Talk2theAnimals Interviews Nadine M. Rosin

Today Talk2theAnimals is interviewing Nadine M. Rosin, the author of The Healing Art of Pet Parenthood. She has been a student and researcher of alternative healing for over 30 years and a holistic bodywork practitioner since 1996. She is also a nondenominational wedding officiant, and a gallery-signed artist; her commissioned works include four paintings for the University of Arizona. Above all, she considers her most rewarding experience to be that of pet parent.

Nadine is available for speaking engagements, book signings, and fund-raisers and can be reached at petparenthood@cox.net.

Welcome to Talk 2 The Animals!

Thank you so much for having me, Janet! It is my pleasure to be here.

For those who haven’t read the book yet, can you give us some background on the story?

Sure. It might be fun to answer that question from the perspective of my dog, Buttons:

“I was a happy, kooky cockapoo/terrier. When I was 8, I was diagnosed with cancer. The vet gave me 6 weeks to live unless I had amputation, chemotherapy and radiation. Instead of conforming with the prescribed treatment, my mom, Nadine, launched a holistic regimen that included: #1) clearing my inner and outer environment of all toxins #2) cleansing my body of all residual toxins, and #3) giving my body the nutritional support it needed to HEAL ITSELF. Within a few months, I was CANCER-FREE. I thrived for an additional 11 years until I passed peacefully of old age, the week before my 19th birthday. The Healing Art of Pet Parenthood is the story of how Mom and I saved each other’s life.”

It’s not often one hears of a dog surviving cancer, let alone living to be 19! How did you know what to do holistically?

Well, first of all, I already had decades worth of knowledge and study under my belt. My father had been well-versed in holistic methods my entire life. He taught me that holistic meant addressing the CAUSE, not merely treating the symptoms. One of the reasons I wrote the book, was to encourage pet parents to begin doing their own research into things like environmental toxins, pet products, food quality, etc. BEFORE their animals get a cancer diagnosis. In the midst of a crisis is not the best time to begin educating yourself in a whole new perspective of health and well-being. I talk more about the things one can research on my blog ( http://PetParenthood.blogspot.com)

So is your book a reference guide on how to heal canine cancer?

No, although it has inspired many readers to begin researching all the good available material out there so their pets never GET cancer. The Healing Art of Pet Parenthood reads like a novel, and is the story of Buttons’ and my 19 years together. Within that story is, of course, our journey of discovering her cancer, the vet’s advice, how I made the decision to go against that advice, and the protocol I used instead. In that sense, I think it is a great introduction into holistic healing for those who may not know where to start. But, the book is also about the development of our unbreakable bond and telepathic communication, which every devoted pet parent will relate to. In addition, I describe the ways Buttons opened my heart and partnered with me through my own trials and learning experiences, my care for her as a senior canine, and how I was able to cope, deal, and heal after her passing.

After 19 years together, her passing must have been quite difficult for you.

Absolutely. There are many things we can do to prepare logistically, and I talk about those things in the book, but one can never fully prepare for the grief when it hits. In this country we are very private about strong emotions like grief, which I feel is to our detriment. In and of itself, grief is such an isolating experience- I believe we could get through it so much easier if we were all a little more comfortable with and accepting of each other’s grief, ESPECIALLY over a beloved animal. For many of us, it’s not something we can just get over in a couple of months or by getting another pet.

The last third of my book is about everything I went through after Buttons passed: dealing with the reactions of other people, the things I did to heal, what worked and what didn’t. I wrote about it all- the good, the bad, and the ugly, in hopes that others going through similar loss would find comfort, camaraderie, and validation.

What kinds of reactions are you getting from readers about the book?

As I mentioned, many are being inspired to take a closer look at the things they’re exposing their animals to: food ingredients, household cleaners, flea products, chemicals in chews and treats. A few have written me to say they completely changed the products they were using around their pets and conditions like IBS, allergies, and tumors cleared up and disappeared.

Many have written to say how validated they finally feel about the deep love they hold for a particular pet. One woman wrote that she had all her grown sons read the book because they’d always made fun of her relationship with her dog and her continued grief after he passed. But they apologized to her after reading my book, and said they now understood. I love those kinds of emails, because one of my intentions behind the book is to help remove the words, “It’s JUST a dog/cat/etc.” from the lips of non-pet parents.

Where can folks purchase your book, Nadine?

The book is available from any online book retailer ( http://www.amazon.com/Healing-Art-Pet-Parenthood/dp/1604940409 )
or can be ordered through any brick and mortar bookstore in the world.
More information is on my web site http://www.TheHealingArtOfPetParenthood.com

Thank you, Janet, for this opportunity to help spread the word about this book!

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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