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Three Cats, Two Dogs: One Journey Through Multiple Pet Loss

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First some background--A few years ago some stray and ferel cats started adopting me. Due to the life they led they all came with major medical problems (FIV, FeLk, FIP, kidney failure and more). I loved them all, I cared for them all through very long, painful, illnesses. I had to make agonizing choices, put them through painful proceedures, watch them suffer, and watch them all die. I loss 6 in the course of one year. And others before and after that year. That's why I bought this book.

I don't want to discount the author's grief over the loss of his pets, which I can wholeheartedly understand and commiserate with, but his "journey" is so unlike anything that any other pet owner on the face of the earth is ever likely to go through, and he was so blind to the gifts that he received that the rest of will never even come close to, that I found myself incensed at his bad attitude and behavior. I could not in any way relate to this mans "journey."

His animals died quietly in their sleep. He didn't have to live with long terminal illnesses, painful treatments, or horrible decisions. I don't want any of my pets to die, but as they have to, I would pray to have them pass as his did rather than suffer through illness. But was he even remotely grateful for such a quick and painless passing? No.

He was a public figure so hundreds (no joke!)of people offered their sympathy and support to him. But there were two people who did not...and he was so angred by these two people that he felt it necessary to write about them, by name, in this book. A whole whopping two people were insensitive to his ordeal and this so enraged him that he felt it necessary to lash out at them? Poor baby. If I could find two people who understood what I was going through I'd feel blessed and lucky.

He got to stop working, due to his grief. Have any of us ever had that luxury? Or did our bosses not want to hear about it? Again, was he grateful? or annoyed when people hinted it was time to come back to work?

He held a public memorial service for his pets in a theater and it was standing room only. He got to talk about it, share it, let it go. How many of us get any opportunity to talk about our dead pets to anyone, least wise hundreds of people? Most of us know that no one wants to hear about it. We have to keep it inside. Again I feel he was blessed and yet he didn't see it.

Despite his grief he got twice as many new pets within a very short period of time. But does he enjoy them? No, in fact, he refuses to even celebrate Christmas with new pets. And once again gets irritated when a couple of people don't understand this. This proved to me that he learned nothing from the deaths of the original five....life is short and can be taken at any moment. He should have celebrated joyously that he had new pets...but he "couldn't bring himself" to do so. I barely had time to grieve one death before another was occurring yet I assure you I celebrated Christmas and every other day I could with the new pets.

The authors attitude annoyed me. He was given the best of everything and it still wasn't enough for him. If he had seen those five pets through long, painful, illnesses one right after the other, and had to grapple with painful treatments and surgeries, when to euthansize, digging a grave in his backyard one night and getting up and having to go to work the next day, all the while having no one to talk to about this...then he might begin to understand what the average pet owner goes through. I don't think he has a clue what it's like for the rest of us....and I hope he never has to.

This is a love story.

Too often we skirt around the edges of grief...especially when we feel belittled by a society that doesn't allow for the depth of sadness one feels upon losing an animal companion. Sensing this from his family and many of his acquaintances, the author did his best to stifle the weight of his loss(es) and "act normal." Fortunately, for him and for us, what comes naturally, what is normal, is to pour one's heart out onto the page. A page doesn't judge your feelings. A page absorbs the the grief, the anger, the frustration. It just listens.

I encourage you to listen to the pages in Three Cats, Two Dogs. If you are quiet, you will hear the purring, you will see the talking dog-eyes, you will smell the smoke, you will taste the tears shared by this couple when only they could understand how it was to lose five of their best friends, and you feel the not only the weight of that loss, but the celebration of each animal's life as well as the joy in gradually re-opening their scarred hearts to animals in need.

I read this book in two parts, and I'm glad I did. It gave me the chance to absorb the feelings of loss, confusion, fear, emptiness and sudden change. It reminded me of how precious each moment is. In the second half, I found myself rejoicing in the healing and the eventual footfalls of new paws, new friends, and a renewed spirit of animal advocacy.

An inspirational, honest, and boundless telling of a story certain to touch you for a long time.

"Three Cats, Two Dogs" by David Congalton is an important contribution to a new genre of books on pet loss. The author has stepped forth with a deeply moving account of life and death, in his family of many beloved pets. Although most of us do not have multiple companion animals, this book offers us a new awareness and perception. Until now, it has been too easy to pass off anyone with many pets as some sort of benign eccentric. Indeed, there are many pet lovers who do not appreciate what this is really like.

David Congalton came home one evening, to find his house in flames, and his five beloved pets dead from smoke inhalation. Most of us know the grief than a single such loss can create, but this was an experience in multiple horror and bereavement, which we can only imagine.

These pages honor a loving home life with these pets. Each one was a distinct member of the Congalton family, and through the author's skill we are able to begin to understand what this must have been like for him. When understanding is added to empathy, we have a breakthrough in appreciation.

There are many new books coming out on pet loss and bereavement, but this one is different. The author's experience and poignant presentation is reminiscent of the fabled Phoenix, rising from its own ashes. We discover how the tragedy expressed here is overwhelming, but endurable. And through this we also can learn so much about ourselves. The monumental message given is that we all can survive terrible loss, without allowing ourselves to be destroyed.

After finishing these pages each reader will be left with a keener love and appreciation for all his/her pets - past, present and future. And because of them, we can become better people, as well.

We recommend this book, and are confident that this will be a positive reading experience, as well as an appreciated addition to any pet lover's library.

Having suffered pet loss in two different forms, ( as a result of death and as a result of a divorce) I could empathise and sympathise with David and Charlotte on losing not just one animal companion, but five. Although I do not by any means claim that I fully understand the depth of their grief, no one truly can. Grief is an individual process and experience, because of the relationships that exist between all individuals.

As I read this book I could only do so a page at a time, stop to cry and grieve for David and Charlotte and then move on again sometime later, to the next page. Once I read up to Chapter Four (I think it was) I could proceed reading normally, although somewhat bleary eyed.

This is a truly moving and emotionally draining encounter of love, connection, companionship, loss and grief in the truest sense.

My condolences and my congratulations to David and Charlotte, not just on their loss and a wonderful book respectively, but also for being able to 'see the light' in a time of darkness, by showing the world how animal companionship is, in its most pure and deepest form, and for being able to 'move on' out of respect for five wonderful soul companions.

As a result of reading their true story, David and Charlotte inspired me to commit 'deeds, not just words' to the animal kingdom. I have committed my spare time to my local animal shelter (Blue Cross Animal Shelter)...and as a result of that deed, I adopted two cats and a rabbit....(to add to my two canine companions and rabbit!!!!)

You two should be proud of yourselves...your committment is infectious.

Well done David and Charlotte.

Blessings for all Animals. May they always have people such as yourselves to see them in peace and harmony, with love.

If you're only going to read one book on pet loss, this is the one...As a social worker with older adults I am familiar with the issues of loss and grief. When it's your own loss, it's a different story, and all that you know matters little. Within six weeks I lost both my canine kids due to illness. There were few people who understood the depth of my loss; the assorted pet loss books didn't seem to grasp the intensity of my bond--the only book that came close dealt with the loss of a (human) child. Then I found "Three Dogs, Two Cats."

Discovering David Congalton's book was a blessing. I needed to read only a few sentences to know this book was wonderful, and meant for me. Congalton had the courage to share his pain, reactions most of us would be embarrassed to reveal except to those we are closest to--and maybe not even them. This is the first book I've seen to share what is genuinely helpful to those grieving the loss of canine and feline family members and those who want to help them. He addresses the insensitivity and the ignorance of bosses and co-workers and others and even--most hurtful--of close family members.

"Just do what you need to do," someone close to me advised during the earlier days of my loss. Congalton takes us through his early days and nights and beyond, revealing the thoughts and emotions he (and wife Charlotte) experienced along the way, including lessons from "Pet Grief 101" learned the hard way, like "stay away from people who don't understand, even if it's family." He eloquently describes the standing room only memorial service held for his five little ones lost in the pre-holiday fire. Professional advice is not the primary role of this book--neither is it lacking as David reports on the radio show he did with some mental health experts who compassionately discussed pet loss when he returned to work. Interwoven among David's primary story of trauma and loss and new beginnings are reprints of articles describing his life of joy with his animal companions. It is just the right mix.

This amazing book takes us from a moment of utter devastation, on a journey through pain, suffering, and grief that few of us will know first hand. We learn the history of each of the five animals who died, so that we come to know and love them and are able to grieve the loss ourselves. The story winds its way through the mopping up after catastrophe, the incomprehension of people who have no clue about the depth of love that's possible between humans and animals, the tender words received from those who do understand, and the rebuilding of home and family as new animal companions arrive. This book is not an easy read, because it rams up against -- and shatters -- the walls we build inside to protect ourselves from our deepest feelings, those feelings that many of us would rather suppress or ignore. This story ventures through areas of the soul that few dare to inspect closely, yet the author's courage and love shine through every page to guide us. Keep a box of tissues handy when you read this book, but do read it, because it is truly a powerful and joyous celebration of the human-animal bond at its best.

Three Cats, Two Dogs is a beautifully written and moving book. David Congalton powerfully recounts the experience of losing his pets, and of how he moved through grief and recovery into new pet ownership. Congalton is a wonderful story teller. With clear, vivid prose, he describes his five wonderful companions and their tragic loss. The book is never maudlin or over-sentimental: the author confronts the emotional devastation of multiple pet loss with a clear eye and great wisdom. This isn't just a book about a sad event--it's about how we all learn to cope with death, and how we can take the loss of loved ones and grow to even greater love and understanding.

If you've ever lost a pet, read this book. If you've ever loved an animal, read this book. It will heal your soul, and bring you deeper understanding of the vital place of companion animals in our lives.

For those who know the central coast of California, author David Congalton can write and talk with the best of them. His book "Three Cats, Two Dogs", is vintage Congalton - honest, moving, and educational (in this case, on the grieving process of pet loss). There's a lot here. For example- the author relates "letters of wisdom" from caring people. And a lot here that makes you think about life with animals and life itself. You find yourself several times during the book, kind of putting the book down, and going around your home and checking up on your OWN animals, and feeling even more appreciative of them and hugging them tightly. Often times, too, the small publisher does it best. Barbara and Fred Rugg of San Diego,CA

One of the most poignant, heartfelt, gut-wrenching, honest and powerful books on the subject of pet loss I've ever read. As one who has written about this subject myself, and as a hospice bereavement counselor who volunteers my time in helping bereaved animal lovers, believe me, I have read them all.

I loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who loves their animals. Besides being wonderfully written, it lets the reader know that there are other people out there who truly cherish their animals as part of the family. It also lets people know that the grief they feel when losing a pet is very real and should not be minimized. This book will be kept on my shelf and reread often.