just found my sons pet dead please help?

Question

I just found my 6 years olds hampster dead an i am not sure what i should do. This is his first pet. He feeds him and gives him fresh water everyday by himself, and sings him a song at bedtime everynight. He also has a pile of things that he got him for christmas under the tree that we were going to put in his cage next time we cleaned it. Should i break his little heart and tell him the truth or should i find a look a like and replace him?

he understands about death his great grandfather that he was close to died the day after christmas last year and his fathers dog died in feb.

Answer 1

Dont lie to your kid tell them what happened straight up. Its better to face this issue now so that theyre prepared for a real death. Believe me if you talk to them about this now you will save them a lot of pain later on in life.

Answer 2

I really do feel for you and I'm sorry that you have to go through this. If you find a look a like then he won't really grasp that everything eventually comes to an end. Hamsters don't really live that long, maybe 3 years at best so children have to understand that when they get old, they just die and you have to get another one and be thankful that the little guy had a good life while he was around. I would tell him what happened and try your best to comfort him. You could then take him to the pet store and get him another pet and let him pick out which one he wants. He'll probably tell you that he doesn't want a new one but that might change after time, just be strong and hang in there.

As far as pets go, I might suggest a rat to you. They live to be about 5 when they are cared for really well. They do better in pairs though. They are very sweet, never bite, and love attention and affection. If you want to know more about rats then you can email me.

Here's a pic of me and my rat. I've had 15 of them, they're just great.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a244/erika78750/ErikaandAshton.jpg

Good luck to you, I hope that everything goes well.

Answer 3

I'd tell him the truth- there are three main reasons to have pets 1.) to teach a child about responsibility 2.) for educational and entertainment purposes 3.) To teach them that everything is born and everything dies.
Explain that animals, especially hampsters die faster than humans and that it's a fact of life. Then tell him you will bury him outside and if he cleans the cage up with you that this weekend you'll take him to buy a new one. If your son thinks it's something he did wrong just tell him that hapsters have weak hearts and he had a heart attack and that's what killed him. I hated when my daughter blamed herself for the death of her's and nothing I could say to her would change her mine that somehow she had killed it.

Answer 4

If you kid takes good care of the pet, then you should try to replace it. It is obviously not his fault the poor animal died. But when the next one dies, you should teach a little lesson about death to your child. It is a little close to the holidays for those lessons right now, though.

Answer 5

In a kinfolk atmosphere, hamsters will in simple terms hibernate no be counted if that's amazingly chilly at your house of abode. by utilising now, he may well be very stiff if her have been lifeless and could desire to even scent somewhat. in case you're easily uncertain, take a washcloth and microwave it for 10 seconds. Then wrap it around the hamster and attempt to heat his physique up. no be counted if that's hibernation, they're going to usually wake after being warmed for a time. you additionally can placed a warm water bottle on suitable of his cage, yet make beneficial that his is wrapped up, yet an alternate selection is a table lamp over the cage and pointed at him. i'm hoping this enables you.

Answer 6

ok firstly its an opportunity to teach him about natural things like death...

my first husband died when my daugher was 5...she learned about death before hand because I had worked at an animal shelter and she had asked what happens to the pets who dont get a home...

anyhow true story- my sister works in mental health and she told me about a kid whose father had died and they never really adressed it.. anyhow later the girl was at the dinner table and she asked "when is daddy coming home" the poor girl had no concept about death....

soooo.... lying to him and replacing the hamster is WRONG...
he needs a chance to greive and say "good bye" to his hamster
he needs to learn about death...

if you decide to get him a new hamster - then clean the cage thoroughly and go with him to pick a new pet
if you decide not to get a new pet you can take the supplies and your son to the SPCA and donate the supplies to them so they can use them for other pets...

good luck - yes it will break his heart.. but lying is worse in the long run

Answer 7

Tell him the truth. Maybe watch Lion King first. My son's hamster died and I prepared this long consultation session in my head and he just wanted to see it and to bury it, but I was definitely more traumatized by him possibly being hurt then he was by actually learning about life.
Good luck. P.S. My sons react way differently than my nieces.

Answer 8

Oooh tricky one, I would go with your only a kid and that happy once, go out get a replacement and let him continue his happyness. I know we all have to face the fact of death at somepoint but he's got plenty of time for that, you won't be hiding important issues from him he'll have to deal soon enough just let the little guy keep his hamster!

Answer 9

You need to be truthful with him. He may already know (you just don't know he knows)...i know that was weird... Just be honest and compassionate. Encourage him to get another little pet.

Poor guy! Best of luck, you sound like a wonderful mom!

Answer 10

You should tell him the truth. My parents tried the trick of replacing it when I was younger. It only made me madder because they lied to me.

Tell him that you know his hamster was special to him and if he wants, you guys can go get a new one.