From Publishers Weekly
If you snicker at the notion of a book devoted to pet bereavement, consider that that very lack of sympathy may have brought the book into being. Sife, a Brooklyn, N.Y.-based psychotherapist and the founder of the Association for Pet Bereavement, addresses the pet owner whose grief at a pet's death is largely misunderstood or even ridiculed by friends, associates and society in general. Although his topic easily lends itself to touchy-feely disquisitions, Sife is to be commended for offering information that is not only compassionate but concise, wide-ranging and, above all, practical. For example, he defines stages of grieving, interpolating case studies to demonstrate those instances where expressions of mourning mask deeper problems. He composes dignified rejoinders to those who launch a "perceived assault" on the reader's grief; explains why the rupture of a human-animal bond can be so devastating; offers specific techniques for dealing with anger; explores the special needs of children whose pets die; presents various factors involved in considering euthanasia, including such particulars as whether or not it is beneficial to remain with the pet until its final breath; and polls leaders of various religions. A superb contribution to a growing field. Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Book Description
The Loss of a Pet, New Revised and Expanded EditionSadly, all living things die. While you can never be completely prepared for that time, what is offered by Dr. Wallace Sife in these pages can help you draw upon new strength to ease your grief and pain.
In this fully revised and expanded edition of the award-winning book The Loss of a Pet, Dr. Sife, one of the pioneering authors and counselors in the field of pet bereavement, covers all viewpoints of bereavement for a beloved animal companion. This book includes practical suggestions, as well as brief case histories, and illustrates the insights that Dr. Sife has gleaned from his many years of experience.
In addition to helping the reader cope with the death of a much-loved pet, The Loss of a Pet addresses pet losses that are not death-related. Dr. Sife has specially designed this book to help you learn more about yourself through the grieving process and to successfully cope with this unique kind of loving and grief—and, most importantly, to help you realize that you are not alone.
About the Author
WALLACE SIFE, PH.D., is an internationally respected professional pet bereavement counselor practicing in Brooklyn, New York. He is the founder and first president of the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (APLB). In its first edition, The Loss of a Pet received the coveted Maxwell Award, presented by the Dog Writer's Association of America.
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