Beth Miller—The Most Painful Choice: A Dog Owner's Story of Behavioral Euthanasia

THE MOST PAINFUL CHOICE:
A DOG OWNER’S STORY OF BEHAVIORAL EUTHANASIA
Beth Miller
McFarland Publishing, March 31, 2023
Paperback $29.95, Kindle, $13.49
ISBN: 9781476690193, eISBN: 9781476648781

Miller reports:

Making the decision to proceed with behavioral euthanasia for my rescued German Shepherd dog Champ was extremely difficult. I felt the only people I could talk to about it were his veterinarians and trainer. After I found an online support group with others dealing with this experience, I realized that there were few resources available for those in our situation.

Everyone in the support group was asking similar questions: “Why did this have to happen to my pet?” “What more could I have done to help my pet?” Since I could not find any books on the subject, I decided to write one, both to process my experience and to provide support for others who had to choose behavioral euthanasia for their pet. I also wanted to inform the public about what behavioral euthanasia is.

As a science writer, I went to the literature looking for answers about what might make pets have unmanageable behavior problems. I read hundreds of research papers by veterinary behaviorists and other scientists who have dedicated their careers to animal behavior. I hoped to learn why Champ was so troubled. This book is part memoir, part science as I processed his death.

I spent evenings, weekends, and holidays for about 16 months writing this book before sending out query letters. A NASW seminar on sending query letters and proposals helped guide me. Since I did not have an agent, I targeted publishers that published books about dogs. McFarland Publishing’s Dogs in our World series proved to be a great fit.

My advice for aspiring authors is to write what you need to say and follow your idea. If you believe in it, others will, too.

Contact info:

• Beth Miller: 314-540-5256, bethmillerwriter@gmail.com, https://millerb68.journoportfolio.com/, @bethmillerwriter
• Book: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/the-most-painful-choice/
• Publicist: Stephanie Nichols, snichols@mcfarlandpub.com

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