Customer Reviews

When Your Pet Dies

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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I'm surprised no one else has reviewed this wonderful book. I happened to run across it at my local library.Two weeks after euthanising my Cat of seventeen years,I practically fell apart in the bookstore browsing the pet section .I knew i had to look at my feelings of grief. This book was such a compassionate friend to me during that time.He quoted alot of others' experiences with their losses and the pain they felt. This helped me so much to truly feel my loss,especially since I had put him to sleep.the guilt over that can really wreak havocwith you.There is a section specifically about that ,too.His chapters cover all the ways you can lose a pet,which was welcoming.What I loved most about it was his understanding that your grief is as real as losing a person,just as deep and your love,just as strong.As soon as I opened the book,I didn't feel foolish any more,and let the tears flow.And consequently,I was able to move through my grief much quicker.It's a warm,compassionate book,and I was looking for it for a friend who just lost a pet too.I highly recommend it.

I purchased this book along with several others after a complex (non-emergency) euthanasia decision I knew long in advance was a lose-lose situation. I knew euthanizing my precious elderly animal because of intense personal duress would almost be tantamount to suicide, and I waited until circumstances had broken me before proceeding with it. (So far, my dire prediction has proved true; the aftermath *is* as bad as anticipated.)

Mr. Quackenbush's book was the first to arrive. My grief is so deep I didn't think anything written by a stranger would do more than divert me. I had no expectation at all a book might help me by hitting nerves and letting the pain flow, a situation infinitely preferable than the numbness and despair I lapsed into. But the book accomplished this in two ways: 1) The author wisely, humbly, and frequently makes disclaimers about "complex" or "unusual" reasons certain people are forced to choose euthanasia. Quackenbush is or was affiliated with the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and, while his book is a succession of anecdotes, he shows exquisite sensitivity in selecting particular stories of pet loss. Many if not most of these stories note how stressors IN ADDITION TO the looming prospect of euthanasia play a part in the horrible time for the pet owner. Finally, he assures the reader that euthanasia will most likely be the ugliest decision any human being will have to make--which in itself is tremendous and tender comfort.

2) He makes the reader feel, throughout, as if he is on *your* side. In other words, his book is about as apolitical and compassionate as a book on such a subject can be. Although I do not recall if he uses these exact words, he let's you know that *you're* an animal too, deserving of the same kind of compassion and unconditional love he is certain you showed your beloved companion animal.

This is a magnificent book. I am less than two weeks into the ugliest time of my life, a time that puts me in mind of Emily Dickinson's great poem, "After Great Pain." To paraphrase Dickinson, if I "outlive" this pain in addition to "remembering" it, I will owe more than a little thanks to this author for making me feel as if I was part of a sad, sad society, instead of the loneliest soul on the face of the earth...who CHOSE to separate from the one little being who meant more to me than life presently means.

I've read three pet loss books for adults (two when my dog was dying, and one a few months after her death), and I think this is the best one of the three. The author pretty much hit it on the spot about all my feelings associated with the loss of my dog. The book made me feel that I'm not alone in the loss of my doggie "soul mate", that it's okay to feel this bad for a while when an animal companion dies. Yet he doesn't make generalizations, like some books do. He said certain things work for most people, BUT there are exceptions. Although at the end I feel that I'm just like most people, but at least the book gave me "permission" to think of other options.

I can't say enough about how this book helped me. I remembered reading about it years ago in a magazine. I searched and finally found one in a new age bookstore! I have loaned this book out so many times.

I have found that the reader has to be ready to read......so give it all the time you need. Once you are through you will be so glad the book was written.

Thank you Jamie Quackenbush for helping me through a very sad time. K

This book has been a great help with grief and loss of our doggie. It made me feel it was O.K. to experience the intense grief I was going through, and that I was indeed "normal" and not hysterical, even though at times I have felt completely out of control. Even that is normal. Chapter Nine --the last chapter in this wonderful book was the one I most related too, and was the most helpful for me. If your pet has died, this is the best compassionate book dealing with feelings, and what to do to get back on track with your life after your pet has died. It covers all aspects of your pets death and how to cope with it.

Although the book is several years old, comforting someone whose pet has died has no expiration date; the phrases directly relating to the actual passing of our beloved pets are clear and insightful....to the point, but with compassion.

Thank you.

This is an excellent book that is very helpful and very well written. It offers different scenarios and actual events which you can truly identify with and understand. I bought an extra copy to give as a gift, and it was comforting for that person to read. I highly recommend this book!

I have read this book a few times in my life after pets have died, and it always helps. In 1986 when my dog Lily died at a young age, I wrote to the author Jamie Quackenbush and he called me one night and we talked for a long time. He told me that "there is something doggie about me" and to this day I consider it one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me. This past week our beloved 16 year old cat died and again I find myself reaching for this book to help me during this sad time, and I know it will
I was saddened to hear of Jamie's death a few years back. He was a true pioneer in pet loss and bereavement....and a really sweet man who helped me very much. I am thankful for the book and the talk we had.

This little book is a classic. It really helps you understand and deal with the loss of a pet. Too bad it is out of print.