The Grief Recovery Handbook for Pet Loss

Having just lost a beloved dog that helped cement my relationship with my other half and grieving over her loss with great guilt and severe emotional pain, I saw this book suggested in various forums. I read it rapidly over the course of a few hours with great relief. The process outlined in the book was unwittingly begun by myself and I will now have the tools to finish my completion process to make daily life less painful. Being able to feel assured that my pain is not the only way to stay connected to the best dog I have ever owned has been freeing and having some tools to handle my crushing guilt has been very productive. The loss is no less sad, but the painful aspect is much improved. I should add that I am a lifelong animal lover who has been forced to say goodbye to many, many pets and who has never felt the kind of pain this loss caused me. This was a very big help to me as someone in new territory despite having owned pets all my life.

This is a great book to have to be able to read after loosing your beloved family pet. I know because I've gone through it recently enough and this wasn't the only book I turned to besides an animal communicator. I have a dog business and one of my first customers had gotten a golden retriever at 6 months old and he passed away last December at 14 yrs old and I was like his 2nd mom besides his owner. I was very close to him because I had him practically every day and was there when he took his last breath. During his formative years while my golden was still alive, her golden picked up alot of my goldens mannerisms and sorta took his place after his passing. And the funny thing was they both had the same exact name! And she and I have become BFF through the years almost like both of our "CODY'S" brought us together. When someone looses their pet, especially when I knew how much she loved him, I know better than anyone how she was feeling and I know what they need to help heal their heart. Its a very sensitive time and if one has never had such a devastating loss, they are better off not saying anything, especially "it's only a dog"!! type of people who don't get it. Along with being there for her tenderly, I got this book for her to look through at her leisure and when she finally did, she couldn't thank me enough. People need support from others who have gone through the same thing and that loved their dog in the same way. And I understand how gutt wrenching the loss of a pet can be. Its horrible to say but its just as devastating or even more so in some cases than loosing a human being. This book was very, very helpful and it lets you know that you are not the only one the grieves for the loss of your pet and that so many others out there feel the exact same way and they love their pet as much as we love ours and still do and will always love and miss them until were together again someday. Thank you.

It was extremely hard to get through this book. I made it and I am glad I did. It is hard to do but worth the effort. I recommend this book.

I bought this to help prepare for inevitable. People around me don't seem to understand the depth of grief that happens with the loss of a pet. I bought this to help me through when it happens.

After losing my Yorkie after 14 years in December 2014, I was an emotional wreck. I felt like all the grief I had avoided from losses during my life came back and grabbed me so hard in such a way that the feelings of loss I repressed in combination with the loss of my dog were unbearable. Like I always do, I turn to books for help, especially during a crisis. After reading a few popular pet loss books, I came across The Grief Recovery Handbook for Pets. The book is not for passive reading. I followed each and every single one of the exercises, including reading a letter aloud to someone. When I completed the book, it was one of the worst and best days of my life. Soon the grief quickly became bearable, and I started to feel a little better. It was not a straight line, though, to feeling a lot better. I had still had moments, and I probably always will, but I could accept my feelings of loss and tolerate them. I'm forever changed from my relationship with my dog and his passing. The book helped me get through the worst part of grieving. I highly recommend it, and I highly recommend doing all the exercises.

This book was recommended to me after my 15 year old cat passed away. The person who recommended it to me called it a 'lifesaver' for her and I definitely see why. I can't imagine it wouldn't be helpful for any pet owner who lost an animal. Definitely recommend it. It is important to actually 'do' the assignments in the book, not just read it. It's the process of going through the assignments that makes the difference.

God bless these people for putting this book together. It really helped me after my dog passed. Be prepared to do the exercises in the book. I felt it did help with the grieving process. I took a star away because the author seems a bit strict with his take on pet loss, also might be a little tough for those not used to this kind of spiritual or emotional work.

I keep Grieving books for loss of cats and dogs on hand to give away to friends who have lost a pet or are worrying about the possiblity of their elderly sick pet passing soon. The author Russell Friedman also has a human grieving book and a course that is offered in some areas for people who have recently lost a spouse. I have a neice who is bi-polar and has two 14 year old cats who she is sure are going to die soon and she just doesn't think she will be able to handle their passing. I asked what she had done to prepare herself for this happening. I sent her one of these books to help her prepare. I have no idea if it helped or she even read it, but she thanked me for sending it.

This is my sixth book on pet loss and bereavement I've read since my beautiful and most precious cat, Mittens, had to be put to sleep on 19th December 2019. I miss him terribly & feel devastated. This book addresses the matter of how you feel, giving practical advice on how to heal and have better insight into the dealing with the loss of your beloved pet. I have had three rabbits and three cats over the years since I was 8 and the pain doesn't get any easier. But this book is so sensitively and intelligently written. One of the best I've read on the subject. Very helpful.

A step by step approach in a very straight forward style - practical advice on how to feel better rather than sad stories about other people's losses.

Really good read. Great for those who are struggling with pet loss or have been through it in the past. Gives you great insight into yourself, your relationships with your pets and those around you. Highly recommended.

Thoughtfully written book. Would recommend.

This is a must read for all bereaved pet owners it makes you feel not alone in your grief an gives you the tools to help heal yet still remember your pet in a positive manner