Because “grieving for an animal can be a pretty lonely place,” Barbara Abercrombie created this joyful, poignant, funny, and smart collection of commiseration. Readers meet the cat who entered a neighbor’s window and got in bed with strangers, the dog who demanded down pillows, and even a coyote who became part of the family. The essays highlight the sometimes surprising things animals add to a household — and how their loss reverberates.

I get it. Every day can be a test. Some days are good, some not so good. I always think I'm prepared for "bad" things to happen, but when there are too many of them in a row, it makes it very difficult to cope. Yet, when human events seem to be taking a turn for the very worst, the Universe always provides all of the blessings that we need.

I just had one of those weeks where one "bad" thing happened after another. Looking back, I call it "my week from hell." It was similar to cramming for a test when you've lost precious notes and broken your arm at the same time, or having to endure military bootcamp. When you're in the midst of a week like this, it sure feels like hell. but there are also many, many blessings.

Publisher's Description: A boy and his dog, girls and their horses — the clichés click because they’re so often true. But some kids do more than play with their pets, and some animals do more than fetch and purr. These kids and animals love unconditionally, and through that love, the condition of each is transformed. This collection is for animal lovers of all ages — and for anyone who wants to smile or needs to heal. You’ll meet:

* Ricochet, the golden retriever who surfs in charity events to raise money for children with disabilities

* Casper, the rabbit who helps a boy sleep through the night in his foster home

* Sparkles, the Dalmatian whose fire-safety lesson saves the lives of a five-year-old and her father

* Snazzy, the black pony who helps a boy learn to talk

* Cocoa puff, the guinea pig who loves hearing children read

(revised edition)

Healing Wisdom fro Anyone Who Has Ever Lost a Pet

Publisher's Description:

The loss of an animal companion can be a painful, wrenching experience. In Goodbye, Friend, Gary Kowalski takes you on a journey of healing, offering warmth and sound advice on how to cope with the death of your pet. Filled with heartwarming stories and practical guidance on such matters as taking care of yourself while mourning, creating rituals to honor your pet’s memory, and talking to children about death, Goodbye, Friend is a beautiful and comforting book for anyone grieving the loss of a beloved animal.

The Emotional Capacity of our Dogs and Ourselves

Publisher's Description:

In Your Dog Is Your Mirror, dog trainer Kevin Behan proposes a radical new model for understanding canine behavior: a dog’s behavior and emotion, indeed its very cognition, are driven by our emotion. The dog doesn’t respond to what the owner thinks, says, or does; it responds to what the owner feels. And in this way, dogs can actually put people back in touch with their own emotions. Behan demonstrates that dogs and humans are connected more profoundly than has ever been imagined — by heart — and that this approach to dog cognition can help us understand many of dogs’ most inscrutable behaviors. This groundbreaking, provocative book opens the door to a whole new understanding between species, and perhaps a whole new understanding of ourselves.