I never considered myself a “dog-person”, but when Angel died, I started writing to deal with the grief. I didn’t realize what a strong and compassionate community I would find once I shared my pet loss story.

Here’s what some friends have to say about “Angel Someone”:

I’ve just finished ‘Angel Someone’, and wanted to let you know how beautiful and moving and achingly familiar it felt. ~ Rachel

Thank you for sharing so personally. I think lots of people will benefit from releasing a little more of that particular grief that comes with the passing of any of the beings we share our lives with. It is especially difficult when a death is untimely or violent. ~ Ron

I started reading ‘Angel Someone’ while I was at work, thinking, Oh how nice, Missy wrote a cute story about her puppy dog. I should know better by now. I started crying and had to wait ’til I got home to finish it. That moment when you feel their life pass – I get teary-eyed just thinking of it. Thank you so much, what a beautiful story, and especially the honesty about feeling responsible. ~ Roberta

I was surprised, myself, to have written this piece. I was in a memoir-writing class with Tanya Taylor-Rubinstein and starting a book on my first job in the film industry, which I thought was hilarious, but wasn’t coming across that way. Then, one Saturday, Angel was hit by a car. I was shocked at how emotional I was about the event, how it triggered the grief I had experienced over my parents dying, my guilt of not being responsible, the sadness of having someone taken away from me so quickly. Through it all I kept writing. Writing was a solace and a way through the grief.

In fact, when I picked up the manuscript this January, almost three years later, an incredible event happened right before my eyes: I was given a chance to experience the accident all over again, but with a different ending.

Like my sister says above, this isn’t just a cute story about my dog; it is honestly graphic about the event as well as the soul-searching we all do when someone dies. But it is also, I hope, a chance to connect with the reason we grieve; because we love.

Please return to my blog and share your comments on “Angel Someone.” Or share a pet loss story of your own. I gain so much from what others have to say.