Once you’ve told your children what’s happening, the next big challenge is guiding them through the emotional journey of losing a pet. In this second part of our series, we’ll explore the importance of sharing emotions openly, handling their (sometimes surprising) questions, and deciding how involved kids should be in the euthanasia process.
1. Share and Validate Emotions
Children take emotional cues from the adults in their lives. If you can allow yourself to feel sadness openly—maybe even cry in front of them—this shows it’s okay to be upset. Kids learn that grief is a natural response to losing someone we love, even if that someone is a pet.
Balancing your own expressions of grief while supporting your children can be tricky, but showing authenticity encourages them to do the same.
2. Be Open to Unexpected Questions
Kids have a unique way of processing the concept of death, and you might get a curveball like, “Will Fluffy come back as a zombie?” Even if it catches you off guard, it’s just your child trying to make sense of something very new and scary.
This approach builds trust and helps children feel safe to express themselves, no matter how odd their questions might sound at first.
3. Allow Appropriate Involvement in the Process
Every child handles loss differently. Some might want to be present during the euthanasia, while others prefer to say goodbye beforehand. There’s no one-size-fits-all rule—it’s about respecting your child’s wishes and emotional readiness.
Your role is to guide, support, and validate whatever level of involvement they choose.
Helping children cope after learning about pet euthanasia is a profound emotional journey. By sharing your own feelings, welcoming their questions, and letting them take part (or not) in the process, you lay the groundwork for healthy grieving. In our final post, we’ll focus on honoring your pet’s memory and watching for any signs that your child might need extra support.