Loosing a beloved pet is never easy. Some people might be able to get over the loss quickly whereas others might never truly get off the loss of their furry (and not-so-furry) friend.
In the past 28 years, my family and I have had to say goodbye to seven cats and a dog, not to mention a hamster, Goldfish and African Dwarf Frogs. To this day I am still deeply saddened by the loss of our family members. The most recent was a year ago this past May when our cat Bella, whom we had since she was a day old, died of a heart attack in my arms while rushing her to the vet. Admittedly I am still traumatized by the whole situation. It left a huge imprint on my heart.
A couple of days after Bella passed away I had a very vivid dream about her. In my dream I could even pet her and feel her. I was the only one who could see her in my dream too. The rest of my family couldn’t see her. My husband told me that the dream was Bella’s way of telling me that she was okay, and her way of saying “good bye.”
I try to find comfort that our sweet pets are happy and healthy on the other side of the “Rainbow Bridge.”
The time they spent with us is very special, and we will never forge the impact they made our our lives.
There is a beautiful book that was recently published that is a must read for anyone who has ever lost a pet. The book is called I’m Still Here: A Dog’s Purpose Forever. The book was written by Cathryn Michon and illustrated by Seth Taylor.
Here is some information about this lovely book.
Fifteen years ago, director, screenwriter, and actor Cathryn Michon was grieving over her beloved dog Ellie’s passing when her husband W. Bruce Cameron created a story to comfort her. He described a dog soul who reincarnates and remembers all their lives with their humans. The message—animal and human souls are united in love forever, and death doesn’t stand in the way. Cathryn was inspired to adopt her next dog, Tucker, and Cameron wrote A Dog’s Purpose—a #1 New York Times bestseller that spent 63 weeks on the list, sold millions of copies and was translated into 46 languages around the world. The film adaptation, written by Cameron and Michon and starring Dennis Quaid and K.J. Apa, is the most popular live action dog movie of all time.
Years later, with Tucker now a senior dog, Cathryn dreamed of a new way to comfort people devastated by loss. She imagined what it would be like to read a story about an angel dog who is joyful and free there in the great beyond, but also still here with their humans, loving them and wanting them to open their hearts to new dogs. Her belief in the eternal soul connection between people and dogs became her new book, I’M STILL HERE: A Dog’s Purpose Forever.
Elegantly designed with warm and appealing watercolor illustrations by award-winning artist Seth Taylor, I’M STILL HERE is written in freeform verse, from the angel dog’s perspective—one Cathryn has spent countless hours thinking about, having written three movies from a dog’s point of view (A Dog’s Purpose, A Dog’s Journey, and A Dog’s Way Home). While losing one’s beloved pet is one of the most difficult experiences we go through, this book offers consolation, good news and hope to readers in a way that’s never been done before. The “very good dog” proclaims that love never dies, that we will meet again, and that if you ever doubted that humans are magnificent creatures, look no further than the humble ball.
I’M STILL HERE is an exquisite gesture of compassion for anyone who has ever said goodbye to a dog (or person) gone too soon, because it’s always too soon. It turns out that the best way to honor those we’ve loved and lost is to be present until we meet again, and as Bailey says in the film A Dog’s Purpose, “Be. Here. Now.” There is nothing to fear, because it is this dog’s purpose to pull you (like a bad dog who doesn’t know how to do “leash”) toward joy, and to remind us all to relish all the naps and treats life has to offer.
I have seen all three movies – A Dog’s Purpose, A Dog’s Journey and A Dog’s Way Home. I cried watching all three of them, most especially A Dog’s Purpose.
As I read through the pages of I’m Still Here: A Dog’s Purpose Forever, I couldn’t help but think about all the pets we’ve lost over the years – not just our dog. The words in this book can help bring comfort to any pet lover who lost a pet, not just a dog.
This is not a typical book where the text fills the page from top to bottom. Instead, the words float around the pages. You’ll find a paragraph here, a sentence there, and a few words here and there. The best way I can describe it is that the words “flow” around the pages.
You can read this book in one sitting (I did), or you can take your time and relish in the words as you read them and apply them to your own thoughts and feelings.
I personally found comfort in this book. It made me see that just because our beloved pets are gone, that doesn’t mean what they brought to our lives will ever disappear. Each one will permanently leave a paw print on your heart and soul forever.
The illustrations in this book are B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L! They really bring this book to life and touch your heart. I view the illustrations as artwork. I would love to have prints of some of them to adorn the walls in my home.
The illustrations are soft and “heavenly” (you have to see them to appreciate why I said that).
If you recently lost a pet, or know someone who did, this is a must read book.
You can find I’m Still Here: A Dog’s Purpose Forever where ever books are sold, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Kimberly
*I received a free copy of this book in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.
