Pet Loss and Children

Explaining the concept of death to a child is a very difficult confusing and uncomfortable experience for a parent educator or therapist and it is a topic that is often first introduced by the loss of a pet - sometimes a child's earliest exposure to loss and grief. There is an undeniably special bond that develops between people and their pets especially between animals and young children and while the death of a pet can be devastating to an adult children are often deeply affected by such a loss. Without readily available outlets for their feelings the trauma of pet loss can remain with a child for life and without help many adults feel inadequate and not up to the task. The aim of this book is to provide therapists counselors educators parents social workers veterinarians and physicians with resources to help children cope with the loss of a pet.