it encouraged them to write letters of their own!

Laura Carlson is an excellent author.This book is very well written and it helps you so much in the understanding of how to deal with the loss of your beloved pet.It takes alot of strength and courage to be able to exspress such a personal exsperence as hers.The book just grabs you by the heart from the very begining and doesnt let go till the very end.I have lost so many pets over the years and never had the courage to deal with the loss till I read this book.The people who wrote there stories of there losses along with Lauras losses will help alot of people overcome there grief and heal.I am so glad to have had the oppourtunity to have read this book.I hope it helps anyone who has ever lost a pet as it has help me.Thankyou Laura for sharing such a personal exsperence and allowing people a way to remember there beloved pets and for giving them a chance to heal.

This is the first book on pet loss I've found that is actually a support group on paper! The letters from people all over the world are so touching and soul-baring, it's amazing that writing a letter like this can help heal a person, but I've done it now, and it does help. Before I read this book, I didn't feel ready to actually talk about my feelings to other people. I know there are support groups for people who have lost a pet, although few and far between, but somehow voicing my innermost feelings and crying in front of people wasn't something I felt comfortable doing. Now that Laura (I feel like I can be on a first-name basis with this author!) explained ways to process the myriad of feelings that accompany losing a pet, and the letters have made me feel like there are people who really do understand how devastating this kind of loss can be, I feel ready to move along the path of healing. THANK YOU!

I work at a Humane Society and see the grief that people endure when they lose a beloved pet. Our Society does not have "acceptable" rituals for pet loss, yet the grief can be truly devastating. People often feel ashamed to show their grief, and this book is a great tool for helping them work through that process. These true stories show others that they are not alone, that others shared deep connections with pets and felt the same level of loss. It inspires tears, smiles, hope and healing at whatever pace the reader chooses. Highly recommend for those who love animals as well as those who have lost a pet. A sensitive and loving gift for a friend or relative.

This book is a beautiful tribute to pets that have gone over to the rainsbow bridge to wait for us. It's a comfort to know that others have gone through the same grieving process as I have with the loss of a pet as one would with a friend or family member. The understanding of kindred spirits is a consolation.

This book really helps ease the pain of losing a pet. I realize that I am not alone in the strong love I felt for my pet. My letter in the book about Panama is joined by many other greiving pet owners. Definitely worth owning and cherishing!!