The bonds we share with our pets go beyond words and are often deeper than many of our human relationships. What is the nature of these close connections? And what if our influence on pets, both in life and especially through sickness and death, is far more powerful than we ever conceived? David Michie draws on ancient Buddhist wisdom, supported by contemporary science, to provide fascinating insights into animal consciousness. He proposes that the pets with whom we share our lives are not there by accident. Whether your animal companion has fur, feathers or fins, he offers a treasury of practical tools to enhance your relationship with them in everyday life, as well as during times of challenge. Written with humour and compassion, and including extraordinary true stories from around the world, Buddhism for Pet Lovers reveals how our animal companions may indeed be among our most precious partners. For in helping them, our own lives are incomparably enriched too.

Buddhism for Pet Lovers: Supporting Our Closest Companions Through Life and Death, David Michie, Conch Books, Paperback, 2017, 224 Pages, $14.45

David Michie is the author of The Dalai Lama's Cat series of novels, as well as non-fiction titles including Why Mindfulness is Better than Chocolate, Hurry Up and Meditate, Buddhism for Busy People and Buddhism for Pet Lovers. His books are available in 28 languages in over 40 different countries.

In 2015 he established Mindful Safaris to Africa, combining wildlife viewing and meditation sessions in journeys to unexplored places, outer and inner.

David gives away short stories, audio downloads, guided meditations and other free materials on his website: www.davidmichie.com

CONTENTS: Buddhism for Pet Lovers
INTRODUCTION	Partners on our journey through life	xi
ONE	How dogs and cats came into our lives	1
TWO	Animals are conscious beings too	21
THREE	Guiding principles	37
FOUR	Being present for our pets	53
FIVE	Five benefits of practising mindfulness with pets	69
SIX	Meditating with our pets	81
SEVEN	Karma: Guiding our pets to a more positive future	103
EIGHT	Helping our pets on the path to healing	125
NINE	Supporting our pets through death and beyond	149
TEN	Rebirth	175
ELEVEN	Animals and non-harming: a few wider questions	195
Epilogue		207
Glossary		215
Endnotes		217
Further reading		221
Acknowledgements		223