JULIETA L SMITH

THE INSPIRATION to create a book specifically for pet owners arises from my path to emotional healing after the unexpected loss of my Yorkshire Terrier, Chez. 

My life with Chez began in 2009, after adopting him from his foster home. As with many dog owners, I did not anticipate how much I would learn from Chez, love him and 14 years later, grieve him. Chez had become such an intricate part of my life, that I treated him like a real-life boy, and forgot that his life span - a dog's life span - was shorter than a human's.  

After Chez unexpectedly crossed the rainbow bridge in 2022, I experienced an array of unexplained emotions which included deep sadness, and uncertainty in how to navigate the grieving process for my fur baby. Likewise, many pet owners are familiar with and share the unexplained emotions that I felt after the loss of their beloved fur friend. Such loss can suspend the pet owner in what feels like a perpetual space of sadness, guilt, and without closure.

Aware that I had to move past the sadness, I began to creatively write, journal, and draw. By doing the work for my own healing, I discovered a blueprint for grieving fur owners to work through their emotional loss and transition into brighter days. Moving Beyond the Rainbow Bridge: Your Journey to Healing After the Loss of Your Dog is for people who seek guidance in healing from their grief. This carefully curated book of poetry, memoirs, guided journal prompts, and interactive activities allows the reader to write their story, with the guided assistance from the author and inspiration from their beloved fur friend. 

You will never forget your beloved pet because they left paw prints on your hearts. However, you can begin your healing with Moving Beyond the Rainbow Bridge.