Saying Goodbye to Your Angel Animals: Finding Comfort after Losing Your Pet

by Alan Anderson, Allen Anderson

In this thoughtful book, Allen and Linda Anderson walk you through the numbing pain and dreadful sense of loss that arise when a beloved animal dies. They offer solace to help you deal with grief, remember and honor key moments in the animal's life, find comfort through groups and with professionals, and get past the depression.They also include exercises, affirmations, and meditations to use through the various stages of grief. The Andersons' caring, practical advice covers all aspects of pet loss, offering guidance children grievehonoring your religious beliefsgrieving for runaway petshelping others know what to say or do to console youplanning an appropriate memorial ceremony or tributeThe book also explores the concept of after-death experiences of departed companion animals and relates many beautiful stories, including the Rainbow Bridge story, that reinforce the love and sense of peace that come from honoring the place animals hold in our lives.

178 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 19, 2010

Reviews

[Dyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has many things in it that wouldn't work for me, but many things in it did.

I really had a hard time with losing Vader. I wasn't prepared to lose him as quickly as I did. It all happened within a few days with no clear warning. Or at least no warning that I listened to.

I do recommend this book to people who are very close to their pets and are having a hard time coping.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book a few years ago after losing a kitten to a brief and incurable illness, and pulled it out again recently after losing a two-year-old cat to an aneurysm. Somehow I did not review this book the first time I read it, but now really does seem to be the most appropriate time.

This is a book that examines the human-animal bond in readily understandable prose, and gives a different take on grieving that the typical Kubler-Ross stages. The authors take the view that they are themselves chaplains helping animal lovers through what may be one of the hardest times of their lives ... one that is sometimes harder than losing a human family member for a variety of reasons.

There are resources, meditations, and memorial ceremonies included in this book, along with a list of suggested readings. They acknowledge the difficulties of losing a beloved pet without being condescending.

This brief little book is a source of comfort to me during a difficult time.