Disclosure: I received a complimentary Advance Reader Copy of this book. This review reflects my own opinions. Links shared are not affiliated.
Photo courtesy of Sandra Lynne Mitchell and Deborah Lee Wortmann. Used with permission.
Losing a beloved animal companion can leave us with feelings that are difficult to put into words. We might find ourselves smiling at a favorite memory one moment and fighting back tears the next. We might feel the anxiety of a pet's illness long after those difficult days have passed. We may even find ourselves noticing all the little things that have changed since they died.
Sometimes, it can be really hard to explain these feelings to someone who hasn't experienced the loss of an animal they've loved so deeply.
That's one of the reasons I found Tails of Tribute: A Pet Loss Poetry Collection by Sandra Lynne Mitchell and Deborah Lee Wortmann so touching. As I read through the poems, I recognized emotions I'd experienced in my own grief after losing my beloved cat, Chewy. Seeing those feelings expressed in words was validating. It reminded me that other people have felt these things, too.
The authors give voice to the many emotions that can accompany pet loss, allowing readers to recognize something of their own experience in the words.
I'd like to share a few of the poems that resonated most with me, and why I think they may speak to other grieving pet parents, too.
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When Two Become One
This poem captures a painful part of pet loss: how much our daily lives change when our beloved companions are gone.
It's often the smallest things that make their absence so noticeable. The food and water dishes, the familiar routines, the quiet spaces where they used to rest. You might still feel the impulse to fill their bowl or find yourself expecting them to appear, even though you know they're no longer physically there.
Those moments can feel profoundly different after they’re gone.
Yet the depth of this loss isn't always visible to others and the world keeps going on as we grieve. We notice the absence of our animal companions in all the little things we do. Life is so quiet without our beloved pets.
I found this poem touching because it gives recognition to those everyday details of grief. Sometimes, having someone put those feelings into words helps us recognize that we're not alone in experiencing them.
Authors Sandra Lynne Mitchell and Deborah Lee Wortmann looking at their new book. Photo courtsey of both, used with permission.
The Anticipation of When
“The Anticipation of When” poem resonated with my experience of caring for Chewy when he was diagnosed with a serious heart condition. Loving an animal through a serious illness can bring so many conflicting feelings.
You want to treasure every moment together, yet you may also find yourself worrying about what comes next. Feeling grateful to have your pet still there with you, while your mind imagines the days ahead when they’re gone. You also wonder if you’ll face that difficult decision about when to let them go. This can all be exhausting, which this poem describes so well.
Through my work with pet guardians, I've heard how difficult this period can be for others. Every situation is different, but the anxiety, love, and uncertainty surrounding a seriously ill pet can be a heavy burden to carry.
What I appreciate about this poem is the recognition of that emotional experience. Anticipatory grief can be difficult to explain, especially when your pet is still here and others may not understand why you're already grieving. Having those feelings acknowledged in a poem can be a reminder that this complicated experience is something other people have felt, too.
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The Ride
One of the poems that strongly resonates with me is “The Ride.” It captures something I've experienced many times in my grief. A memory of your beloved animal can bring so much joy and love. Then, in an instant, that happiness can give way to the ache of missing them.
I lost my beloved cat, Chewy, in 2024, and I still write him a letter every month. I often tell him, “There is something to miss about you in every season.”
Autumn is one of those seasons that brings back particularly vivid memories. Chewy loved watching the leaves blow across our deck when the wind picked up. He would get so excited, chasing them from inside the house and sometimes running straight into the sliding glass door. He always made me laugh.
Every fall, those memories return. I can picture him doing those silly things, and I feel so much love for him. While I feel that happiness, I ache too… wishing he were still here, making me laugh with his antics.
Perhaps you've experienced something similar with your own beloved companion. Maybe a certain time of year brings back memories, or you catch yourself smiling at something they used to do. For a moment, you feel the happiness of that memory, and then you feel the sadness of missing them.
What I appreciated about “The Ride” is seeing this experience expressed in a poem.
You don't have to choose between feeling happy about a memory and feeling sad that your beloved pet is gone. Both feelings can be present at the same time.
Promotional image courtesy of Sandra Lynne Mitchell and Deborah Lee Wortmann. Used with permission.
A Poetry Collection That Reminds Us We're Not Alone
What I appreciate most about Tails of Tribute: A Pet Loss Poetry Collection is the way it acknowledges the many emotions that can accompany the loss of a beloved animal.
I also loved the beautiful illustrations throughout the book and the thoughtful notes at the beginning and end of the collection.
If you've loved and lost a dog, I think you'll find many of these poems especially relatable. As someone who lost a beloved cat, I found plenty of meaning in this collection, too, though I would have welcomed more poems about cats.
Grief is personal, and no two relationships with our animals are exactly alike. Reading words that reflect something we've felt ourselves can offer a sense of recognition that is difficult to find elsewhere.
For me, these poems helped me reflect on my experiences with losing Chewy. They reminded me that even feelings that seem intensely personal can be shared by others who have loved and lost their animal companions.
I recommend this collection to anyone who is missing a beloved pet and finds comfort in poetry. If you've recently said goodbye to a beloved pet or have been missing them for years, you might recognize some of your own feelings in these poems.
How to get your own copy of this poetry collection:
You can find this book on Amazon and it’s available in three formats: Kindle, hardcover (color cover) and paperback (black and white cover).
Thank you to the authors, Sandra Lynne and Deborah for allowing me to be part of your ARC group. I’m honored to have been given a copy of this beautiful and touching poetry collection, out of love for our beloved animal companions.
With gratitude, Angela
Animal Communicator & Cat Mama
