When a pet dies, grief is inevitable. As a parent, the event of a pet’s death can be especially challenging, as you and your child are both going through the grieving process. Here are some ways to support your child when their pet dies.

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HELPING CHILDREN GRIEVE AFTER A PET DIES

We knew it was coming. We saw our dog’s health decline steadily over the course of a year. When the veterinarian gave the poor prognosis, it wasn’t surprising, but it was still devastating. It was Maverick’s last day and it was time to say goodbye to this dear, most beloved, furry friend.

I’ll never forget the phone call from my husband. He was at the vet’s office and told me that this was the end for our dog. I told my girls that Maverick was dying and took their hands in mine as we walked four blocks to the vet’s office. The sun was shining down on us but our eyes were raining tears. My oldest daughter wailed all the way to the clinic.

Once we arrived, we all took turns feeding Maverick handfuls of treats. We hugged him and said our goodbyes. Then I left with my two girls before the euthanasia took place… my husband stayed behind to be with Maverick until the end.

My girls and I walked those four long blocks home… gut-wrenching sobs coming from all three of us. Watching my girls struggle with grief was one of the hardest things I ever had to do as a parent.

The loss of a pet is often a child’s first encounter with death. The way their grief is managed becomes a cornerstone upon how future losses are handled. Here are some suggestions on how to help your child through the grieving process when their pet dies.

The death of your pet is going to hurt.

Death hurts.

But watching your children grieve hurts twice as much.

As parents we often want to fix things and take away the pain.

It’s important to realize that death isn’t something we can fix or make better. Unfortunately, grieving is a process. Our role as parents is to appropriately comfort our children as much as we can.

Children grieve in all sorts of ways. We need to allow them to go through all the emotions of this painful time and help them feel supported in their grief.

Grief may look unusual. 

Children perceive things differently than adults. They may not seem grieved at all, or they may go from gut-wrenching crying to jovial playfulness within seconds.

Be supportive of all the ways your child may be processing their grief.

If your child is crying… let them cry. Don’t try to “make it better”.

If your child doesn’t seem bothered by the loss of the pet, draw near to them, play with them, and colour with them. Allow them opportunities to talk and share their feelings with you.

If your child’s emotions seem to be on a yo-yo, recognize that this is normal too. Children have shorter attention spans than adults. They may get distracted momentarily by an activity, but then be reminded of their pet’s death minutes later.

Regardless of how your child grieves, make yourself available to them. Listen to their sorrows, hug them, let them know that they’re not alone in this sad and frightening time.

Expect questions about death.

As mentioned previously, the death of a family pet is often a child’s first encounter with death. Their stable world has been rocked by something irreversible and out of their control.

As a child begins to process the death of their pet, it may stir deeper questions and fears in them:

• If my dog dies, then does that mean Mommy and Daddy will die too?
• Will I die?
• What happens when someone dies?
• What happened to my cat after it died?

It’s important to expect these sorts of questions and to respond in the most transparent and honest way possible.

Your spiritual beliefs will be the anchor by which you respond to your children’s questions. If you feel unable to answer a question, then it’s okay to tell your child that you’re unsure.

I wrestled with my oldest daughter’s biggest question; she wanted to know if she would see Maverick in Heaven.

I honestly told her that I didn’t know for sure. But I did share with her how we, as Christians, are assured of a place in Heaven, but the Bible says nothing about pets. However, as we discussed this topic further, we came to the conclusion that if God gave us animals for our enjoyment, wouldn’t it make sense that these beloved animals would be in Heaven too?

The process of seeking answers and thoughtful discussion was reassuring, healing experience for both of us.

Let yourself grieve the loss of your pet.

When Maverick died, my own grief was my biggest struggle. I wanted to hide my grief because I didn’t want to upset my daughters by expressing my own grief.

However, after some careful reflection, I realized that by sharing my grief, it would give my girls an opportunity to communicate their own feelings of remorse.

I specifically recall coming into the house a few days after Maverick’s death. The stairwell landing he normally slept on looked so empty. Tears immediately came to my eyes. I didn’t hide my sadness and my girls could identify with my grief as well. My oldest daughter said, “I always expect to see him laying there too, Mom.”

It’s important that we share our grief with our children as it gives them an opportunity to observe others’ grieving processes. Also, communicating our personal feelings of grief often helps children feel safe in expressing their own remorse.

Find ways to remember your pet. 

One of the most vital steps to our grieving process was to find ways to remember Maverick’s life. He was a big 100 lb presence in our lives and his gentle, furry face, was immediately missed.

We looked for meaningful ways to commemorate our furry companion of 10 years. Since Maverick was cremated, we purchased a picture frame urn to hold his ashes. We also bought cremation necklace pendants for us and our girls, which would also hold a tiny sampling of Maverick’s ashes.

As we presented the necklaces to our girls, my husband explained that we could wear our necklaces whenever we wanted to remember Maverick, like on a family walk or for a special celebration.

We also explained how the photo urn holds his ashes too. It sits on the piano in our living room and we look at it often.

Other ways to remember a pet may be to:

• Have a pet “funeral”.
• Work together to assemble a memory photo album of your pet.
• Share stories about your pet.
• Assemble a slideshow of pictures and put it to music.
• Make a donation to the local animal shelter in honour of your pet.
• Bury some ashes in your pet’s favourite spot outside (under a tree, in the corner of the yard, etc.)

Use other resources to help with grief.

Another way to support your child through their grieving process is to seek other helpful resources. There are many picture books available which address pet loss.


You may also want to consult a professional counselor if your child’s grief seems to go on for a really long time, or dramatically affects their activities and interest in life.

Grief is one of the most challenging things we go through as parents. However, with patience, love, keen observation, and ample attention, your child will eventually come through the grieving process. Allow your child, and yourself, plenty of time and grace… one day the memories of your beloved pet will provide much joy and comfort to all of you.

Jennifer Bly

Author of My Kitchen, My Classroom: An Introduction to Homeschool and creator of The Deliberate Mom. Jennifer writes about parenting, homeschooling, her faith, and life with her husband and two girls. Jennifer has a Bachelor of Applied Human Service Administration Degree with a specialization in Early Learning in Child Care.