My four year old son was devastated when his hamster died (my son was three at the time). We made a casket out of a macaroni box, which had a see-through window to allow easy viewing of the deceased, lining it with tissues. We then had a nice funeral and went to bury the little guy in the forest behind our apartment. It was winter. I explained that some other critter would most likely eventually dig him up and eat him to survive.
I think it's a blessing in disguise for a child to lose a pet before they lose a human being they REALLY care about. It can be an occasion to explore themes of life and death, morality, etc. While it's natural to feel sympathy for a kid who's going through a rough time, losing a pet isn't all bad.
Last edited by Iucounu; 06/20/10 06:59 PM.
