Children’s Book Supports Healthy Grieving for Families Experiencing the Death

of a Pet

Loveland Pet Loss Counselor/Author wins International Indie Book Award for “Dear Brave
Friend.”

Loveland, CO, July 07, 2020 --(PR.com)-- The death of a pet can be devastating to a family. Parents are
often unsure of how to help their children understand and process this grief, which is typically their first
“significant loss.” Leigh Ann Gerk, a Loveland-based certified Pet Loss and Grief Counselor, wrote
“Dear Brave Friend” to help pet families work through the deep sadness they feel after losing their
treasured family member.

This heartwarming, gentle story is about the deep sadness that is felt when a family pet dies. Creatively
written in the form of a letter from a beloved dog to the young boy who lost him, Gerk describes the
feelings the boy may be having by using relatable, real life examples while adding comforting
suggestions and hope on how he can get through this most difficult time. Although written with children
in mind, “Dear Brave Friend,” is a meaningful and helpful book to both young and old. Story starters,
drawing pages, and a place to add pictures are included in the back of this timeless keepsake that was also
designated as an Amazon #1 Hot New Release upon publication in August of 2019.

Having grown up on a farm, Gerk’s playmates included baby calves, horses, bunnies, dogs, and 32 cats
that set up house in a boxcar that also served as her playhouse. This upbringing introduced her, at a young
age, to the human-animal bond and instilled in her a deep understanding of, and love for, this
extraordinary relationship. “Dear Brave Friend” was dedicated to her loving, faithful dog Teddy.

“I am so honored that 'Dear Brave Friend' won in the category of Children’s/Juvenile (Non-Fiction) and
placed as a Finalist in the category of Animals/Pets at the INDIE Book Awards,” says Gerk. The Indie
Book Awards is one of the largest International awards programs for independent authors and publishers.
“This amazing award has given me a wonderful opportunity to reach out and help more grieving pet
families, and that is where my passion lies.”

Leigh Ann is a proud member of the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care
(IAAHPC), who has been in the counseling field for over eleven years. She is certified in Pet Loss and
Grief Companioning and is the founder and owner of Mourning to Light Pet Loss, LLC. You can learn
more about Leigh Ann Gerk and her award-winning book, “Dear Brave Friend,” on Amazon.com and on
her website, https://www.mourningtolightpetloss.com/.

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Contact Information:
Mourning to Light Pet Loss, LLC
Leigh Ann Gerk
970-966-4585
Contact via Email
www.mourningtolightpetloss.com

Online Version of Press Release:

You can read the online version of this press release at: https://www.pr.com/press-release/816296

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