ABSTRACT

Having a pet has been shown to help people feel happier and be healthier. Losing a pet can be as difficult for some children and adolescents as losing a person they care about. A helpful way to start a discussion with a child whose pet has died may be to explore how the pet got its name and any nick-names the pet had. Accidents are the number one cause of death for people between the ages of one and twenty-four. Research shows that approximately 53% of Americans consider religion to be very important in their lives. Many people, children and adults alike, turn to their religious beliefs to help them make sense of the losses in their lives, and to give them solace in their grief. .