I am a recently bereaved dog lover. My wife and I got our first dog after our 2 children had left home. We’d never had one but our Bichon, Jenny became a beloved member of our family. I am a psychotherapist and she often helped me calm agitated patients, who as soon as they saw her, seated quietly next to me, would brighten up and become accessible.
When, after a long slow decline caused by an auto-immune illness, I held her in my arms as she was put to sleep, I felt distraught. I confessed to my wife that the death of our Jenny affected me more deeply than the loss of close relatives. Reading Mark’s book has been a tremendous comfort. My wife and I thought we’d never want another dog, wouldn’t want to go through the pain of loss, but now we’re determined to get another.

Stephen from NY