It can be absolutely devastating. People who don’t have pets don’t always realize that they are true members of the family. There’s a reason some people call their dogs or cats ‘fur babies.’ But whether they have feathers, fur or scales, they hold a little piece of our hearts. As with any type of grief, when they’re gone, it can feel like that piece they held is forever missing, and you’ll never be whole again. If you have recently (or ever) lost a pet, you aren’t alone in that feeling.
After being my companion for 14 years, I recently lost my dog, Hobbes. Sometimes, the grief feels bigger than I do. As I was reflecting on this feeling, I felt a lot of empathy for children going through the same thing as me. If I, as an adult with many years of learning how to manage my emotions, have struggled with this feeling, I cannot imagine how big it must feel for children.
If you have a child who is struggling with any big emotion like grief, books are a great place to start. Books can give us the words to express what we are feeling. They can help us as adults explain what is going on. Most importantly, they can help us realize that we are not alone. Jessica created an absolutely fantastic book list all about picture books that deal with death, dying, and grief. There are some wonderful titles included about animals specifically, as well as general works about dealing with big feelings. Keep reading for my top picks, both old and new.
Best non-fiction
We have quite a few wonderful nonfiction titles surrounding death and grief. Some of them are centered around pets, others are more general. All of these titles are going to give you a good place to start the discussion with your child about what is happening. Nonfiction can be fantastic for kids who are more logical and want direct age-appropriate explanations of what is happening.
“Life is like the Wind” is one of my favorites for slightly younger kids. This title is fantastic at metaphorically explaining what death is without using too many words. The author compares being alive to the wind. We can see the effects of it and understand when it is there, but once it is gone, everything is still. They follow by giving coping mechanisms for grief and different ways to honor the loved one’s memory. While not specific to pet death, everything said still applies. Continue reading “When a Pet Passes On”
