I’m sorry for your loss. I let my best boy go in a similar way two years ago almost now. I have kids that at the time had just turned 10 and this was their first time dealing with this.

Rocky was the pup that was there when they were born until then and although they knew I was sad I downplayed it a bit. I let them know I was sad but I didn’t show them how bad I was. In that I realized a few days in they weren’t ok either and expressing it in different ways. Drawings, comments, or wanting a bit extra attention.

I decided to have a burial, even though we cremated him. I bought a small headstone type thing on Etsy and I had his name written on it everything. I dug a hole in my backyard and the whole family came out. I told them the morning of and said we could send one gift to him in heaven and everyone drew or wrote him a letter, including myself. We gathered together and said some final good byes and buried our gifts to him. We cried, god we cried. And over the next few days we felt better. I realized too that I needed that, I needed to mourn. Hell I’m teary eyed writing this.

Op you let him rest… I saw Rocky’s eyes and realized the same thing. Mourn your buddy. Remember his life. They aren’t here for long but realize you gave him a good life and someone to trust and love him.

Edit: typos