Dog Heaven

September is World Animal Remembrance Month, and yesterday marked National Pet Memorial Day. One of life’s most heart-wrenching experiences, both for children and adults, is without question the death of a beloved pet. So I’d like to take today to remember and honor a very special dog.

I wasn’t able to have a dog until I was long past childhood. He first arrived as a photo—a small, amazingly beautiful Bernese mountain dog, who in time became my best friend Merlin. As a writer, I was particularly dependent on him. When I worked on projects, he would sit next to my desk, watch me steadily, and turn his head knowingly when I asked myself a question. Although born lame, with the full use of only three legs, he thumped around the house to be with me at all times, monitoring my writing progress and alerting me to important times of the day—such as walks, meals, and bedtime. Even with all his health problems, Merlin lived to be nine and a half, an impressive age for this large breed. And then I had to deal with the absence of my beloved companion.

In my grief, I posted news of his death on Facebook; many of my friends had met him over the years—at local conferences and bookstore signings. Hundreds of messages came back, providing comfort and kindness. But what amazed me the most was how often people gave the same advice—“Have you read Dog Heaven by Cynthia Rylant?” Rylant both wrote and illustrated this three-tissue tribute to canines. In her vision, dogs don’t have wings in heaven, but fields and fields where they can run. Angel children play with the dogs; God and angels dispense biscuits in all shapes for them; they sleep on fluffy clouds. And, from time to time, the dogs get to visit their old homes, to make sure everything is all right. They will be in heaven “when old friends show up. They will be there at the door. Angel dogs.”

Using simple, poetic language, Rylant creates such a wonderful vision of the next journey for dogs that readers smile and cry along with her. The book provides both joy and comfort in equal measure. It is the perfect gift for anyone struggling with the lost of their own beloved friend.

So if you know someone who is grieving the loss of a dog or cat, by all means get them a copy of Dog Heaven or Cat Heaven by Cynthia Rylant. She truly understands everyone who misses a beloved pet.

Here’s a page from Dog Heaven: