About the Author

Lambert Zuidervaart is Professor of Philosophy at the Institute for Christian Studies in Toronto and a member of the graduate faculties in the Toronto School of Theology and the Department of Philosophy at the University of Toronto. He is the author of Art in Public (2011), Social Philosophy after Adorno (2007), and Artistic Truth (2004); a founding member of the Toronto Beach Chorale; and the former president of the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Reviews

""This gentle threnody about losing a loved companion melts the reader's heart. The grieving eulogy of Rosa, Golden Labrador Retriever, whose welcoming, friendly spirit taught its adopted care-taker how to be comforted in losing parents and close friends to the adversary of Death is both intimately revealing and truly moving. No wonder God loves animals (Job 40-41), who can teach us humans to form a young heart open to all."" --Calvin Seerveld Senior Member of Philosophical Aesthetics, emeritus Institute for Christian Studies, Toronto ""Humans have a complex relationship with animals. We construct a hierarchy with humans at the top blessed with intelligence and self-awareness. Animals exist at the bottom, deemed unintelligent, lacking self-awareness, and therefore subject to human control. Zuidervaart opens up such a construction through reflections on a powerful relationship with his dog, Rosa. A bond forged from love, acceptance, and openness freed Zuidervaart to embrace places within himself previously unexplored, thus deepening his spiritual relationship with self, others, and God."" --Abigail Johnson author of Reflecting with God and Shaping Spiritual Leaders ""Poignant, intelligent, and heart-felt, this memoir of life with Rosa, the author's Golden/Labrador Retriever mix, is a balm for the grieving soul of anyone who has ever loved and lost a special animal companion. Lambert's creative journey of mourning is filled with spiritual and musical references, giving us a helpful model to approach our own struggles to cope with loss, and heal our broken hearts."" --Deborah Antinori author of Journey Through Pet Loss ""In this beautifully written book, Lambert Zuidervaart describes with warmth and openness a dog's very special gift--the ability to join and interweave family, friends, and nature together in love and respect. Read this book and you will gain a new appreciation of the healing power of dogs."" --M. Christine Zink Director, Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine