Spokane Valley writer offers comfort after pets die

Spokane Valley author Mindy Strong Wright has written “When I Get to Heaven, Will You Be There?” for people mourning a pet. The 24-page book presents a Christian view of the afterlife, arguing from Scripture that beloved personal animals may be in heaven. Wright developed the idea after friends and relatives asked her for reassurance when their animals were nearing euthanasia or had died.

Wright has fostered many animals and previously worked with the Humane Evacuation Animal Rescue Team in Spokane, which helps displaced animals during crises. She said the book’s large print and short length make it accessible to children and to people who want to read it on their own during a difficult time. Its message centers on God’s love for creation and the bond people share with their pets.

The final page includes space for readers to print and display a photograph of a lost animal as a memorial. Cindy Hines, who fostered animals from Wright, said the book connected the role pets play in people’s lives with ideas about what happens after death. Wright’s book is available for purchase on Amazon.