A gentle look at children's pet loss. Pet loss brings pain. It also can be children's confusing first experience with death. In this gentle, sensitive video, David Balk, Ph.D., KSU Department of Human Development and Family Studies, and Marcia McFarland, counselor and Kansas 4-H specialist, explain how adults can help children cope with the grief. The video's accompanying viewer guide provides additional information and gives adults a chance to clarify their own feelings about pet loss, before talking about it with a child.
Many people come to depend on pets for comfort, company, security and nonjudgmental affection.
Children need to know the feelings they experience as a result of pet death are normal, that the pain will lessen with time, and that memories of good times will always remain.