Saying Goodbye to a Pet

Saying Goodbye to a Pet

Saying Goodbye to a Pet
Reading Level

	edHelper's suggested reading level:	grades 4 to 6
	Flesch-Kincaid grade level:	4.93

Vocabulary

	challenging words:		big-hearted, captivity, casket, euthanasia, hippopotamus, kindest, veterinarian, beloved, plaque, veterinary, arrival, zookeepers, grounds, normally, bond, loss
	content words:		When Sherlock, Columbus Zoo

Print Saying Goodbye to a Pet
edHelper.com subscriber options:

	Print Saying Goodbye to a Pet (font options, pick words for additional puzzles, and more)
	Quickly print reading comprehension
	Print a proofreading activity

Feedback on Saying Goodbye to a Pet

Leave your feedback on Saying Goodbye to a Pet (use this link if you found an error in the story)

Saying Goodbye to a Pet
By Colleen Messina

¹     Losing someone that you love is hard. It is also hard to lose a beloved pet that has been your friend. It helps to remember that this experience happens to almost everyone, so if you lose a pet, you are not alone.

²     The loss of a pet can happen through a serious illness. If your pet gets sick, it is time to talk to your veterinarian about what is best for your pet. Your vet will be able to give you an idea about whether your pet can recover and what kind of life it will have afterward. Most of us think of our pets as family members, and it is very hard to imagine not having them around. It is important to think about whether the animal will be able to function normally after he or she gets well.

³     If your pet will not recover and is not in pain, the best thing to do is to let nature take its course. Your vet can tell you what to do to make a sick pet more comfortable, like what kinds of food and liquids to give him. Sometimes, if the animal is suffering, the kindest thing to do is to have your vet put it to sleep. This is called euthanasia. It is a difficult choice to make, but your whole family can help make this decision. You can often be with your pet in its last moments. You can hold it as it goes into a deep sleep.

Paragraphs 4 to 9:
For the complete story with questions: click here for printable

Copyright © 2008 edHelper