Our beloved family dog died last week and we have all been devastated. My daughter who is 7 was having so much trouble dealing with the loss of her best friend. He was a white little maltese/yorkie mix and he was 13 years old. His passing was very sudden and my daughter didn't get to say goodbye : ... (!!!!
I had a very tough time explaining to her about death and what had happened. I started doing research online and came across something that helped me soooo much!! It was a complete pet funeral kit that came with the sweetest book for my daughter to fill out. It has questions like "what was your dog's favorite toy?", "what is the best memory you have of your pet?" ect. It also had a full funeral for us to recite together. We all decorated the box it came with and put his favorite toy and collar inside as a memory keep sake.
My daughter has it on her shelf of her room and ever since the day we received the kit, decorated the box and used the guide and work book she has been dealing with it so much better. I just wanted to share this info since it helped our family so much. I think it might be a new product because I have never seen it before but I thank whoever came up with this idea as I feel pet loss is hardly dealt with in the commercial world.
If anyone has any other ways they helped their children deal with the loss of their best friend please post them here. While she is doing so much better any advice will help me and her dad out! Thanks in advance.

While researching I found this link that I will share here.

Goodbye sweet Jakey boy we miss you so much!!!!!!!!!!!

http://confessionsofarescuemom.com/2014/08...rewell-pet-kit/


Here is a picture of our sweet boy!! He was the most adorable dog ever! RIP little buddy!!!!

Hi, mydogjake, plese permit me to offer you and your family my sincrerest sympathies in the physical loss of your beloved Jake. Losing a companion is never easy regardless of the circumstances or how long we are blessed with the privilege of their company. Losing a companion suddenly intensifies the grief.

Clinical professionals recognize that children do grieve differently from adults. They also recognize that the grief adjustment journey for the physical loss of a beloved companion is the same as for a human family member or friend. Unfortunately, our society in general, and sadly sometimes the people who are closest to us emotionally and geographically, do not. This is one of the many reasons why this wonderful forum was established as a safe place where people can come to share what is in their hearts with people who truly do understand. It also has a mission of being a resource for materials that can help through the grief process. Thank you so much for sharing with us the information you found that helped your daughter with her grief journey.

No matter how old we are the grief adjustment journey is one of the most painful experiences we will know on this side of eternity. It is a journey that is filled with many different emotions that can overwhelm us all at one time which is why it is a journey frequently referred to as a horror roller coaster ride. It is a journey that can only be traveled one day at a time, sometimes one moment at a time, in our own way and in our own time - - for it is a journey that is now filled with all the first withouts and the memories that can be all too painful right now that include this time yesterday, last week, last month, last year to endure.

When I was a little girl so many decades ago, the physical loss of a companion was considered to be nothing much to pay attention to, and if a child had difficulty adjusting displinary action was usually the method to change the undesirable behavior. Clinical professionals now recognize that the physical loss of a beloved companion, particularly when experienced as a child, helps to form the child's perspective about loss and helps to develop their coping mechanisms for later on in life. One of the many things you and your daughter, and husband, need to remember is that love is eternal - - it is not restricted to the physical laws of time and space. Your beloved Jake's sweet Living Spirit continues to share your earthly journey as he always has and always will - - for he is always and forever a part of your heart and memories - - he is always and forever a heartbeat close to you. Even 20, 30 years from now your heart will glow with the many treasured memories of your beloved Jake - - and in recalling these memories you may still find a mist come to your eyes for the part of you that will still want to hold your beloved Jake in your arms just one more time.

I know all too well from first hand experience that when our hearts are grieving the physical loss of a beloved companion there really are no adequate words in any language that can soothe the searing pain of sorrow. Still I hope the words I share with you will offer you and your family some measure of comfort, support, encouragement, and hope as you travel your grief adjustment journeys.

Thank you again so much for honoring us in sharing your beloved Jake, and in sharing this wonderful picture of your precious little boy. He is soooo adorable. Please know you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers, mydogjake, and please let us know how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Dear My dog Jake,

Please accept my most sincere sympathy in the loss of your beloved angel Jake. He was such a adorable Dog love the color thanks for sharing the picture with the rest of us I bet you and your little girl miss him so much. Honestly I don't have any advice to offer you on how to comfort your little girl because I also have 4 kids that are still hurting for the loss of our baby girl princess. We lost or baby on June 16, 2014 3 months ago and ever since that tragedy accident happen to her everyone is still in shock and devastated that are not able to accept that she is no longer with us. That horrible night all my kids haven't been able to be their own selves again especially my younger little girls. They were the ones that just to play with our kitten all the time and having her is breaking their heart. I did try to open that link that you provided for everyone that you said is helping your family so much. But unfortunately I don't know how you even do it to get it to be sent to you, theirs a lot of information in there that does seems helpful. But as much as I tried to look around that website I was not able to find anything that showed me how this kit is able to be sent to someone home. I will appreciate if you will let me know I think that will also help me in my kids tremendously since we are still devastated with the loss of your baby.

~ Mayra

What a beautiful picture and a beautiful dog. You can just see his personality so clearly in that face.
My son's cat was hit by a car on Sunday night and died later at the vets. My son and I were lucky enough to say a hurried goodbye to him, although at the time we both firmly believed he was going to make it. (Wishful thinking).
It's hard enough to cope with my own pain, let alone seeing my son so devastated - I am sure you can understand.
Thank goodness for wonderful places like this where we can all share these feelings.
Hope you and your family are having some better days.