What does an animal chaplain do? How do humans relate to animals, and where does spiritual care enter the relationship?
Combining humorous anecdotes and thought-provoking research, Sacred Sendoffs explores human relationships with beloved pets, wild creatures, animal astronauts, marine life, farmed animals, and other sentient beings. Along the way, animal chaplain Sarah Bowen shares insights for sustaining lives, honoring deaths, and managing the emotions that arise when we lose an animal we love. While many books focus exclusively on pet loss, environmental issues, or animal welfare, Sacred Sendoffs takes on all three, revealing their unavoidable entanglement. Bowen’s ever curious and playful style tackles tough topics―recovering from personal grief, deconstructing human biases, and acknowledging planetary challenges. Sacred Sendoffs helps animal lovers uncover practical actions and everyday opportunities for helping the more-than-human world not only survive but thrive.
The Lab’s community can order Rev. Bowen’s book at https://www.sacredsendoffs.com/shop using the promo code “lab2022” to receive a $2 discount.
Have you ever grieved the loss of a pet? Do you know someone who does? Pet Chaplain® offers small-group, online training in spiritual care for pet loss. Our rigorous, research-based course will inform you about the human-animal bond, the disenfranchised grief experienced by many pet keepers, perspectives about animals in the world’s dominant faith traditions and emerging spiritual practices, the challenges of euthanasia, and other topics relevant to pet keeping and loss in the modern West. Learn how our simple, yet powerful approach to storytelling can help pet keepers make meaning of their loss. Visit PetChaplain.com to learn more.
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free