Little Red Bus

An elderly woman and her little grandson, whose face was sprinkled with bright freckles, spent the day at the zoo. Lots of children were waiting in line to get their cheeks painted by a local artist who was decorating them with tiger paws.

"You've got so many freckles, there's no place to paint!" a girl in the line said to the little fella.

Embarrassed, the little boy dropped his head.

His grandmother knelt down next to him. "I love your freckles. When I was a little girl I always wanted freckles," she said, while tracing her finger across the child's cheek. "Freckles are beautiful."

The boy looked up, "Really?"

"Of course," said the grandmother. "Why just name me one thing that's prettier than freckles."

The little boy thought for a moment, peered intensely into his grandma's face, and softly whispered, "Wrinkles."


http://www.wscribe.com/parables/freckles.html

Make sure the pet is really dead.
Cats often sleep without moving for hours, dogs can be lazy, fish with parasites sometimes float upside down at the surface, and so observe the pet's chest. If it rises and falls,even very slowly, the animal is still alive. Hold a mirror to the pet's nose, if no condensation appears, the animal is probably dead. Pick up the animal, if he does not move and its body is stiff and cold, it has passed away. Feel the neck for a pulse, if you cannot feel one, and all the other signs indicate death, the pet has died.
Finally, check for involuntary blinking reflex: Lightly touch the pet's cornear. Any animal that is alive will blink reflexively.

Break the news to your child.
If the pet's death was sudden and unexpected, the child is likely to be distraught. Explain that death is a fact of life. Emphasize that the pet had a happy life, the child had taken good care of it, and that the pet is not suffering.

Prepare the body
Close the eyelids, place the corpse in a box and cover with a cloth.

Hold a family funeral.
Pets are a part of the family, and children expect them to be buried when they die. Give everyone a chance to speak at the ceremony. Burial should be immediate.

Allow your child to grieve.
Do not replace the pet right away. Grieving is an important part of recovery process, and children should be given time to adapt to the loss.

Involve your child in finding the dog's owner.
Explain that the dog might be somebody else's pet. Ask her to make posters to put up around the neighbourhood. Have her speak to the other dog owners in the area who might recognize the dog.

Check for dog tags

Follow the dog
Take the dog back to the place where it was found, and encourage the dog to lead you and your child to its home.

Take the dog to a veterinarian.
The vet should give the dog a full behavioural and medical evaluation. The dog's mental and physical condition may determine whether it can be a suitable pet.

Discuss dog ownership responsibilities
Explain to the child that caring for a dog is hard work. Detail pet care duties, and create a contract to make sure your child is fully vested in caring for and loving your new dog.

A dog with a runny nose, badly matted hair, and a dirty or unkempt appearance may have been on the streets for weeks or longer, approach such a dog with caution. Be wary of dogs that drink lots of water and seem confused or aggressive. Never approach any dog that appears to be foaming at the mouth.