"The final parting from a pet is a sorrow that many feel they face alone. Is it appropriate to feel so sad over the loss of an animal? To answer this question, Reverend Gary Kowalski offers a quotation from Garrison Keillor: "If this is foolish, so it be." Since many people view their companion animals as cherished family members, losing them is, of course, painful and even wrenching. In this beloved manual, Kowalski offers not just insight but also practical guidance -- on honoring one"s own grief and helping children with theirs; ideas for rituals, ceremonies, and solace; and considering death and the continuum of life. His compassionate and comforting guidance provides grieving pet parents with a much-needed resource"--