They are our friends often even closer than the two-legged variety. These friends are loyal to a fault. They are our companions on any and every adventure in life. Anyone who has ever said it's just a dog, or a cat, or a turtle, or a hermit crab has never experienced the kind of love and loyalty these animals provide. They help us navigate the days of youth and age, ours, and theirs. They come to us with their own personalities and when they cross that Rainbow Bridge, they leave an "after-image burned into our hearts" (Lana Hechtman Ayers) that outlasts their time with us and changes us forever. This beautiful anthology is a stunning tribute to some of the most beloved friends and confidantes we've ever had. It helps us share the ache of their losses, the tears, and the spaces they leave behind, while celebrating their lives, providing a balm to our souls, and helps us find the words we long to say on their behalf. A treasured gift for yourself, or for someone you know missing that lost, but not forgotten piece of their hearts. Martina Green McGowan Author, "i am the rage" The Dead Pets Poetry Anthology is exactly that: a thoughtfully curated collection of contemporary poets writing about their lost pets, with love, pathos, and a touch of humor. Although every pet and their person have a unique relationship, losing a pet has some common, shared experiences. There is the "jingle of unseeable collar tags... like a bell calling me to morning prayer." Or "I keep waking early/to walk the dog, / but there is no dog." And yet we choose to open our hearts again and again, even knowing the inevitable end. This book will remind you why we do this, and to give your beloved pet (whatever it is!) an extra helping of gratitude today. Elizabeth S. Wolf author of Did You Know? and A Collection of Partings; devoted parent of many pets. Prepare to be moved. This collection of pet poems will verify to every pet owner that you are not alone in those deep feelings for the pet that once snuggled, purred, protected, entertained, or hunted beside you. Maybe only pet owners understand how a cat, a dog, a hamster, a bird, a turtle, or a hermit crab can be as comforting and important as a family member, but this anthology may change the minds of any who question that. Whether we lose them to the wheels of cars, inoperable tumors, lingering illness, accidents, unknown causes, or old age, it's never easy to lose the pets we love. Whether we hold them during the final shot at the vet's office, wait next to them for their final breath, or reach for a pistol to later bury them in the yard, it's a heart wrenching time that sticks with us. These poems take us to every pet we ever lost, justify our anthropomorphism, and remind us that our pets are never here long enough. Maryfrances Wagner Solving for X Missouri Poet Laureate 2021-2023