Grab a tissue because you might need one for this both heartwarming and heartbreaking video. A Pomsky named Shenzi passed away recently, leaving his family heartbroken and missing him so much. His 3-year-old human brother may not have understood exactly what death is, but it’s clear that he’s grieving for his dog.
The video starts with the toddler sitting in front of the family’s refrigerator, quietly staring at a picture of the pooch he’s missing. His mom wrote across the video, “Catching glimpses of your 3-year-old’s grief after losing a pet,” and it’s bringing everybody to tears.
@patty_mowgli_shenzi Miss you Shenny! #pomsky #shenzi #pomeranian #husky #dog
My heart! I love that Mom also shared videos of Shenzi and his brother together, it was so touching to see all of the moments they shared and how much the little boy loved his dog!
Commenters had all the feels after watching the sweet video. @Fred Beam admitted, “Man, the way he looked at that picture crushed me.” @missmirokie shared this sweet comment, “Grief is just love with nowhere to go. Poor baby.” @Ryu added, “That breaks my heart… too young to know why it hurts so much.” Another commenter said simply, “That was enough to make this grown man cry.”
Explaining the Death of a Pet to Young Children
May years ago while we were away on a family vacation, our Westie passed away. The kids were just 6 and 8, and we waited until we got home to explain what happened to her. As a parent, it was one of the hardest and most gut-wrenching things I’ve had to do. Seeing their grief nearly broke me.
Family Education shared some tips for explaining death to young children. If you know that your pet may be dying, they recommend starting the conversation with the kids at that point. “Speak with your child as soon as possible and choose a familiar, peaceful place and a quiet time to talk. Pets die for a variety of reasons — old age, illness, or injuries. Talk about the possibilities of a terminally ill or older pet dying, and the associated feelings, before the loss occurs. Reassure children that they can still enjoy the time they have with their pets.”
Kristen Arquette, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Bellevue, Washington also recommends using words that are “direct, honest, and calm”. “Use the words “death” and “dying” rather than phrases such as “went to sleep,” “went away,” “went to heaven” or “crossed the rainbow bridge.”
“Make sure your child understands that dying means that the pet’s body has stopped working, and the pet will not come back. Subtleties and euphemisms can cause confusion and anxiety, and lead to misunderstandings and mistrust.”
Answer any and all of their questions openly and honestly. And don’t forget that different kids will process the information differently and grieve at different times.
There are many great children’s books that explain the concept of death or the loss of a pet in a comforting, easy-to-understand way. One book that comes highly recommended is “Until We Meet Again” by Melissa Lyons. It may help your child process what is happening in a way that they can understand.