Maltese Crossing: Love, Loss, and Lessons of Compassion

Maltese Crossing: Love, Loss, and Lessons of Compassion is a short book, at first full of humor poking fun of the human world, but as fate changes, full of thoughtful reflection as the dog brings wisdom to the human, giving her a more fulfilling and deeply meaningful life. When the dog leaves for another celestial assignment, the human grieves deeply, mourning the loss that seems insurmountable.

Reflection on what it means to be truly loved brings honor and respect to animal companions, avatars of heavenly spirits sent to help humans. My hope is that the book will help people understand their grief--and their unconditional love--and move forward in gratitude toward a new life and a greater opportunity to do good and noble works in the world.

Dr. Sargent, author, speaker, and career educator, left the academic world in 1998 following a fulfilling career as a teacher, administrator, and adjunct professor. After four decades of service, she retired as a high school principal, and taught school law, ethics, and pedagogy to student teachers at Regis University, University of Colorado, and University of Denver.

To fill the gap left when schedules, deadlines, and crowds of people no longer dictated her activities, this educator adopted a tiny, active Maltese puppy. Kuan Yin turned out to be a goddess of compassion, a Heavenly Happening. Sargent's love for her canine companion motivated her to write this book of caring and wisdom. A Colorado native, she lives in Golden, Colorado with her husband and their new friend, Snowflake.