A Hard Farewell: Saying Goodbye to Our Beloved Cats and Dealing with the Grief that Follows

It is difficult to talk about death and dying, but Fred Jandt finds the right words to help our grieving and find a little relief. By allowing the reader to write their own story, in their own words and giving permission to say goodbye, he is letting us know we are not alone. Our pets are always with us in spirit and the heart knows this. >A pet can provide daily companionship and unconditional love, but with shorter life spans, they will eventually leave us. As a result, the grief we experience is very real and can be at times overwhelming. We might harbor guilt or shame for having such feelings and attempt to hide our grief from those around us. Many internalize it, too embarrassed to admit the level of sadness felt, concerned how others might react. To help understand these emotions, author Fred Jandt shares his own story of losing his beloved Yoda, a little white cat abandoned as a kitten and entrusted to his care. Yoda blessed Fred with an unexpected arc of sharing, learning, and obtaining the type of wisdom that comes from acceptance, patience, and kindness. In sharing the story of Yoda's passing and his own journey through grief, Fred models a way to honor your pet's life and how to recognize the impact it had on yours.