Members' Tips: Dealing with a pet's death
 Goldfish,
gerbils, hamsters... many pets have a limited lifespan, but that doesn't
mean it's not upsetting when they die.
It can be even harder when the family cat or
dog has been around for a decade or longer.
It's sad for parents, but how can you explain things to a little one?
Talking it over
'Just be honest and tell him if it was
old that he has got tired and gone to heaven - well if you feel comfortable
with that.'
Thanks to Raisingkids' Member pollylolly
'I think that all you can do is talk to your
child about the sad situation and keep talking and
answering any questions. Maybe they or you could make up a little story
or poem about what the pet meant to you, with happy memories.'
Thanks to Raisingkids' Member mum
'I said that Jake (my friends dog who died) had
called and collected him, held his paw and took him to doggie heaven.
They are playing and eating doggie chews (something Sooty couldn't do
at the end). I also said that when we go to bed tonight there will be
one bright star in the sky and that will be Sooty saying hello.'
Thanks to Raisingkids' Member cheekychic1111
Hold a 'goodbye ceremony'
'My kids always gave their pets a big funeral
and buried them in the back garden. Sometimes they made cardboard headstones.
I particularly remember having to bury a gerbil in a Barbie dress for
a shroud. I think it helps them to have the chance to say a proper goodbye,
and they always had a good cry, and then the matter seemed to be closed
for them. One more thing is that we have a little lantern that you put
a nightlight in, and we used to leave it burning in the window the night
after the "funeral" so the pet could see the light and "wouldn't be frightened".
This probably sounds really soft but it helped my children accept it,
so where's the harm?'
Thanks to Raisingkids' Member Anna
Something to avoid?
'One thing I would be careful of when you
tell your little boy is don't say "put to sleep" as it can make little
ones frightened to go to sleep if they don't understand.'
Thanks to Raisingkids' Member celeste
What would you do?
Tell us your suggestions - how do your
family cope? And what do you do if your children are older? Please let
us know!
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