Sneaker & Me (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780990958031)

Since 1988, Barbara Bounds and her husband, Raymond, have been the owners and operators of Belspur Oaks Pet Crematory, Inc. Located on Florida's Gulf Coast, their company has been serving the animal community by offering dignified private cremations, grief support materials, and personalized memorial products. For a number of years, she and her husband have also been involved in a community pet loss grief support group called Bentley's House. The purpose of this group is to give grieving pet owners an opportunity to share their memories of their pets with other animal lovers in a safe, nonjudgmental, and supportive atmosphere. In helping thousands of grieving pet owners say their final goodbyes to their beloved pets, Barbara noticed that the same questions seem to always be asked: "Do you have pets of your own?" and "Have you ever experienced the passing of a beloved and cherished pet?" So, it was with the recurrence of these questions and the informal sharing of these experiences with her pets that Sneaker and Me came to fruition. Barbara's hope for this book is twofold. First, she would like the memory of the relationship that she shared with Sneaker to be both inspirational and therapeutic to those who are either considering adopting a shelter cat or experiencing or about to endure the loss of a beloved pet. And second, it carries with it an underlying theme: responsible pet ownership is for the entire life of the pet.