Joanna Fortune: My child is struggling to get over the death of our family dog

Do not rush her through this process, nor should you quickly replace the dog with a new one

Grief is not just something we experience emotionally; we feel it in our bodies, too. That is why she is weepy and her appetite is disrupted. Picture: iStock

My 12-year-old daughter is struggling to get over the death of our family dog, which was put down a month ago due to age and ill health. The vet gave us plenty of notice, so I had time to explain why we needed to say goodbye. Still, the death came as a shock to her. She’s weepy most evenings before bed and has lost her appetite. What would you suggest?

Your daughter needs time and space to grieve, and she needs you to support her.