Tails from Beyond the Paw Print: Twenty-two stories of love, loss, and lessons learned from our adored animal companions

by Micky Golden Moore

Since 2009, attendees of Beyond the Paw Print Pet Loss Support Group meetings have found validation of their grief as they shared their stories of love, loss, and lessons learned in a caring, judgment-free atmosphere. It has long been Dr. Golden Moore’s dream to share these stories with the larger community of animal lovers outside the circle of her pet loss support group. The 22 stories in this beautifully illustrated book take you on a journey ― from first hello through goodbye ― while learning how these beloved animals transformed the lives of their guardians. This book is a love letter for anyone who might grieve the loss of an animal companion in isolation. You are not alone; the BTPP community is there for you. WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT… Tails from Beyond the Paw Print “This is a heartwarming book. The author is one of the most caring pet lovers we have ever known. The individual life stories on these pages are a testament to all who have lost a beloved pet. These tales of beloved pets will help ease your own sense of loss. As this wonderful book shows, our beloved pets are a permanent part of us, and they stay forever in our hearts, enriching and blessing us. We at the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement recommend it for your permanent library.” — Wallace Sife, Ph.D., Author, The Loss of Pet; Founder APLB "Tails from Beyond the Paw Print will make you smile, laugh, and cry all at once but even more importantly, it will help you realize you are not alone. This book is an excellent reminder to us all how important it is to talk about our grief, remember our beloved pets, and honor their memories in whatever way we can.” — Corey Gut, DVM, Veterinarian; Author, Being Brave for Bailey and Staying Strong for Smokey.

287 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 16, 2020

Reviews

[Sue Levine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book for every pet lover. It is in turns, both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Reading the stories of how our beloved four legged family members transform our lives and expand our hearts in ways we could never even imagine is truly life affirming. At the same time, what I found most reassuring is learning that through the “Beyond The Paw Print” pet loss support group, there can be life, love, laughter and real healing even when we experience the loss of the very best friend we have ever known.

[Raluca Popescu · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is challenging to deal with the sadness of a pet loss - I know this firsthand. When my soul cat passed away last year, I experienced overwhelming grief and tremendous loss. My cat was much more than a simple house pet. My suffering was unbearable and brought many distressing and challenging feelings. Most people might not comprehend the length and intensity of our affection for our beloved companions. Sadly, most of my family and close friends did not understand that feeling, leaving me in a state of isolation, grieving alone, and feeling guilty for crying every day for "just a cat." In my grief, I thought only another animal lover who has also suffered a traumatic loss could understand the magnitude of my suffering. So, I searched for books and anything I could find online about pet loss. I could not be more grateful to have found Tails from Beyond the Paw Print, a book that made me understand that I was not alone. I realized that my feelings were justified and validated and that it was ok to feel all my emotions at my own pace. As I made my way through suffering, loss, and grief, the stories in this book offered me consolation and hope. Tails from Beyond the Paw Print is a must-read for any pet owner. More so, it is what every mourning pet owner needs. It is incredibly uplifting to read how our beloved furry family members enrich our lives and widen our hearts in ways we could never have imagined. This book taught me that even when we lose the greatest friend we have ever known, there can still be life, love, laughter, and genuine healing.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a book club discussion prompt for a free EOL photography network. Heartwarming stories and thoughts inside.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently lost my soul dog and felt completely hopeless. As an avid reader, I turned to finding books as a means to help me through my grief. I stumbled across Tails from Beyond the Paw Print and purchased it. Honestly, I was very hesitant it would do much for me. I was looking more for a self-help book filled with advice from a researched professional on the grieving process - not a book filled with stories of others' beloved pets. I'm so glad I gave this book a chance! The author (a researched profession) did a phenomenal job putting this book together. I learned something from each and every story, with the overarching lesson that I AM NOT ALONE. I'm so grateful to have found this book - it even inspired me to journal my own story about my best friend which has helped me through the healing process. I can guarantee you won't regret reading this book.