The loss of a pet is an experience that can stick with us for the rest of our lives. My first experience with pet loss was a goldfish that my brother and I had when we were in grade school. I remember being sad and crying when my mom told me one day after school that the goldfish had passed away. A year or two later, Andy, my grandparents’ Yorkshire Terrier, passed away because of kidney stones, a situation that once again forced me to deal with grief at a young age.
More recently, I experienced pet loss this year. Our family’s calico cat, named Betsy, passed away. As a parent who watches many cartoons with their children, I gravitated toward showing my children how some of their favorite cartoon characters have dealt with pet loss.
Even if your child hasn’t experienced the loss of a family pet, it’s best to prepare your kids for the day a pet dies, runs away, or needs to be returned to their original owners.
Here are some great cartoons that teach kids about the loss of a pet. They range from short-term friends that leave a lasting mark to family pets that have been part of the family for many years.
Copycat (Season 1, Episode 39) From Bluey
While not Bluey’s pet, she and Bandit find an injured budgie during a morning walk. What was a fun game of Bluey copying everything Bandit says turns into a somber event. They take the budgie to the local veterinarian, and during treatment, it passes on. Bluey processes her sadness with dramatic play alongside her family. Reenacting the traumatic event helps Bluey accept the budgie’s passing while learning a valuable life lesson.
What “Copycat” Teaches Kids: Little ones can learn how to emotionally process grief after losing a pet in a way that makes them feel comfortable. My eldest daughter processes grief best by drawing a picture of the memories she had with her lost loved one.
Daniel’s Fish Dies (Season 3, Episode 20) From Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood
Daniel Tiger notices Bluefish isn’t moving. Dad Tiger uses a net to check Bluefish to see if he is asleep and would respond to stimuli. Mom Tiger takes him to the couch to hug him and answer more questions about how he can feel better. Daniel draws a picture of Bluefish to process his grief.
What “Daniel’s Fish Dies” Teaches Kids: Children can learn to cope with pet loss in a meaningful way by asking their loved ones questions. Holding on to memories of their pet can help them through the grief. When Betsy died, my eldest daughter asked me questions about when and how it happened. I explained the situation to her as best I could so she would understand, and I showed her where we had buried Betsy in the backyard.
So Long, Spanky (Season 1, Episode 13a) From Arthur
D.W. tries to cheer up her pet bird, Spanky, by getting him a cup of tea. She returns to find him not moving. Trying to figure out what’s going on, D.W. takes Spanky to David to check him out. David pronounces Spanky as deceased. The gang gives Spanky a proper funeral. Later in the episode, D.W. adopts a pet toad. While she’s scared of pet loss again, she eventually heals from Spanky’s passing as she gets to know her new pet toad.
What “So Long, Spanky” Teaches Kids: Grief is a natural process when mourning the loss of a beloved pet. Moving on with a new pet doesn’t mean you are dishonoring the other pet you lost. You keep your late pet in your memories as a special chapter in your life.
Animals Who Live to Be 100 Years Old (Season 4, Episode 19) From Wild Kratts
Martin adopts a fruit fly he calls Juice. When Juice passes away later in the episode because of his very short life span, the Wild Kratts go on a journey to find animals that live for at least a century. As Martin grieves for Juice, he’s amazed at the many animals with longer life spans. He eventually names a scarlet macaw “Juice 2” in memory of the original “Juice,” the fruit fly.
What “Animals Who Live to Be 100 Years Old” Teaches Kids: Children learn a blend of science and emotional growth by witnessing the life spans of different animals. They can develop an appreciation for the creatures around them and what they have to offer to all of us, as they are alive.
Pets Peeved (Season 2, Episode 11b) From The Loud House
Lana brings home a new family pet. The original four pets in the home attempt to get rid of this newcomer. They call the pet sanctuary and lock him out of the house.
They try rescuing the new dog when they feel guilty, but then they get captured in the pet sanctuary too. The Loud House kids make missing posters of their five family pets and discover they are at the pet sanctuary. The original owner comes to recover the new Loud House family pet. The kids are sad about their new pet not coming home, but happy that the dog has been reunited with the original owner.
What “Pets Peeved” Teaches Kids: Children learn to have empathy and acceptance for others while learning to do the right thing. Finding a pet that belongs to another owner can be heartbreaking if you wanted to adopt them, but it’s best if they return to their original family.
Dumped (Season 2, Episode 29b) From SpongeBob SquarePants
Gary stays the night with Patrick. SpongeBob comes to get him the next day, and he is sad to learn that Gary wants to stay with Patrick. The very sad sponge reflects on memories with Gary and feels abandoned by his pet. He thinks Gary will never come home. The starfish and sponge realized Gary the snail was around Patrick so much because he wanted the cookie in Patrick’s pocket. Gary returns home to SpongeBob at the end of the episode.
What “Dumped” Teaches Kids: There can be misunderstandings in relationships that cause hurt and rejection. Children may feel sad if their pets run away or act differently for any reason, thinking they no longer like them. Let your pet know you’re always there for them and continue providing the best care.
I Remember Melville (Season 3, Episode 25A) From Rugrats
I remember watching this Rugrats episode as a child and how it tugged on my heartstrings, making 5-year-old me very sad. Chuckie is thrilled to show his friends his pet pill bug, Melville. He asks Tommy and the gang to watch Melville as he finds a leaf for his pet. The Rugrats realize Melville isn’t moving, and find it challenging to tell Chuckie that his pet passed away. Chuckie is devastated and experiences all the stages of grief in this poignant episode.
What “I Remember Melville” Teaches Kids: Unusual pets, like bugs, can form a bond with humans in an owner-pet relationship. Grief is a valid emotion even for the most unlikely pets. Kids learn that denial, sadness, and acceptance are long steps in the grief journey. When I would see caterpillars in our backyard as a kid, I’d be so sad when my brother would step on them. It was because of the unfortunate thought that they’d never get to turn into beautiful butterflies.
Filet of Soul (Season 2, Episode 8a) From Dexter’s Laboratory
The family pet, Fishy, dies after Dexter and Dee Dee ask him to perform too many tricks. Mom tells them they should flush Fishy down the toilet. When the grief-stricken kids refuse, Fishy’s soul haunts Dexter and Dee Dee for the rest of the episode. Dexter uses his Ghost Capture Unit to get Fishy’s soul down the toilet.
What “Filet of Soul” Teaches Kids: Learning to say goodbye to a deceased pet is difficult, inciting sadness, anger, and guilt simultaneously. Trying to hold on to the lost pet will make matters worse than the hurt felt while starting the grief journey. When my pet goldfish died, my family and I bid it farewell as it “went back to sea” down the toilet.
Cookie Chomper III (Season 7, Episode 1) From Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks adopt a stray gray kitten that they collectively name Cookie Chomper III. They purchase a tag and food for the kitten and start bonding with him. Unfortunately, the kitten runs into the road one day, and a car strikes and kills him. Alvin and his brothers sing “Beautiful Memories” to cope with their grief over losing their kitten.
What “Cookie Chomper III” Teaches Kids: Pet loss from a car accident or other accident is just as devastating as a furry friend dying of natural causes. It’s unexpected and heartbreaking. My mom was parked on the side of the road when I was a kid. My brother and I witnessed a turtle getting run over as we waited for her to continue driving, which was so heartbreaking to witness.
The Sunflower (Season 3, Episode 26) From Craig Of the Creek
Sun Chun is a child who lives off the grid in the creek and has stolen hamsters from the kids at summer camp. Kelsey talks with him to understand why he took all these pets. Sun Chun admits he is grieving the loss of his hamster, Cookie. The hamsters are returned to their rightful owners, and Sun Chun goes through the stages of grief more healthily with Kelsey’s help.
What “The Sunflower” Teaches Kids: No other pet can ever replace a deceased one. They were so unique in their lifetime that a new pet wouldn’t make things the same. Hold on to the memories of your late pet, even as you eventually adopt new ones. When T’Challa came into my life two days after Betsy died, I still reveled in memories with Betsy by looking at old pictures. I showed T’Challa the kitty who went over the Rainbow Bridge and brought him to us.
Speedy, We Hardly Knew Ye (Season 1, Episode 10) From Recess
The Recess gang and the rest of their class are devastated to learn that the class hamster, Speedy, has passed away. They hold a proper funeral for him. One of the teachers reveals that whenever one of the class hamsters died, they would get a new one just like it, because they weren’t sure if the kids would understand the concept of pet death.
What “Speedy, We Hardly Knew Ye” Teaches Kids: It’s unfortunately never too early to learn about pet death. Since it happens unexpectedly, grasping the concept earlier in life rather than later can make transitions easier if another pet death occurs. Even if a child didn’t know the pet that well, grief is still normal if the pet passes away.
How To Help Children Deal With The Loss Of A Pet
Helping your child cope with pet loss takes time and patience. Your little one may feel sadness, confusion, and guilt through the healing process. Guide your child through this emotional journey with love, honesty, and moral support.
Use clear and age-appropriate language. No matter how emotional the conversation gets, be transparent with your child. Avoid using vague language by stating that the pet fell asleep or ran away. Gently explain that a pet dying means that, unfortunately, the pet will no longer wake up or be able to play.
Now, if the pet ran away, explain that openly. Inform your child that you’re not sure if the pet will return home or not. However, it offers a little hope that the community is doing everything it can to find the pet.
Allow your child to express their emotions healthily, so they feel comfortable. Discuss the happy memories you all shared with your pet.
Create a meaningful farewell. For deceased pets, they can have a burial and funeral as the final goodbye. Make a slideshow of all the pictures your family has with the pet for your child to view. Children can also draw pictures to put on the fridge or leave the pet’s favorite toys inside the pet’s casket. And finally, suggest different avenues for healing so that the little one can feel better on their timeline as they deal with the loss of a pet.
