Goodbye, Dear Friend: Coming to Terms with the Death of a Pet
Feb 2014 · Quarto Publishing Group USA
Ebook
192
Pages
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About this ebook
Losing a pet causes real grief—this book provides real understanding, comfort, and support to help you heal.
It’s not odd, crazy or maladjusted to cry and feel utterly lost when a pet dies. Often that pet has been a close friend, uncritical, loyal, and devoted—bringing us countless hours of peaceful companionship and joyful play. There is no need to keep grief hidden or wonder why we can’t immediately “replace” our dead pet. Feelings deserve understanding and respect—not dismissive comments like “it’s just a cat” or “why don’t you get another dog?” that, even if well-meaning, can cause enormous distress to those who are mourning a genuine loss.
Goodbye, Dear Friend acknowledges both the extent and depth of grief of a pet. Based on an avalanche of letters about pet loss the author has received at her advice column, as well as the experiences of historical figures like Sigmund Freud and Sir Walter Scott, the book takes us through the process of grieving, delving into such topics as putting a pet to sleep; taking comfort in memorials; and whether there is a pet heaven. With a list of further resources included, Goodbye, Dear Friend is essential for every pet owner, young or old, and will bring great solace at a time when one can feel most alone.
It’s not odd, crazy or maladjusted to cry and feel utterly lost when a pet dies. Often that pet has been a close friend, uncritical, loyal, and devoted—bringing us countless hours of peaceful companionship and joyful play. There is no need to keep grief hidden or wonder why we can’t immediately “replace” our dead pet. Feelings deserve understanding and respect—not dismissive comments like “it’s just a cat” or “why don’t you get another dog?” that, even if well-meaning, can cause enormous distress to those who are mourning a genuine loss.
Goodbye, Dear Friend acknowledges both the extent and depth of grief of a pet. Based on an avalanche of letters about pet loss the author has received at her advice column, as well as the experiences of historical figures like Sigmund Freud and Sir Walter Scott, the book takes us through the process of grieving, delving into such topics as putting a pet to sleep; taking comfort in memorials; and whether there is a pet heaven. With a list of further resources included, Goodbye, Dear Friend is essential for every pet owner, young or old, and will bring great solace at a time when one can feel most alone.
About the author
Virginia Ironside has been a journalist all her life. She was a rock columnist for the Daily Mail in the 'sixties, a television reviewer and a columnist for teenage magazines. She has written several novels and children's books, the latest being No! I Don't Want to Join a Book Club – Diary of a Sixtieth Year. She has been a problem page editor at Woman and the Sunday Mirror for many years and now has a regular column in the Independent and the Oldie.
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