Companions who left

Departed Companions fills a specific and important need: the great need for an accessible book about pet loss.

Grief is a complex feeling, difficult to put into words, but understood by everyone who has lost a loved one. However, when it comes to the death of a pet, grief is often relativized and its importance diminished. It's necessary to recognize and dignify the relationship with our pets, valuing and appreciating the lost bond.

We know that pets live shorter lives than humans. And that we will likely witness their death. But how can we prepare for this? How can we cope with this specific and unique grief? In "Departed Companions ," psychoanalyst and writer Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson seeks to help readers find these answers. With deep and personal reflections, Masson explores the affection behind the relationship between humans and animals, confident that there are emotions that we and our faithful friends share when it's necessary to say goodbye.

The author offers a candid conversation about how we can do more than simply witness our pets' deaths. We can help them in their final moments, and this support makes a huge difference to them—and to us during the grieving process. Seeing our pet go is inevitable, so it's important to gather all the tools available to deal with this pain. *Departed Companions * is an essential book for anyone who has ever loved and lost a pet, and for those seeking comfort and support during the "passing" of their best friend.

"Losing a pet or an animal we've grown fond of can be incredibly traumatic. This moving book explores the connection between us humans and other species, and the grief we feel when they're gone." – Frans de Waal, author of The Matriarch's Last Embrace

“A moving and profound study... Anyone who has ever struggled to cope with the fact that our pets live much shorter lives than humans will identify with this touching work.” – Publishers Weekly

"A moving and sensitive journey that, like Masson's previous books, will find a wide audience." – Kirkus Reviews