LeighAnnGerk
Supporting Your Child When Their Beloved Pet Dies
readingwithyourkids.com I am elated that I was invited to be a guest on Reading with Your Kids Podcast. My very first podcast is going to...
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It's Not "Just a Pet"
Grief vs. Mourning
National Pet Memorial Day
Blog
From one pet parent to another, please find comfort in knowing I am here to walk beside you during this difficult journey called grief. I have felt the heartbreak you are going through and that is why I have dedicated my life to helping individuals just like you. Words cannot begin to describe your loss, but please know I do understand.
Having grown up on a farm my childhood playmates included baby calves, horses, bunnies, dogs and 32 cats that set up house in a boxcar that also served as my playhouse. I have loved and lost many animals. My understanding of the human-animal bond, which began on this farm, has stayed and grown with me ever since.
Thank you for having the courage to seek help; you have already taken your first step towards healing.
Indie Book Award Winner by Leigh Ann Gerk
Available in Paperback and Kindle
My love of writing and my firm belief and appreciation of the human-animal bond inspired me to publish, just in time for National Pet Memorial Day, this children’s book Dear Brave Friend. As we are all children at heart, it would be a perfect gift to give to yourself, a friend or a family member.
“ Dear Brave Friend lovingly demonstrates healthy grieving to children who have experienced the death of a pet. Poignantly presented in the form of a letter from a pet to a young child this book deftly covers the variety of feelings that the young reader may encounter while letting them know that, whatever their emotion, it is a normal and healthy way to experience loss. The author brings her expertise as a counsellor in pet loss and grief companioning to this touching book which also provides exercises for children to express their feelings.”
—Next Generation Indie
Book Awards Judge
Now Available in Spanish
“This sweet and meaningful book is sure to support the whole family. The author has taken care to capture what it’s like for a child to lose a friend and impart a message of hope.”
—Kathleen Cooney,
Veterinarian and end of life specialist
“Dear Brave Friend is a beautiful way to talk with children about pet loss. The story line and illustrations are powerful tools that give a child’s heart permission to know that they might feel a certain way, and it’s perfectly acceptable. Coupled with the practical workbook at the end, this book has it all—not only for children and parents, but for all ages! This is a “highly recommend” read for every pet lover!”
—Coleen A. Ellis, Pet Loss Pioneer
Two Hearts Pet Loss Center
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