Customer Reviews

When a Pet Dies

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Many children have experienced the death of a pet. This can be their first experience with grief and can help shape how they deal with later experiences with loss. This illustrated book deals with a child's feelings about the loss of a beloved pet. Mr. Rogers is sensitive but clear and direct when he explains the finality of death. This book can also be used to initiate a conversation about the death of a relative in a less threatening way. The parent may want to read the book as well to help explain it to the child.

Carol E. Watkins, M.D.

This is an excellent book to give to famalies that have just lost a pet and have young children in the family. It helps the Mother &/or Father explain to the younger members why the circle of life happens. It helps to explain the pain, the anger and then healing. I think that it also helps the parents too - it builds a foundation of communication and trust. I highly recommend this publication.

This was just sent to me via email:

"This is one of the kindest things I've ever experienced. I have no way to know who sent it, but there is a beautiful soul working in the dead letter office of the US postal service. Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:

Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her. You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith.

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith
and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I
told her that I thought He had.
Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies.' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:
Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away. Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.
Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have.
I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.
By the way, I'm easy to find, I am wherever there is love.
Love, GOD"

"When a Pet Dies" is a book intended to help children understand and cope with the death of a favorite pet. I believe it does. Well illustrated with to the point photos, it gives the joy of having a pet and the sorrow of having one die. It allows the child to realize that each person is unique, and may have their own way of expressing their grief and their own way of recovering from that grief.

As a near 75 year old man, I bought the book to see how Mr Rogers handled this subject and he did extremely well. I can remember some of the pets that I have had over the years and even the ones that i knew and had 65 years ago still have a place in my being.

"When a pet dies, we can grow to know that the love we shred is still alive in us and always will be.", is the concluding sentence of the book and is a great one because it is always true.

I purchased this book because both my dogs are getting quite old, and both have had mini-strokes in the past few months. I have two small grandchildren and I know when the time comes they will be upset and confused. They don't have any pets of their own yet so they have no experience of death or loss. This book it very informative and gentle and I believe will help me to help them understand.

While I found this book to be a good tool to discuss the loss of a pet with my 7 year old. I was a bit shocked at the directness of the issue at hand. It did bring forward the emotions that we were all feeling with the loss. This book however, does allow the child to greive and know that what they are feeling is "normal" and crying is okay. This was well done in the typical manner of "Mr. Rogers" he got me through alot as a child and now is helping me with my children.

The gentle style of Fred Rogers is continued in this book for young children who need help expressing grief over the death of a loved pet. My little one sobbed through the story but asked me to read it again and again as it guided for release of anger, sadness and loss. In the book, it mentions that someday you maybe ready to have a new pet, this was also a source of comfort and my child has already expressed a desire to do so. Our family found this book to be a gentle and kind way that helped us through a difficult time.

Mr. Rogers is the best at dealing with real life situations: honest, caring, comforting.

I bought this for my five-year-old when our elderly dog died. It's classic Mr. Rogers -- factual, simple, and straightforward. The book talks about all the emotions children may experience after they lose a pet in a very forthright and direct way. I am grateful to Mr. Rogers for creating such a great book.

This book did a good job of explaining the facts about losing a pet, but did not touch on the emotional impact of such a loss at all. I read it to my daughter, along with several other books about the loss of a pet. It had it's place, but I'm glad it wasn't the only book I read to her. The others did a much better job of dealing with the heartache of losing a pet.