They spend a great deal of time trying to revive the dead family member and finally succumb to the realization that they must move on.
In the case of domestic pets, the dead pet is removed right away and the ancient process is not allowed to play out.
It’s unhealthy to keep a dead pet around the house so its partner can grieve, but it’s important to understand the grief reaction of the surviving pet in order to teach little Andy why his dog, Buddy, doesn’t want to play and why he seems sad.
Use this situation to find out what Andy thinks about death. Help him express his feelings and develop coping skills appropriate for his age such as ways to honor his dog.
Don’t minimize Andy’s feelings especially if this is his first experience with death.
Claudia
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