When Animals Die

“A touching and provocative exploration of the latest research on animal minds and animal emotions” from the renowned anthropologist and author (The Washington Post). Scientists have long cautioned against anthropomorphizing animals, arguing that it limits our ability to truly comprehend the lives of other creatures. Recently, however, things have begun to shift in the other direction, and anthropologist Barbara J. King is at the forefront of that movement, arguing strenuously that we can—and should—attend to animal emotions. With How Animals Grieve, she draws our attention to the specific case of grief, and relates story after story—from fieldsites, farms, homes, and more—of animals mourning lost companions, mates, or friends. King tells of elephants surrounding their matriarch as she weakens and dies, and, in the following days, attending to her corpse as if holding a vigil. A housecat loses her sister, from whom she’s never before been parted, and spends weeks pacing the apartment, wailing plaintively. A baboon loses her daughter to a predator and sinks into grief. In each case, King uses her anthropological training to interpret and try to explain what we see—to help us understand this animal grief properly, as something neither the same as nor wholly different from the human experience of loss. The resulting book is both daring and down-to-earth, strikingly ambitious even as it’s careful to acknowledge the limits of our understanding. Through the moving stories she chronicles and analyzes so beautifully, King brings us closer to the animals with whom we share a planet, and helps us see our own experiences, attachments, and emotions as part of a larger web of life, death, love, and loss.

Animal death is a complex, uncomfortable, depressing, motivating and sensitive topic.

The experience of our pets dying is traumatic for us. We find ourselves feeling fear, confusion, and apprehension. We want to help, but don't know what to do. A Place In My Heart, When Our Pets Die is an explanation of the dying process, signs that often occur as death approaches, and ideas for what can be done during that time. "A Place In My Heart" also addresses burial, cremation, and grief. This booklet is written in the same thorough and direct yet gentle manner as Barbara's the other booklets on end of life. It is the Gone From My Sight for those who are facing the death of a beloved animal.A Place In My Heart can give direction and support during a difficult and seldom understood time.

Does grief still grip your heart whenever you think about the loss of a beloved animal? Or, when you anticipate losing an animal that is starting to decline? Losing our animals is one of the most difficult parts of loving them. In Peace in Passing, Maribeth Decker debunks the myths about animals' passing which leave us crippled with grief, unable to find peace. She offers instead a roadmap to support you as you negotiate the treacherous path we walk before, during, and after our animals' transition. This book will help you find peace amidst the enormous loss of your beloved animal companion. This second edition is expanded to include information on ways to ease their physical decline; energetic techniques to connect you with your animal; and how to view the timing of their death through a spiritual lens.

Like a hospice worker, author Rita M. Reynolds cares for sick and dying animals, helping them comfortably cross the threshold into death. She shares stories about dogs, cats, a donkey, a cow, ducks, goats, and even baby wild mice she cares for as they die. Reynolds teaches basic skills in respectfully handling a dying animal, whether it's a newborn bird that's fallen from a tree or a beloved dog that is terminally ill. Her new edition includes blessings and prayers for animals, whether in the process of dying or who have already passed over. Reynolds believes in divine and angelic influences when it comes to helping animals cross over. She believes animals possess unique souls that transform into an afterlife. She even tells of seeing the spirits of dead animals and messages they bring her. Many of Reynolds' lessons are conveyed through real-life stories, where the reader witnesses how she simultaneously releases and embraces dying animals. Like The Tibetan Book of the Dead, this book has functional appeal and longevity. This book appeals to anyone grieving and looking for comfort.

A poignant middle grade animal story from talented author Linda Oatman High that will appeal to fans of Katherine Applegate’s The One and Only Ivan. In this heartwarming novel, a girl and an elephant face the same devastating loss—and slowly realize that they share the same powerful love. Twelve-year-old Lily Pruitt loves her grandparents, but she doesn’t love the circus—and the circus is their life. She’s perfectly happy to stay with her father, away from her neglectful mother and her grandfather’s beloved elephant, Queenie Grace. Then Grandpa Bill dies, and both Lily and Queenie Grace are devastated. When Lily travels to Florida for the funeral, she keeps her distance from the elephant. But the two are mourning the same man—and form a bond born of loss. And when Queenie Grace faces danger, Lily must come up with a plan to help save her friend.

A groundbreaking collection that explores human–animal relations and deaths with depth and hope When Animals Die is an innovative collection of essays that delves into the intricate and uneasy dynamics between humans and other-than-human animals, particularly concerning animal deaths, which are predominantly caused by humans. This groundbreaking book brings together prominent scholars from various disciplines to address the challenging field of animal death studies, incorporating perspectives from social sciences, humanities, biological sciences, and perspectives from beyond academia. The collection explores profound questions about the experience of animal death for both animals and humans. It examines how humans rationalize animal deaths and utilize deceased animals, and sheds light on the interconnectedness of animal death with issues like race, colonialism, gender, capitalism, and other systems of inequality that humans have established and perpetuated. By confronting these pertinent issues, When Animals Die seeks to deepen our awareness of the relationship between animal death and humanity’s involvement in it. While grappling with the reality of humans’ impact on the earth, the collection offers hope for an alternative future that does not entail the mutual destruction of human and other-than-human animals.

"Incorporating insights from leading experts across a range of disciplines, including the social sciences, the humanities, and the biological sciences, When Animals Die offers a fascinating and comprehensive examination of animal death, one of the most fraught aspects of human relations with other-than-human animals"--

In this invaluable guide and touchstone, New York Times bestselling author Jon Katz addresses the difficult but necessary topic of saying goodbye to a beloved pet. Drawing on personal experiences, stories from fellow pet owners, and philosophical reflections, Katz provides support for those in mourning. By allowing ourselves to grieve honestly and openly, he posits, we can in time celebrate the dogs, cats, and other creatures that have so enriched us. Katz compels us to consider if we gave our pets good lives, if we were their advocates in times of need, and if we used our best judgments in the end. In dealing with these issues, we can alleviate guilt, let go, and help others who are undergoing similar passages. By honoring the animals that have graced our lives, we reveal their truly timeless gifts: unwavering companionship and undying love. With a brand-new Foreword by the author.

Develop a deeper, more positive relationship with the animals in your life and become a better person using Animal Lessons. All around you, animals are acting as therapists, trainers, mentors, and gurus—if you pay attention. They want to guide you toward the next step in your personal evolution, and this first-of-its-kind book shows you how to understand and benefit from them. Having worked deeply and intuitively with animals for nearly twenty years, Danielle MacKinnon has a wealth of wisdom that she shares through helpful tools and techniques, client stories, and her step-by-step process for personal growth through animal guidance. With an open heart and mind, you'll develop a new awareness and stronger love of yourself as well as the wise creatures in your life. Praise: "MacKinnon, a psychic medium, blends personal stories with tips and tools aimed at helping readers discover a deeper relationship with their pets. Animals, she writes, often act as therapists, trainers, mentors, and gurus, and can offer lessons on love, patience, happiness, and gratitude."—Publishers Weekly