Bill Cochran
How I Came to Write THE FOREVER DOG
by Bill Cochran
The loss of a pet can be particularly hard on children. For so many, it is their very first close encounter with death of any kind. How a parent and child work though this time can have far reaching impact on how your children understand and deal with dying...how they learn to handle loss.
- Dr. Molly Deason, Dallas veterinarian and mother of two
The death of a pet can be devastating to a family - often more painful than a divorce or even the death of a relative. The unfortunate truth is, like it or not, we will all generally outlive our pets. But no matter how much we understand this, the passing of our pets is something that we simply cannot prepare for.
The pain comes in ways that you may not expect. I remember dropping food on the kitchen floor the first time I came home after my dog died. There was no immediate jingle of her collar as she'd dash for the scraps. I can't tell you how empty that made me feel. I really thought something was wrong with me. I just could not stop crying.
But I finally learned to channel my experience of sadness and confusion into peace, by writing about it. The Forever Dog is pretty autobiographical. I was such a wreck when Mo died, but somehow, I realized he was and will always be a part of me. She had blessed my life in so many ways, and though she was gone, nothing could ever truly take her away from me. That thought filled my heart with a beautiful sense of calm.
It was a message I was inspired to share, and I felt that a children's book was the right medium in which to do so.
There's no way to truly prepare for the loss of a pet, so you gotta "carpe dog-em." You need to enjoy every moment with your pet while he or she is around - from the torn up shoes to the super cute moments, like when you know your pet is having a dream...
Personally, I wish I had more photos of Mo and I. She died when she was just two - way too soon. But I truly have a lifetime of great memories from my time with her.
Contributor: HarperCollins
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Reviews
The Forever Dog
Bill Cochran
Illustrations by Dan Andreasen
Mike has no idea what type of dog Corky is, but he doesn't care. Corky is a very happy dog and Mike just loves having him around. Ever since Mike's mom gave him Corky when Corky was only seven weeks old, Mike has taken care of him. They share secrets, play together, and Corky even sleeps on Mike's head. Mike and Corky have a "Forever Plan," which means that they will do everything together and be best friends forever. For a while, it looks like this plan will work out. Then one day Mike comes home from school and Corky isn't there. He is at the vet because he is very ill. The vet does everything he can, but in the end us unable to help Corky. Mike is first very sad, then he gets angry. Corky broke his promise to stay with Mike forever. Mike's mom points out that as long as Mike remembers Corky, Corky WILL be with Mike forever. While this story is probably better read to very young children (much of the sentence structure is rather complicated), it is still a very touching story about losing a pet. Andreasen's portrayal of Mike and Corky beautifully accent the text. 2007, HarperCollins Publishers, Ages 4 to 8, $15.99. Reviewer: Amie Rose Rotruck
ISBN: 978-0-06-053939-9
ISBN: 0-06-053939-9
Added 06/24/07
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