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Tears for Fido
Dealing With the Loss of a Pet By Teri Brown
(Random House, 2000), has seen, firsthand, the grief young pet owners face at the loss of a beloved animal.
"The best way to tell children about their pet's death is to be completely honest," says Dr. Schwartz. She says that parents should avoid telling their child that the pet went to sleep, as some children can develop serious fears of bedtime and going to sleep. Telling them that God or Jesus wanted the pet with Him is also a bad idea because children can become angry at the higher power.
Dr. Schwartz also recommends that parents be honest about their own grief. This helps children to understand that being sad is normal. "It's OK for adults to show emotion and to explain to children that they are sad and miss the pet that has died," she says. "But this is a perfect opportunity for them to show that the sadness will pass."
Betty J. Carmack has written extensively on the topic of losing a pet, including the book Grieving the Death of a Pet (Augsburg Press, 2003). She believes that the grief children feel for their pet should be respected, and explanations should be geared toward the understanding and maturity of the child. "Children's grief for their loved pets can be intens, unfamiliar and frightening," says Carmack.
