Going Home by Jon Katz
Going Home
Jon Katz has written many books about animals, both fiction and non fiction. His writing comes from deep within his heart. And I love his writing. GOING HOME is his newest book. Katz delves deeply into a sensitive subject. And he does it as he does all things; with simplicity and love.
Orson, a much beloved but troubled border collie, had to be put down after biting three people one a child. A horrible decision to make. This is how Katz begins his sensitive new book.
I am so grateful for Jon Katz for writing this amazing book. I picked it up last week after hearing of the death of Jon’s beloved dog Rose. After reading about Rose for years, I felt as if I knew her. I certainly knew how Jon felt about her. And I knew immediately that he would be devastated. I actually broke down sobbing at my desk as I read his moving post about Rose.
I can’t tell you how many times customers have approached me asking for a book about dealing with grieving for a pet, both for adults and children. Katz takes both these issues under his wing with a delicate sense of balance. I believe every pet owner should have a copy of GOING HOME in their library. At first, reading it will break your heart, but, you will come through on the other end with a better understanding about death and animals.
Katz bares his soul in this amazing book as he shares unselfishly how and why he has had to put animals down in the past. No easy decision. Ever. But there are times when you have to think of your loving pet, and stop being selfish. When a pet is in pain and their quality of life is suffering, it is time to help them through. Thank God I have not had to do this. But my sweet Maurice is 20 now. He is arthritic, deaf as a stone, and has tummy troubles. But Maurice is mostly good. I pray when it is his time, he goes in his sleep.
Katz has managed to give us pet lovers exactly what we need in this thought provoking and heartrending book.
I fell in love with another boarder collie, Izzy, in the book Izzy and Lenore, written a few years ago. The story of how Izzy became a hospice dog, going with Jon to visit dying patients, touched my heart.
The book is riddled with insightful chapters full of useful information that can be read quickly and easily. One chapter deals specifically on helping children get through the death of a pet and actually preparing for this in a very special way.
I loved hearing Jon’s plan for preparation. He recommends planning a day with your pet doing all the special things they love. Little did he know as he wrote this lovely book that he would be dealing with the death of his sweet Rose soon.
This book is a must if you are a pet owner. Oddly, it is uplifting even as it is sad.
Jon Katz lives on Bedlam Farm with his wife Maria and their menagerie of dogs, cats, chickens, donkey’s and various other animals. You can follow Jon at
http://www.bedlamfarm.com
Article from "Maurice on Books"
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