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Date Posted: 10:56:51 11/19/03 Wed
Author: Amirh Bahati
Subject: Pet Bereavement Workbook and Journal

Hello, Companions to Animals:
My name is Amirh Bahati. I’m a published writer with a MFA from Columbia University in New York City, a writing instructor, a woman deeply interested in the relationship between humans and animals, and an animal caretaker myself – specifically, cats.
I’m compiling a beautiful book, in workbook and journal form, for people working through the process of an ill or dying animal companion, and for people who have already lived through the experience. It’s a book to help with the grieving and bereavement process and to validate the grief we feel when our animal friends are ailing or preparing to leave us.
That said, I am looking for stories from those who have been through this sad and profound experience. I am accepting five to eight submissions between 1,000 and 1,500 words related to the following fifteen themes:
1. Funny Memories About Your Animal Companion (in the vein of “pets do the damndest things”);
2. How You Coped (or Are Coping) With the Terminal Illness of Your Animal Companion;
3. How and Why You Arrived at the Decision of Euthanasia;
4. How Your Religion or Spiritual Practice Aided or Impeded the Grieving Process;
5. How Family, Friends and Colleagues Were Supportive;
6. How Family, Friends and Colleagues Were Not Supportive;
7. Rituals You Participated In (Traditional or Original) During or At the End of the Experience;
8. Why You Chose to Adopt Another Animal Companion Right Away;
9. Why You Chose Not to Adopt Another Animal Companion Right Away or Ever;
10. How Your Animal Friend Revealed Something Important to You About Yourself;
11. Your Family or Group Experience (children included; teachers with student experiences regarding classroom animal friends);
12. A Tribute to Your Veterinarian;
13. A Tribute to Your Bereavement Counselor;
14. How the Experience Changed or Solidified Your Personal Philosophy About Life and Death; and, finally,
15. Your Personal Advice to Anyone Going Through this Process with Her or His Animal Companion.
Make sure that you run spell check before submitting your story to via e-mail (attachments will not be accepted) to:
ab860@columbia.edu.
The deadline for submissions is January 15, 2004. You may submit in no more than two categories. Format your submission as follows:
1. the words “Workbook/Journal” in your subject line;
2. your chosen theme, flush left, at the top of your submission;
3. double space;
4. the title of your submission, centered;
5. single space;
6. your name and e-mail address, centered, following the title of your submission;
7. double space;
8. the body of your story singled-spaced with the name, breed and age of your animal friend somewhere within the body of the story; in tributes to bereavement counselors and veterinarians, their full names and location (city and state);
9. paragraphs separated with double-spacing;
10. double space;
11. a single-spaced, brief bio at the end of your submission (not to exceed 75 words); and
I reserve the right to edit your story for logic and grammar, but rest assured that I will retain your unique “voice.”
Remember, animal companions is not limited to dogs and cats, but inclusive of all animals that you have cultivated a loving relationship with, so let me hear from you horse-, reptile-, bird-, turtle-, ferret-, duck- and fish-people. No animal is excluded. The most important requirement is that your story is from the heart. The book is 80% emotion, so don’t hesitate to give free rein to your emotions.
Once the deadline is met, I’ll have a better idea of when notification you can expect to receive notification of acceptance.
Sincerely,
Amirh Bahati
ab860@columbia.edu

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