A Tail of Hope's Faith

Debut author Weinmann writes of guiding a dog and her family through pain, death, and the wonder beyond in this nonfiction work.

When Rosanne Sopko decided to return to work full time, she knew her dog, Murray, would need a companion. She didn’t know that the puppy she chose would change her life. The 3-month-old German shepherd/retriever mix, Hope, had abuse in her past, but she also had a tenacious spirit, and as lifelong animal rescuers, Rosanne and her family instantly bonded with her. Hope and Murray became inseparable, and the new dog happily “ruled the roost.” But on Hope’s seventh birthday, a mass was found on her leg, marking the beginning of a downward spiral. Enter Weinmann, a holistic healer for animals, about whom Rosanne had read years earlier. According to the author, she and Hope soon began regularly speaking telepathically. Rosanne asked Weinmann questions via email, which Weinmann says she then communicated to Hope by focusing on a photo of the dog and reaching out with her mind. The author writes that she discovered that several of Hope’s key chakras were blocked. She says that she began to send energy flowing to Hope by using a stuffed animal as a surrogate, providing the dog with much-needed relief from her suffering. She also introduced many other holistic remedies, including Bach flower essences, STS-2 healing, and color therapy. But after a long journey of ups and downs, sunny days and sleepless nights, the author writes that it finally became time to help Hope leave her body. Weinmann provides detailed notes of her treatment of Hope, describing every landmark date, healing technique, and even changes in the dog’s bowel movements, and this comprehensiveness bogs down the story. However, the emotional ending makes up for it; Hope, the author says, was a spirit with a plan: to return as a reborn version of the Sopkos’ beloved pet. As the author tells of Hope’s passing and re-emergence as a German shepherd puppy, readers won’t be able to help but tear up as they speedily turn the pages.

A relatable journey of a family loving and letting go of their pet.