What to do When a Pet Dies: A Seal Beach Area Mom Helps Son in Unusual Way

SEAL BEACH, CA—It's the sort of thing no parent of a young child wants to deal with—the death of a family pet. You check on your child's in-room pet turtle (or fish, or hamster) and discover that they have gone to the beyond. So what is a mother supposed to do?

Yes, you can share with your child the painful truth that pets do not live forever. You may wish to have a backyard burial and sing hymns or just bid the creature adieu in a less ceremonial way. You may wish to read a book, like the one from this Veterinarian that teaches how to say goodbye and be brave for your favorite pet.

But one Orange County mother decided, the last thing you want to do is break your child's heart.

Mother Sherrie Ramos of Westminster was confronted with that very question this past week when checking on her 3-year-old son's pet turtle "Michaelangelo" [sic]. The red-eared slider had passed away in its turtle tank while her son was sleeping.

"My father-in-law bought the turtle for my son in May, and it made Kai so happy," she said. "When the turtle passed I knew he was going to be heartbroken."

Together with her cousin, Ramos penned a note to Kai from his beloved "Michaelangelo" telling him not to be sad, but that he had gone to join Master Splinter and the rest of the Ninja Turtles in training.

"He's 3-years-old and has been obsessed with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles since he was one," she said.

Over time, the letters may cease and the memory of the favorite turtle will always stay in their hearts.

Now, life without his favorite pet has not gone unnoticed, but the loss of his turtle buddy is a little easier to bear, according to his mom.

Friends on a popular Orange County Mom's Facebook page offered their support and encouragement to Ramos on her note and her parenting. With hundreds writing, she felt encouraged that she had done right by her little boy. There will be time enough in life to deal with loss, but for now the Ramos family agrees that keeping the memory alive and the sweet story of his new crime fighting skills will keep any tears at bay.

"We've been distracting him with other things," she admitted, "but (Kai) does keep reminding me Michaelangelo is out fighting crime!"