our guinea pig has died... how to break the news to my son?

"Paul Bennett" wrote in message
news:bhEac.966$Ig.96@pd7tw2no...
Greetings, fellow pet lovers and parents...

The sad but inevitable has happened --- one of our two little guinea pig
sows, "Crouton", has died.

I observed her ailing rapidly over the last couple of days, and so am not
surprised - I was just hoping so much that it was a temporary illness, but
alas, it was not to be so.

How should I break it to my 10-year-old son Eric? I fear he will be
devastated.

Please, please share with me any **positive** experiences you may have
had,
informing your children and involving them in the burial of their little
piggie.

Thank-you,

Paul


Website http://www.angelbluemist.com/rainbowbridge.

I explained this to my children when our pet rabbit died. I have found it of
great use. Anwsering questions honestly also helps.
Hope this helps
Nic

Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of Heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal
dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to
Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends
so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food and water and
sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had
been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or
maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our
dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they miss
someone very special to them who had to be left behind. They all run and
play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the
distance. The bright eyes are intent, the eager body quivers. Suddenly she
begins to break away from the group, flying over the green grass, her legs
carrying her faster and faster. YOU have been spotted and when you and your
special friend finally meet you cling together in joyous reunion, never to
be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face, your hands again
caress her beloved head and you look once more into the trusting eyes of
your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you pass over Rainbow Bridge together....




Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high,
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue.
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops,
Away above the chimney tops.
That's where you'll find me.
Somewhere over the rainbow,
Bluebirds fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow,
Why then - oh, why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow,
Why, oh, why can't I?

There's not really much you can do to alleviate the shock except be kind as
you can in the way you deliver the news. Death is a sad occurrence, and it
is supposed to be shocking and upsetting. If it weren't, we would care if
anyone lived or died. Expressing your religious views on the hereafter are
the best comfort in such circumstances.

I didn't really get to do any informing though. I found my daughter's baby
iguana doing summersaults in his cage and he had turned yellow. I freaked
out and got everyone together and took him to the emergency pet clinic. He
died in my hand on the way home, and we were all pretty traumatized by it.
So we had a memorial service in the back yard and that helped to alleviate
our suffering. The kids went out there and sat and thought about him for a
while each day. The rain eventually washed away the cardboard gravestone
and we decided to try again with a frog. She took it to show and tell one
day, and when she pulled it out of its cage to show everyone, it was dead.
I got a frantic call from her at school, and had to go save the day.

I think it is important for one to learn from such experiences. One thing
we learned was that reptiles and amphibians are too hard to take care of for
a beginning pet owner. Next time, we're getting a gold fish. The lesson my
daughter learned is that you really have to study up on how to properly care
for an animal, and make sure it's something you can do right before you just
go and get one. Now she makes the decision to get or not get a pet based on
whether or not she knows she can properly care for it.

"Paul Bennett" wrote in message
news:bhEac.966$Ig.96@pd7tw2no...
Greetings, fellow pet lovers and parents...

The sad but inevitable has happened --- one of our two little guinea pig
sows, "Crouton", has died.

I observed her ailing rapidly over the last couple of days, and so am not
surprised - I was just hoping so much that it was a temporary illness, but
alas, it was not to be so.

How should I break it to my 10-year-old son Eric? I fear he will be
devastated.

Please, please share with me any **positive** experiences you may have
had,
informing your children and involving them in the burial of their little
piggie.

Thank-you,

Paul