Blessing of the Animals Books

Blessing the Bridge is a book that everyone with a four legged companion should read. I purchased this book as my long loved companion of 14-1/2 yrs was what I thought close to crossing the bridge. Knowing that this was going to be difficult for both of us I knew I must prepare myself and her for the letting go. Reading this book gave me insight to talk with her and let her make the decision. We are three months later and she lays beside me as I write, snoring! What I recognized from reading this book is that I will rely on my baby to let me know when she believes it's time to let go. Allowing her to slip into a deep peaceful sleep as she crosses the bridge of serenity. By no means will it be a smooth ride when the time arrives, but this book will give you insight and a sense that you both made this decision together.
I previously had to make a decision 8 years ago for my 15 year old and had I been aware of this book I certainly would have read it then to help us both through the decision making and letting go process. This is a book that will give you hope and a sense of acceptance that both you and your four legged friend can share. A must for all who one day will learn the true meaning of letting go.

This book really helped me through the dying process of my beloved dog of 10 years. He had cancer and toward the end when there was nothing medically possible for him, I came to accept he wouldn't be around much longer. This book helped me to see that death is a natural process for animals. They accept it as part of their life. There are many things in the book that one can do to help this process. I highly recommend this book. It brought me comfort during this difficult time and after his passing I refer to it often.

A great book for those who are in pain from the loss of a pet. Has a wonderful spiritual side.

I bought this book from Amazon back in 2003 when I was doing a study at Vermont College on Animal Bereavement. This book was and is like a gift from the heavens. Every night one hears these heart wrenching stories on the evening news of the dark side of the human heart. How deeply rewarding to read Rita Reynolds's book, "Blessing The Bridge" and to know without reservation that The Creator does indeed have angels, in human form, caring for the lost sheep. I would also submit to the reader that this book is a security blanket of sorts. Ms. Reynolds has been at the side of so many of her animal companions as they took their final breath. Therefore it is very much a solace for those of us that are in grief for our companions'. Get this book! It will linger with the reader long after the last page is closed and it is placed back on the shelf.

I can't even begin to tell you how much this book has blessed me. I work at a Vet and often times, I am present when animals make their transition. This book has given me ways to help the animal as they make that journey and it has also allowed me to bring comfort to their owners/parents in new ways as they begin their own journey without them physically. I highly recommend this book and I thank Rita from the bottom of my heart for the beautiful work that she does!

My cat was recently very ill, and I had this book not far from my reach at all times. It brought me a tremendous amount of comfort. I would recommend this book to anyone who has a deep and abiding love for all of God's creatures that he created with love and perfection.

This book was so comforting to our family during the time our Boston Terrier ran away from home into the woods. We said the prayer for Return of a Lost Pet day and night. On the 11th day she was found about one and half miles from home,cold,wet and hungry. I don't think she would have lasted another day ,because it started to snow. By the grace of God she was protected by angels. She had no major injuries,only very sore paws. Two days later she's back to herself. A great book to read!!!!

This book was a great inspiration for me.Remembering to keep my pets covered in prayer and protection. Wonderful ideas and thought provoking ! Always a reminder that the Lord wants our pets included in our prayers and they are important to Him.. Thanks for reminding me ! Wonderful Reading ! Highly Recommended !

I use the sample prayers in Animal Prayer Guide daily for my two cats, Sylvester and Rocky. What a great book! The sample prayers are so handy to have, and the whole book is so encouraging. I really like the Blessing of the Animals Service, too. It explains how God wants all His creatures healthy and well, and is an essential daily tool for your animal companions.

I read Niki Behrikis Shanahan's book, Animal Prayer Guide, and used the Memorial Service in it. Having this Memorial Service readily available was especially helpful, as I was at a loss for words or Scriptures to use during this traumatic time. I love the prayers for saying grace, for sick pets, the Blessing of the Animals Service, and all the other prayers that have been prepared and ready for you to customize. She also has interesting stories and photos throughout the book. I'm glad I have this book on hand for any situation that may come my way as a pet parent.

Just as I feel about their first book, do yourself a favor and treat yourself to this one too! Let's hope these true stories inspire others so be so kind. Enjoy.

Ginny's unique talents in locating sick and injured cats had rendered her numerous appearances in CNN, Animal Planet and major news. Her rescue stories were illustrated by two national best selling books: The Dog who Rescues Cats and the Blessing of the Animals. Ginny passed away on August 25th, 2005.



With the passing of Ginny, her unfinished mission of cat rescuing is continued by her caretaker Philip Gonzalez everyday. A non profit organization, The Ginny Fund, has been established to raise fund for cat rescuing in Long Beach New York.
For more information about Ginny, Pleas visit ginnyfanclub website.

Today's New York Daily News reported on the passing of Ginny, a/k/a the Mother Theresa of Cats, gone at the age of 17. She succumbed to old age yesterday afternoon on a blanket in Philip Gonzalez's care. As for Ginny's story, this is one of my favorite books. The stories are truly heartwarming and this book was a "gotta have it" purchase. Browsing the pet section in a local bookstore, I found this and it jogged my memory: Ginny's story was familiar to me due to a Reader's Digest article, but what happened next? This book captures all the tails...er, TALES, lol. I will definitely re-read this now. How could a dog love cats she doesn't live with? As a cat person, I've always been intrigued by this. How ironic that such incredible humanity could have come from one of god's furry creatures. Rest in peace, Ginny. Let us hope there are more of you in the world.

A continuation of a very sweet story. I have a few stray cats around my home and even though my inside cats aren't as willing to share as Ginny (LOL), I make sure to feed them and give them shelter. I highly recommend this book and also the one that came before it! (Not sure of the exact title).

I read this book in one afternoon and handed it off to my husband, who could not put it down. I relate to the author in one respect: after having animals all my life, I connected with one cat so profoundly that I have devoted my life and work to alleviating animal suffering and overcoming the devastating problem of pet overpopulation. It's bittersweet. I love animals with a depth that is so satisfying, and enjoy human and animal company more than I ever was able. But I am now so attuned to animal suffering (generally due to human neglect or abuse -- I'm not trying to fight the forces of nature) that it is difficult to focus on anything else. Just read this book. It feels so good!

This book is excellent. It helped me after losing my precious beagle to cancer, and I got another to pass onto a friend after she lost her dog after a long struggle with a brain tumor. It is insightful, respectful, and an excellent book. A treasure if you have that special connection to animals. Those who do will know exactly what I mean.

For a pet lover - this is a book to have in your library. A rare find of poems and messages to comfort one in the loss of pet.

For anyone who has ever loved an animal, this is a heartwarming little book. No need to read it just once - pick it up anytime.

I was given a copy of this book after we lost our dog. I like it so much that I now get a copy for every friend who welcomes a new pet into their home or someone who loses a pet. Sometimes I cry and sometimes I laugh when I pick it up to read. I find myself going back to it every now and then and always find a page or two that brings a smile to my heart.

I have given this book a number of times. To friends who have lost their pets, to friends who have recently acquired new pets and have gotten the same reaction - Thank you so very much! I can't go through it without a dry eye or a smile.

this book was a great deal, in really good condition, and my son loves it! Thanks!

My 3 year old son loves these books,and they have really helped get him excited about animals and nature. Now when we go for walks he can name every bug, bird, snake etc. that we see and tell me a little about them.

Dorling Kindersley does it again. Their "Eyewitness: Reptile" book is full of beautiful photographs and fascinating facts. This book, as with the others in the DK "Eyewitness" series, can be enjoyed as casual reading by readers of all ages, as well as used as a helpful resource book.

This gift from my mother in law for my son sat unused on the shelf for about 2 years before he discovered it at the age of 6. Now suddenly it's the favorite "toy"; dragged to school, on short car trips across town and kept close during every spare moment at home. He knows instantly how to find his favorite spreads on the alligator snapping turtle and the crocodile skulls - invaluable for impressing his friends, teachers and complete strangers. This book inspired a very keen interest, to say the least!

Yes, the Eyewitness series is *technically* for an older reading level but they still make good picture books for younger kids because the pictures are visually stimulating and graphically laid-out on a plain white background (non-distracting). The information is also broken up into small groups of text next to specific photos or illustrations, arranged interestingly around the page. When a picture sparks his interest I can read about that item to my son and leave out other items until he's ready to explore further. In this way, our one-spread-per-night "story" time stays fun for his young mind without being overwhelming.

Just for example, the spread on Turtles and Tortoises starts with a technical definition in the main body, then the "tidbits" of info spread around the rest of the space give interesting anecdotes about their shells, common and uncommon species, turtle mythology, the largest turtle on record and Lonesome George, the last giant Galapagos island tortoise. Just enough educational material upon which to start research for a school paper, but not so much that it becomes discouraging.

What it all comes down to is, this book impressed me so much that I will be ordering several other of the Eyewitness series books as my kids grow, both for their enjoyment and as good reference materials for school. Excellent!
-Andrea, aka Merribelle

This is a very good book and is my second favorite Eyewitness book coming after Eyewitness SHARK. This book tells about every reptile: Snakes, Allogators and Crocidiles, Lizards, Turtles and Tuateras.I love this book because it tells you very intresting facts about reptiles. You should buy this book because it is awsome!

I purchased three copies of this book and plan to order more to give as gifts. The Blessings (short rhyming prayers) are endearing. Thanking God for the simple things in all our lives...but especially in the lives of children. The artwork is colorful and appropriate to each little prayer. I cut two of the books apart so that I could laminate the prayer and picture for each month. The third book I kept for the children's bookshelf. I am a preschool teacher and these happy,hopeful, blessings for children are a heartwarming addition to my classroom!

We read this nightly with our 2 year old and 3-1/2 year old. They love finding the *right* page each night, and by mid-month they have the blessing memorized and they say it along with us. Then, towards the end of the month, as we grow weary of the same blessing every night, lo and behold it is a new month, and we get to learn a new one! This opens up so many avenues: prayers of thanksgiving, nighttime rituals, the concept of months and seasons. And the pictures offer many things to talk about, some covered in the blessing, and others that simply fit the month. We heartily recommend this book to parents of toddlers!

My 20 month old LOVES this book. He always digs it out from his others. The pace and length of book works well for short attention span and bright, child-like illustrations work well too. Recurring themes (dogs,cats,trees...) in illustrations make this a good book for 'point to the ...' recognition game.

BLESS US ALL takes you through the months of the year "blessing" things common to the month, each in four lines of poetry. Rylant's illustrations are as charming as her words, done in folk-art style, bordered with wrapping-paper prints. This book would make a lovely gift for a young child or for an adult who still has some child within. BLESS US ALL is a blessing!

The book was a wonderful way of enforcing the love we feel toward the animals we live with and the love from God toward us all.

A rich and practical guide to reflecting on our relationship with the creatures who share our households, All God's Creatures is well-grounded theologically. At the same time, Debra Farrington has provided a wealth of practices and prayers for allowing us to see these animal companions as sacramental signs of God's own work and mercy. She invites us--urges us--to move beyond romanticized notions of "having a pet" and calls us to see the inherently holy connections between people and the animals who share our lives.

I have already given this book to six other people, and have found it to be a needed resource.

Reading this book has not only changed how we treat the cats and goldfish who share our home, it has changed the conversations in our house with and about our animal companions. When my six-year-old asked about getting a hamster, I told her it is a big decision to invite another animal into our home. I would never have begun the conversation this way before reading Debra Farrington's book.

This is a sound theological, practical and engaging examination of our relationship with the animals we invite into our homes, covering everything from naming to feeding to playing. The book also offers ways to be with aniamls who are sick or dying and includes rituals for burial. I'm planning on giving it to most everyone on my Christmas list!

Anyone who has ever lost someone they love to an untimely death will find comfort within this anthology of true stories of healing from animal sightings and blessings.
Author, Patricia Spork lost her son Casey to suicide on December 26, 2000. On her road through the debilitating journey of grief she was blessed with many signs of Casey's continuation beyond death. Casey's choice for a "soul" messenger was not a winged angel, but a hawk that often appeared to Patricia when her grief became unbearable. At other times it would be a dragonfly who would intently listen to her as she talked and literally follow her around.
The contributors of this book have all had similiar experiences of "soul" sightings and animal blessings of their loved ones ranging from birds, cats and dogs to dragonflies and butterflies.
I was deeply moved by this book and found it to be not only uplifting, offering hope that our souls do go on after death, but also found it to be an excellent source of ideas and resources for dealing with grief. Patricia has poured her heart out in this book and it is impossible not to feel her pain or her elation with each animal blessing. A must read for anyone who has lost a child to suicide.

"Loss Comfort and Healing from Animal Sightings" is not only inspiring, but also educative and informative - from famous quotes and Internet resources throughout the entire book, to contributors' comforting and touching stories and their messages.
The "Foreword" expresses a feeling common to all stories part of the collection - the yearning for a sign from the departed loved one - and ends with an invitation for the reader to turn the page and emerge into the healing and inspiring stories. Enjoy them all and learn from their messages, take advantage of the listed resources.

With "Loss, Comfort & Healing From Animal Sightings" Patricia Spork, and the other writers contained therein, has provided a wonderful service to those who've lost loved ones. Each section is crafted from empathy and hope, showing the spiritual link between this world and the next with proof from the animals that death, indeed, has no dominion.

My hucband always reads a story on Christmas eve to all 8 children, and to all their children,our grandchildren,20 , and one great-grandchild. We mail it to those out of town, for their daddys to read.

Last Christmas eve this book is what we chose, and after he read it we give each parent the book child ,and each child,... and their mommys and daddys :) , a small mouse named Bartholmew,>>to put in their manger scene.. we find a story every year and do this... they love it..Love, nana..
and so do we as they all have manger scenes..and know what Christmas is about ..the new born Babe ib the hay,

A wonderful story about how Bartholomew the mouse was little and tiny when HE thought he was. But when HE began to believe in himself, he was as big and important as any of the other creatures in the forest. An important message about self image for us all.

This book is an absolute delight! The prayers and blessings are uplifting and honoring to our furred, finned and feathered friends. The anecdotes and ceremonies are wildly entertaining! This book is a must read for anyone who loves animals!

Blessing of the Animals is a priceless collection of ceremonies and blessings to the emerging field of Animal Chaplaincy. As Chair of the Interfaith Association of Animal Chaplains, we immediately added it to the syllabus in our training program for new Chaplains. Personally, I heartily reccommend this wonderful book to anyone interested in animals and spirituality. Whether you are in an animal-related profession, are crazy about your companion animal friends, or know someone else who is, you will find inspiration and practical uses for the many delightful blessings in this book. Blessing of the Animals is a MUST READ for all animal lovers, spiritual seekers, and those who serve them.