NOTES FROM GRIEF

Getting a new pet too soon can feel, to a grieving child, like the old pet is being replaced. Here's how to think about timing, and how to introduce a new pet with care.

Pet loss often lacks the formal ritual of a funeral, which can leave a child without a clear way to say goodbye. Here are simple, low-effort rituals that can help.

When a pet's death involves a decision, explaining it honestly — without frightening language or vague euphemisms — helps a child trust what you tell them, now and later.

How to talk to children honestly about a pet's death, handle guilt and hard questions, and decide when it's time for a new pet.