The loss of a family pet can be a traumatic time for everyone. Coping with this death in the family can be particularly difficult for children.

Parents will know the best way to tell their children about the loss. We recommend that you explain that death is a natural part of life. Tell your children that you are thankful for the time you had with your pet and that you will treasure the precious memories of happy times together. If your pet was injured or sick, explain to your children that your pet is no longer in pain and that you are happy for that. Children do best with simple, honest, straightforward answers to their questions.

Very young children do not understand death and will often cope better with the loss because they do not fully realize what has happened. Older children, however, may need more time. "Often children have delayed reactions to the loss of a pet, or they might say unusual things about the pet," says Nancy Peterson of The HSUS's companion animals section.

During this sad time, be there for your children. Encourage them to talk about what they are experiencing and tell them how you feel about death. "It is important for adults to express their grief and to serve as a model for children to express their own sadness. If adults don't grieve, it sends a signal to the child that the pet wasn't important," says Peterson.

Even though a pet's death is a trying time for your family, a valuable lesson about life can be learned: The grief will subside, but the happy memories will always remain.