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Goodbye to a Good Dog: Healing, Comfort, and the Hope of Heaven After the Loss of Your Pet
Learn to Navigate Your Way Through Grief at the Loss of Your Beloved Pet
· Answers our many questions when a dog dies, including Will I see my dog in heaven?
· Includes tips and practical how-tos for honoring and memorializing our departed canine friends
· From a lifelong dog-lover and rescuer of senior dogs
***
"Beautifully written with honesty and true compassion. Goodbye to a Good Dog is truly a book about love, a love that lives on until we meet again."--W. Bruce Cameron, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Dog's Purpose
***
Dogs come into our lives and give us some of our best days. And then, one of the worst. There's a special kind of grief reserved for the loss of a beloved dog, and we may have lots of questions, like Why does it hurt so much? When will I feel better? and Will I see my dog in heaven?
Heartwarming and hopeful, Goodbye to a Good Dog is your compassionate companion for that worst day and all the days that follow it. Written with empathy and insight from the author's personal experience rescuing (and saying goodbye to) senior golden retrievers, this unique resource covers everything from practical tips on dealing with grief, ideas for memorial services, paths to emotional and spiritual healing, and ways to cope when others don't understand the depth of your loss.
Nothing enriches our lives in quite the same way as a good dog, which is why nothing hurts in quite the same way as losing one. Whether you or someone you love has had to say goodbye to a faithful dog, this book answers our questions, soothes our souls, and offers hope that we will see our dogs in heaven one day.
· Answers our many questions when a dog dies, including Will I see my dog in heaven?
· Includes tips and practical how-tos for honoring and memorializing our departed canine friends
· From a lifelong dog-lover and rescuer of senior dogs
***
"Beautifully written with honesty and true compassion. Goodbye to a Good Dog is truly a book about love, a love that lives on until we meet again."--W. Bruce Cameron, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Dog's Purpose
***
Dogs come into our lives and give us some of our best days. And then, one of the worst. There's a special kind of grief reserved for the loss of a beloved dog, and we may have lots of questions, like Why does it hurt so much? When will I feel better? and Will I see my dog in heaven?
Heartwarming and hopeful, Goodbye to a Good Dog is your compassionate companion for that worst day and all the days that follow it. Written with empathy and insight from the author's personal experience rescuing (and saying goodbye to) senior golden retrievers, this unique resource covers everything from practical tips on dealing with grief, ideas for memorial services, paths to emotional and spiritual healing, and ways to cope when others don't understand the depth of your loss.
Nothing enriches our lives in quite the same way as a good dog, which is why nothing hurts in quite the same way as losing one. Whether you or someone you love has had to say goodbye to a faithful dog, this book answers our questions, soothes our souls, and offers hope that we will see our dogs in heaven one day.
- GenresNonfiction
182 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 7, 2026
About the author
Peggy Frezon
8 books43 followersPeggy Frezon is author of books about the human-animal bond, and a contributing editor of Guideposts magazine and All Creatures magazine for more than 20 years. She loves animals, especially dogs, and also the wildlife of the beautiful Vermont countryside where she grew up. Over the years, she’s shared her home with dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, turtles, and fish. She and her husband rescue senior golden retrievers, and do therapy dog work at BrooksHaven.
An award-winning writer and author of books about our bond with animals, her books have received accolades from NYTimes Bestselling author W. Bruce Cameron, Dr. Marty Becker, DVM America’s Veterinarian as seen on The Dr. Oz Show and Good Morning America, NY Times bestselling author Julie Klam, and NY Times bestselling author Susannah Charleson.
Get her free ebook What we Learn From Dogs at https://mailchi.mp/40113a3ffbd5/dogs-...
Connect with Peggy at
peggyfrezon.com
Twitter/x @peggyfrezon
https://www.facebook.com/PeggyFrezon
BOOKS:
GOODBYE TO A GOOD DOG (Revell 2026)
MINI HORSE, MIGHTY HOPE (Revell 2021)
THE DOG IN THE DENTIST CHAIR and other true stories about animals who help, comfort and love kids (Paraclete Press 2019)
FAITHFULLY YOURS the amazing bond between us and the animals we love. (Paraclete press 2015)
DIETING WITH MY DOG (Hubble and Hattie, 2012)
HEART TO HEART, HAND IN PAW(Inspiring Voices 2012, and Guideposts Books 2013)
CONTRIBUTOR TO:
FAITHFUL PAWS (2025)
FAITHFUL PURRS (2025)
ANIMALS AND THE KIDS WHO LOVE THEM (2011)
THE ULTIMATE DOG LOVER (2008)
THEIR MYSTERIOUS WAYS TOO (2011)
MIRACLES AND ANIMALS (2007)
MIRACLES OF HOPE (2008)
MIRACLES EVERY DAY (2007)
LOVE IS A VERB (2011)
A JOYFUL HEART (2012)
SOUL MATTERS FOR MOTHERS (2005)
GRACE GIVERS (2006)
EVERYDAY GRACE, EVERYDAY MIRACLE (2006)
FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS GRADUATES (2007)
THE ULTIMATE MOM (2009)
THE ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS (2008)
A CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND (2006)
GUIDEPOSTS JOYS OF CHRISTMAS 2010
GUIDEPOSTS JOYS OF CHRISTMAS 2011
many others
AND
MORE THAN A DOZEN CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOULS
AWARDS:
EQUUS literary award (2021)
GUIDEPOSTS WRITERS WORKSHOP 2004
THE CHILDREN'S WRITER TRUE STORY 2007
CONTACT ME:
http://peggyfrezon.com
http://twitter.com/peggyfezon
http://facebook.com/PeggyFrezon
http://linkedin.com/in/peggyfrezon
email: peggyfrezon@gmail.com
An award-winning writer and author of books about our bond with animals, her books have received accolades from NYTimes Bestselling author W. Bruce Cameron, Dr. Marty Becker, DVM America’s Veterinarian as seen on The Dr. Oz Show and Good Morning America, NY Times bestselling author Julie Klam, and NY Times bestselling author Susannah Charleson.
Get her free ebook What we Learn From Dogs at https://mailchi.mp/40113a3ffbd5/dogs-...
Connect with Peggy at
peggyfrezon.com
Twitter/x @peggyfrezon
https://www.facebook.com/PeggyFrezon
BOOKS:
GOODBYE TO A GOOD DOG (Revell 2026)
MINI HORSE, MIGHTY HOPE (Revell 2021)
THE DOG IN THE DENTIST CHAIR and other true stories about animals who help, comfort and love kids (Paraclete Press 2019)
FAITHFULLY YOURS the amazing bond between us and the animals we love. (Paraclete press 2015)
DIETING WITH MY DOG (Hubble and Hattie, 2012)
HEART TO HEART, HAND IN PAW(Inspiring Voices 2012, and Guideposts Books 2013)
CONTRIBUTOR TO:
FAITHFUL PAWS (2025)
FAITHFUL PURRS (2025)
ANIMALS AND THE KIDS WHO LOVE THEM (2011)
THE ULTIMATE DOG LOVER (2008)
THEIR MYSTERIOUS WAYS TOO (2011)
MIRACLES AND ANIMALS (2007)
MIRACLES OF HOPE (2008)
MIRACLES EVERY DAY (2007)
LOVE IS A VERB (2011)
A JOYFUL HEART (2012)
SOUL MATTERS FOR MOTHERS (2005)
GRACE GIVERS (2006)
EVERYDAY GRACE, EVERYDAY MIRACLE (2006)
FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS GRADUATES (2007)
THE ULTIMATE MOM (2009)
THE ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS (2008)
A CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND (2006)
GUIDEPOSTS JOYS OF CHRISTMAS 2010
GUIDEPOSTS JOYS OF CHRISTMAS 2011
many others
AND
MORE THAN A DOZEN CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOULS
AWARDS:
EQUUS literary award (2021)
GUIDEPOSTS WRITERS WORKSHOP 2004
THE CHILDREN'S WRITER TRUE STORY 2007
CONTACT ME:
http://peggyfrezon.com
http://twitter.com/peggyfezon
http://facebook.com/PeggyFrezon
http://linkedin.com/in/peggyfrezon
email: peggyfrezon@gmail.com
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I knew this book would be an emotional journey, but I’m so glad I decided to read it! It celebrates the incredible bond we share with our best friends, our dogs. Inside, you'll find heartfelt stories from dog owners who wanted to pay tribute to their beloved companions and how they honored their memories. I found myself laughing, crying, and reflecting on my own loss as I read.
On a personal note, I lost my pup when she was only four years old. She was more than a pet to me; she was my teammate, as we participated in various dog sports together. Given that I can’t have children, my dogs truly are my world. With my family living overseas, there's nobody else to lean on, so my bond with her ran incredibly deep. When she went missing, I searched for a week but never found her. I was left without closure: no last hug, no last kiss, no final goodbye. The grief and guilt that I've carried since then are hard to put into words. I've spoken with animal communicators and the lady who found her, and I've come to accept that she is no longer among us. It's a loss that doesn’t fade away, and nearly a year later, I'm still learning how to navigate this new reality with a broken heart. While having other dogs at home brings some comfort, this grief feels entirely different.
I resonate with the author's perspective that regardless of how much time we have with our dogs, the bond is profound, and the loss can be devastating. I appreciate how the book emphasizes that we all grieve in our own unique ways. The author encourages us to recognize when it’s time to celebrate our pet's life instead of feeling guilty, that it's perfectly okay to not be there at the end. Small daily gestures can help our furry friends feel loved and secure up until the very end.
The resources listed in the book are also incredibly helpful for anyone seeking support, advice, or creative ways to memorialize their pets. It’s a beautiful, short read filled with heart, hope, and cherished memories, as well as verses and poems. I believe it makes a thoughtful gift for anyone mourning the loss of their best friend, offering them comforting words and phrases. It truly helped me reflect on my grief and discover what others have done and what has helped them.
Thank you, Revell and NetGalley, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
On a personal note, I lost my pup when she was only four years old. She was more than a pet to me; she was my teammate, as we participated in various dog sports together. Given that I can’t have children, my dogs truly are my world. With my family living overseas, there's nobody else to lean on, so my bond with her ran incredibly deep. When she went missing, I searched for a week but never found her. I was left without closure: no last hug, no last kiss, no final goodbye. The grief and guilt that I've carried since then are hard to put into words. I've spoken with animal communicators and the lady who found her, and I've come to accept that she is no longer among us. It's a loss that doesn’t fade away, and nearly a year later, I'm still learning how to navigate this new reality with a broken heart. While having other dogs at home brings some comfort, this grief feels entirely different.
I resonate with the author's perspective that regardless of how much time we have with our dogs, the bond is profound, and the loss can be devastating. I appreciate how the book emphasizes that we all grieve in our own unique ways. The author encourages us to recognize when it’s time to celebrate our pet's life instead of feeling guilty, that it's perfectly okay to not be there at the end. Small daily gestures can help our furry friends feel loved and secure up until the very end.
The resources listed in the book are also incredibly helpful for anyone seeking support, advice, or creative ways to memorialize their pets. It’s a beautiful, short read filled with heart, hope, and cherished memories, as well as verses and poems. I believe it makes a thoughtful gift for anyone mourning the loss of their best friend, offering them comforting words and phrases. It truly helped me reflect on my grief and discover what others have done and what has helped them.
Thank you, Revell and NetGalley, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What Peggy Frezon has written transcends the category of pet-loss literature. Certainly, it offers comfort, practical wisdom and compassionate guidance for those grieving the loss of a beloved dog. Readers will find understanding, reassurance and hope. But beneath those gifts lies something deeper.
This is a book about love.
It is about the ways our dogs shape us, heal us and teach us. It is about the bonds that remain long after loss. It is about grief, yes, but grief understood as love that continues.
As I read, I found myself unexpectedly emotional. I laughed. I cried. I paused often to reflect on the beloved dogs who have blessed my life. The personal stories shared throughout the book are tender, honest and deeply human. They invite readers not only to remember their dogs but to recognize how profoundly those relationships have shaped who they are.
Most of all, I heard Peggy’s voice.
Her compassion never feels manufactured. Her faith never feels imposed. Her wisdom never feels preachy. Instead, she writes as a fellow traveler - someone willing to sit beside readers in one of life’s most painful passages and gently remind them that they are not alone.
This book will undoubtedly bring comfort to those mourning the loss of a dog. But I believe its reach is broader than that. At its heart, Goodbye to a Good Dog is a reflection on unconditional love and the remarkable capacity of dogs to call forth the very best in us.
When I finished the final page, I realized I had not simply read a book about loss. I had read a book about what makes life meaningful.
That is a rare achievement.
Full disclosure: I received an advance reader copy (ARC) from the author and contributed a brief section to this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.
This is a book about love.
It is about the ways our dogs shape us, heal us and teach us. It is about the bonds that remain long after loss. It is about grief, yes, but grief understood as love that continues.
As I read, I found myself unexpectedly emotional. I laughed. I cried. I paused often to reflect on the beloved dogs who have blessed my life. The personal stories shared throughout the book are tender, honest and deeply human. They invite readers not only to remember their dogs but to recognize how profoundly those relationships have shaped who they are.
Most of all, I heard Peggy’s voice.
Her compassion never feels manufactured. Her faith never feels imposed. Her wisdom never feels preachy. Instead, she writes as a fellow traveler - someone willing to sit beside readers in one of life’s most painful passages and gently remind them that they are not alone.
This book will undoubtedly bring comfort to those mourning the loss of a dog. But I believe its reach is broader than that. At its heart, Goodbye to a Good Dog is a reflection on unconditional love and the remarkable capacity of dogs to call forth the very best in us.
When I finished the final page, I realized I had not simply read a book about loss. I had read a book about what makes life meaningful.
That is a rare achievement.
Full disclosure: I received an advance reader copy (ARC) from the author and contributed a brief section to this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.
July 9, 2026
This book came into my life when I really needed it. After the loss of my two longtime family dogs, I’d read a few books on navigating grief but none this comprehensive and hopeful. As the author states in the beginning, “This isn’t a book about sadness. it’s a book about love.” And that made all the difference. Frezon gives us permission to grieve, really grieve in our own way, and then offers blueprints to rebuild our broken hearts into legacy, love and hope. Frezon has experienced more than her fair share of the loss of family dogs as she and her husband rescue aging golden retrievers giving them a place to live out their golden years. But the love exchanged between her and every dog they take in for however long they have them, keeps her adopting more even though she knows she will dinner rather than later have to say goodbye. What I liked best about this book was the plain language that was used by Frezon, as if she were talking to you like a friend. One who has been there. I also liked the chapters written by other writers about their own experiences about what worked for them in their time of loss. Disclosure, I am one of the writers in the book with a brief story of my own two dogs. But I have purchased my own copy of this book and was truly helped by it, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A great resource for those grieving not only present but past dogs. This book gives you time to process and offers good advice on learning to find closure, at the same time taking the time to grieve your loss.
Thank you netgalley for my ARC, this is my honest review.
For those who want to experience a slow methodical analyzing of the grieving process, this story is for you.
My favorite part was the encouragement to get another 🐕 your dog won't have loved you less for "moving on" because you aren't moving on, your heart is still beating and you simply have more love to give.
Thank you netgalley for my ARC, this is my honest review.
For those who want to experience a slow methodical analyzing of the grieving process, this story is for you.
My favorite part was the encouragement to get another 🐕 your dog won't have loved you less for "moving on" because you aren't moving on, your heart is still beating and you simply have more love to give.
July 7, 2026
This is an excellent book. It is very touching because the author shares her personal experiences. She has been through the grieving process numerous times as she runs a senior dog rescue for golden retrievers.
I like that at the end of each chapter there is a “Goodbye Hug” and it gives a personal experience about what the grieving process is for another person.
I highly recommend this book. Nancy Z.
I like that at the end of each chapter there is a “Goodbye Hug” and it gives a personal experience about what the grieving process is for another person.
I highly recommend this book. Nancy Z.
July 8, 2026
Great book for anyone who has ever loved a dog! Yes, I cried. But Peggy's words are so comforting and the other folks who contributed penned heartfelt words.
Yup, you are going to cry. But you will love this book!
Yup, you are going to cry. But you will love this book!
August 7, 2026
I enjoyed the unique & personal stories at the end of each chapter the most. Some of the information/details seemed unnecessary or perhaps excessive. However, perhaps that depends on your personality, feelings and/or your relationship with your sweet fur baby.
August 2, 2026
Beautiful book. Truly helped me realize I’m not alone in my grief of losing my pet. Thank you!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews