How to tell children puppy died?

[Pooh Crew]

We are visiting my family and my children have been playing with their cousin's puppy all week. The pup seemed fine earlier today, but we found out tonight that they took him to the emergency vet and that he died on the way there. We are not sure what exactly happened, but think he might have either gotten into some kind of poison (he roamed the neighborhood) or maybe ate some bad mushrooms--or I guess he could have had something else wrong with him.

We were discussing it in spelled words and whispers and my daughter (age 6) immediately picked up that something was wrong. With it being so close to bedtime, I did not tell her tonight, but instead told her that the puppy might have wandered off chasing something. We are here for another three days, so I know I have to tell them that the puppy died, but how do I do that? My daughter is going to be devastated! Any suggestions how to ease into this conversation and break the news gently? Thank you all.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I think just tell them the puppy got sick and died. They took it to the vet to help him but he could not be saved.

Follow up with answering questions and then making a card and have a little service for closure.

Sorry about the puppy....

 

[Puffy2]

You need to tell her the truth. If you don't she'll have a much harder time ever trusting you again. Yes, it's sad, but that is a very real part of life and we don't do anyone a favor when we hide the truth from them.

In the morning, just tell her " I have some very sad news, it seems that "puppy" was found (you have already planted the "lost" seed) and he was very sick. Your cousins took him to the puppy hospital but unfortuantly, they couldn't do anything for him and he died. I'm sorry."

She'll probably cry and then she might have some questions (how did he get sick?, etc...) Answer as truthfully as possible. You are teaching her many things - one, to trust you. two, how to grieve, and three, that all living things have a time to live and a time to die. All three are very important lessons. Good luck.

 

[Hannathy]

When I have had to tell my kids bad news like Granma died or the cat died etc. I have found it is easier just to say it and then say comforting things. like Honey Granma died last night, I feel bad and we will miss her and so on. If you start out trying to ease into it they just know something bad is about to be said and I think it is worse. I would emphasise how happy the puppy was with them and isn't it nice the puppy had such a special day and it is too bad that it happened but sadly things like this happen that we can't control. Just give lots of hugs.

 

[Sandcass]

Can I share a funny story about this type of thing ?

Ok, I'm going to anyway.....

When my DD was about 2 we would always go visit my Gma. Her neighbor in the apartment above had a beautiful white german shephard that my DD just ADORED. She would always bring it up treats that my Gma kept in a jar. So on one visit my sweet little innocent DD goes running straight for the treats so she can visit her canine friend, when my Gma noticed what she was doing she announced, "THE DOG IS DEAD!" No softening the blow at all, just like she was announcing dinner was ready or something. My poor little girl just stood in the kitchen holding that treat, frozen, not knowing what that meant or what to do.

To this day (about 8 or 9 years later) my sister, mom & I still laugh hysterically about that. I seriously don't think my Gma meant to be so callous, she just was distracted and blurted it out.

Anyway, the moral of my story, don't just blurt out "THE DOG IS DEAD"

 

[clutter]

Oh, Sandcass, that happened to me! My dog died, and I was afraid I wouldn't tell the 8 year old that walked her in the appropriate, so I told her parents, figuring they knew best. Apparantly, her dad walked into the house and said "you know Sam next door? She's dead!" You know, I think I could have done better....