When Your Pet Dies: A Healing Handbook for Kids

By R. W. Alley and Victoria Ryan

A child will never forget a beloved pet, or the day it died. And the sadness that follows is true grief. This little elfin guide to good grief validates your child’s sadness—the necessary first step for healing. It acknowledges feelings that are new, confusing, and frightening. And it offers creative ideas for easing the sting of grief and memorializing a lost pet. A touching tribute to the love between a child and pet . . . and a compassionate guide to handling this loss with gentleness and sensitivity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Oct 28, 2014
• ISBN: 9781497696624

R. W. Alley

R. W. Alley is the illustrator of many beloved books, including the Paddington Bear picture book series. He lives in Barrington, Rhode Island. Visit him at www.rwalley.com.

Book preview

A Message to Parents, Teachers,

and Other Caring Adults

Losing a pet is often a child’s first experience with death. Whether the pet was given away, ran away, or died of natural causes—the sadness following its loss is true grief.

Your child’s pet was the epitome of loyalty and unconditional love, and the more your child interacted with it, the sadder he’ll be. The death of a goldfish, for example, may seem trivial—but for a child who confided secrets to the fish, who sat near the bowl whenever he was lonely or afraid, the loss is quite significant. His grief is intensified if the pet was a gift from an absent parent or