Slightly at a tangent I'd recommend "When Children Grieve" by John John W. James, Russell Friedman & Leslie Matthews. Although we don't like to think about it, part of owning a Labrador or any other sort of pet means that at some time we'll lose them. This book is for adults who want to help their children cope with loss in a healthy way. Pet loss is often the first major loss a child faces and this book spends quite some time on this topic. Also increasingly Pet loss isn't necessarily through death. Families are having to give up much loved pets to shelters when they have to move to rented accommodation following changes in their financial situation. All these changes - saying goodbye to the animal, the move, etc all invoke grief. This book has practical steps to follow rather than just theories.
Re: When Children Grieve An area often overlooked too Carole , as we, the adults are wrapped in our own feelings of loss . On PBSS , we were taught during training to observe some guildines where childrens grief is concerned . Just as a simple example , telling a child that a beloved pet had been " Put to sleep " can give the child a real fear of the literal meaning of going to sleep . A really good book well worth a read thanks Carole .
