My 1st book, The Healing Art of Pet Parenthood spans the 2 decades I spent with the 4-legged love of my life, my heart dog, Buttons. It's our story of the human-animal bond, how I helped her heal from cancer, how she helped me heal from a terrified, bruised and broken heart, and how I emotionally survived her physical death.The question I get asked most by readers is, "Have you gotten another dog since Buttons died?" It's then that I try to explain. Marketing a book is a full time job, especially when it's not backed by a big publishing house, and its author feels as passionately about the topic as I do. Since I'm not currently in a position to make book marketing my only full time job, but rather, my 2nd full time job (in addition to a part time business!), it wouldn't be responsible of me, with such limited time and energy, to try and share my life with a canine companion, too.
But I am immersed as deeply as ever in the human-animal bond, and I have gotten hundreds of dogs since Buttons made her transition. Everyday is a constant flow of emails, and phone consultations- the ones about Bruiser and Godiva, Dasher, Carmie, Tinker Bell, Cisco, Biskit, Rudy and Reggie, et al, asking for guidance on feeding the safest food, healthy treat recipes, homeopathic remedies, alternatives to toxic flea treatments.... and the ones from pet parents whose beloveds have recently gone to Rainbow Bridge, thanking me for the validation and camaraderie my book has brought them.
I am blessed by every one of those emails and consultations, and although at this time, there is no cold nose waking me up in the morning with a snuggley nudge, I continue to embrace my bond with the animal teachers, and am honored to keep contributing my part to the stewardship we all have of our furry companions.
