Book review: ‘Pawprints to Heaven’

Pawprints to Heaven: Letters to a Veterinarian by Maribeth Bossbaly, VMD. Independently published, 2024. Softcover, 135 pages with photographs.

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Some people seem to know early on what their life’s work and passion will be. Maribeth Bossbaly, veterinarian and author of the gently empathetic Pawprints to Heaven: Letters to a Veterinarian, is one such individual. From the age of 6, she knew she wanted to heal animals, and, judging from the stories her clients share in this volume, they are grateful she followed her dream.

Opening with her life story, the author recounts how, from childhood, she felt a special bond and spiritual connection with her own beloved dogs, who helped her in times of grief and stress, guiding her on the path to become a pioneering veterinary cardiologist.  The letters and tales included from grateful clients whose animals crossed the Rainbow Bridge are a testament to Dr. Maribeth’s professional and personal care.

What sets Pawprints to Heaven apart from many other such veterinary memoirs is exactly this type of care. While always providing the best medical treatment, the author also showed emotional involvement when discussing options for critically ill animals and when euthanizing an animal companion. This kind and compassionate attitude brought forth the letters and stories written by clients as they coped with the death of much-loved animal friends.

Written to honor her patients and to serve as a source of solace for newly bereaved clients, Pawprints to Heaven is an ultimately joyous celebration of the all-too-brief lives of animal companions.

Full disclosure from the reviewer: Many years ago, I was fortunate to have the author treat three of my rescued cats for cardiac conditions. The story of one of these cats, Ziggy, is included in Pawprints to Heaven. I received no financial benefit from writing the story or this review.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.