what to do when your child's pet dies?

Question

i accidentally ran over my daughter's toy poodle.

My 12 year old daughter was in the car with me when I accidentally ran over her toy poodle, Mindy. She was hysterical. Mindy is the daughter of her two other toy poodles. She said she liked Mindy very much and theres no way to replace her.

Answer 1

Ouch! Im so sorry to hear that. Its so hard to tell a child especially your own child that their pet died. But, I dont think that you should hide the truth either. I think that you need to explain it in terms that she will understand. How old is she?

Answer 2

You need to explain to your daughter that Mindy can't come back and that she's in Heaven now (assuming you believe in God). Tell her that you can do something special for her pet to say good-bye. Bury her in the backyard and have a funeral for her poodle so she can properly say good-bye. Let her get flowers to put on Mindy's grave and put a special stone down or some kind of memorial...

When she is emotionally ready then you can consider getting her another dog. She is right though, Mindy can't simply be replaced because no other dog will be Mindy...

Answer 3

The first thing to do is be as honest as you can, in relative to her age. Next, I would suggest having a funeral, let her grieve and mourn, let her get closure and watch until she's ready to move on. Be supportive of your daugher, of course. Now, since you ran over her poodle, this does not automatically mean you need to rush out and replace it with something else, no matter what it is. This is a learning process for both you and your daughter, something that everybody goes through is facing death, either around us...or what have you. If you can bury this dog in your yard, you might want to take that to your advantage, after the funeral. I hope the best for you and your family.

Answer 4

no you didnt,,actually you noticed the dog was very poorly this morning and took him to the vet who said the dog was unwell and something had to be done,,,,,,if the child is older,much older you could venture out with part truth but children usually get upset because they do not understand death,,that one day something is there and the next it is gone,,this is the message you need to convey,that all things die and it is a normal part of life,,,saying you ran over it with the car isnt such an everyday occurrence and could be dispensed with as it will not help in the long run.tweak it a tad for your own kids ages.if that however isnt your question,,,,,wash the drive and bury the body or dispose of it some other way as you see fit!

Answer 5

It didn't die - you killed it. Call it poodleslaughter if you like, but you killed it! How you going to explain that to the kid?

I think you'd better start off with a huge apology and then plan a funeral in the back garden, an appropriate period of mourning and possibly a new pet.

Answer 6

Make a card board coffin. Cover it with silk. Carry the coffin with pet inside to a distant place. And while the child is watching bury it.

Answer 7

It really depends on whether or not you are going to base it on religion. . . but basically you want to try to explain mortality in a way that the child can understand that his or her pet will not be around anymore in the physical sense. In addition, try not to make it so explicit that you so to speak "kill" your child's innocence. Make sure that you explain that they have gone to a better place and that they do not feel any pain anymore.

Good Luck,

M.

Answer 8

Death of a loved one is tough on all of us.use this as a learning tool. be honest with her .ask her questions & be willing to answer hers. Be grateful her first expereince with death is a cherished PET & not a person

Answer 9

kindly replace it and explain to your daughter what had happen but it depend what age it is and ask her nicely would she go with you to the store and purchase a new or similar one

Answer 10

I would let the child tell you what she wants. I would not pressure her into getting another dog. Give her time.