Always in My Heart: Coping Creatively with Pet Loss

By Rob Gierka, Rob Gierka EdD, Karen Duke

Research shows that losing a pet can be more painful than losing a human family member. Yet little is known about this experience. This book explores this phenomenon and provides tips and strategies for navigating the lifelong journey of grief and healing we undertake after losing a beloved pet.

Most books about pet loss focus on the short-term challenges of grief. Always in My Heart takes a long-term perspective, offering rare insights into the challenges and personal growth many people experience months and years after saying goodbye to a special pet. You'll discover:

Intimate stories about pets that reveal lessons learned by others on this journey.An honest discussion of death and the intense feelings of helplessness, guilt, anger, and sorrow that often follow.Creative ways to cope with grief, including activities that will help you find meaning in your loss and honor your pet's memory.A chance to reflect on lessons learned from your animals and how to incorporate these lessons into your life.An exploration of the enduring quality of the human-animal bond.A vision of how the love you still feel for your lost pets can positively influence your life.

Whether you're facing the imminent loss of a pet, grieving a recent loss, or revisiting a loss from years ago, Always in My Heart will help you reconnect with joyful memories and access the life-affirming wisdom that comes with time.

Always in My Heart is the second book in the Pet Chaplain(R) Learning Series, a four-volume set that explores pet keeping and loss in the modern West, along with instruction in interfaith spiritual care for pet loss. Filled with robust research, touching pet stories, and interactive learning resources, the series is ideal for self-study and book groups. It was created by Rob Gierka, EdD, who founded Pet Chaplain, a community service and educational organization, in 2004. For more than two decades, Rob and his co-author Karen Duke have practiced veterinary chaplaincy in community and clinical settings, as well as teaching veterinary chaplaincy worldwide. Visit petchaplain.com to learn more.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1969169044
• ISBN13: 9781969169045
• Release Date: January 2026
• Publisher: Pet Chapel Press
• Length: 220 Pages
• Weight: 0.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher