Euthanasia is a part of everyday life for vets and veterinary staff. During the twelve years I worked as a vet, I came to realise that many children witnessing a family pet's euthanasia didn't seem to know how to react to the situation. This, I believe, is because in many cases they felt very confused.
This book aims to assist adults in guiding the little ones to better understand and accept euthanasia of a beloved pet, by explaining the events not only in a sensitive but also a clear manner.
Pet euthanasia can be a traumatic experience for everyone involved, but it inevitably falls on parents and guardians to comfort their children during such a difficult time. At the same time, the emotional bond that we adults have with a pet which has been part of our lives for many years might not always be seen the same way through the eyes of a little child. In A Tennis Ball and a Teddy Bear, although little Henry is given constant support, he is left free to choose just how much he wants to be involved in the process.
It also falls on adults to answer and even encourage when necessary questions the children may have. In A Tennis Ball and a Teddy Bear I wanted to leave a door open for people of different personal, spiritual or religious beliefs to answer some of the questions they might face. For example, "Is our dog going to Heaven?" The decision of what we do with our pet after it has been euthanised is also a very personal one therefore I decided not to include it in this story.
Phrases like "put to sleep" are commonly used by all of us. That is why they are included in this text but it needs to be pointed out that Henry still needs to ask the nurse if his friend Chico is going to die after being euthanised. Euphemisms can be very confusing for children.
Our pets enrich our lives in many ways. They are devoted and loving companions. They are fun and bring joy to our lives by making us smile and laugh. They can even teach us one or two lessons about life itself. They are, for sure, an excellent experience for children by helping them become caring and responsible. And, sad as it is, pets also provide them with the opportunity to come to terms with the uncomfortable but unavoidable concept of death.
The event of euthanasia of a family pet should not be an unexpected or confusing experience for a child to go through. I hope Henry and Chico's story will help them navigate this difficult path.
Tomas.
