~~STORY SPOILERS BELOW~~
If you haven’t read The School Pet Who Went Missing yet, please stop reading this blog post because I’m going to spoil the story’s ending…
Okay, let’s start! The story features Detective Mya Dove. She investigates Malcolm, the school pet who went missing. She suspects that their lost pet was kidnapped, but unfortunately he passed away.
What inspired this lost pet story?
My cat went missing one night and we never saw her again. It was so painful to have her with us one day and live without her the next. Her toys, bed, and photos were all reminders that she was still missing.
I went outside every morning before school, shaking her food box and calling her name. Unfortunately, she’s been gone for 25 years now (Time flies!), so we’ll never know what happened to her. I hope that she found a new family and lived happily for the rest of her days.
So did my missing cat inspire The School Pet Who Went Missing, a lost pet story? Yes, but so did my hamster Malcolm who passed away…
Was Malcolm the hamster real?
Yes, he was such a lovely hamster! I remember him running around in his massive orange ball, knocking into this and that. When I took him out of his ball, he would sit there and watch a little TV with me. Then he’d try to run away to explore the house. One time he almost escaped because I wasn’t paying attention. Oops!
I met Malcolm when he was only two weeks old! He was so tiny and cute! We saw Malcolm with his mum and several siblings. I chose him because he playfully (I think…) slapped one of his siblings. Fortunately he grew up to be very friendly and loving.
Unfortunately most hamsters only live for 2 years. Malcolm was two years and nine months old when he passed away. The Malcolm in the story died of illness, but the real Malcolm died of old age.
What should you do when a pet dies?
Losing a pet is similar to losing a human family member. It makes you feel so sad. You wonder how you’ll live without them. Fortunately there are several ways to accept a dead pet and move on with your life.
Grieve them
Common signs of grief include crying, losing your temper, feeling extremely sad, and even denying what happened. It’s okay to grieve your own way.
When my hamsters and dog died, I cried a lot. It hurt so much. You might cry a little or a lot. You might not cry at all. Do whatever feels best.
Announce the bad news
Soon you’ll have to tell family and friends that your pet died. They might cry because they had happy memories with your pet.
Hold a funeral
It’s time to say goodbye. You can say a prayer, read a poem, share happy memories, leave flowers, and anything else you feel like.
When we buried Malcolm, we placed him in a tiny box and left some treats inside. My dog was at the funeral, so she had the chance to say goodbye, too.
Be happy
It’s hard losing a pet, but you’ll feel better when you remember the good times together. What moments made you laugh or cry happy tears? You can write happy memories in a book and include photos of your pet so you’ll never forget them.
When my cat went missing, I remember seeing a photo of her when she was a cute, little kitten. I missed her a lot, but it was nice seeing how tiny she used to be.
Love other pets
Your other pets might grieve too. Yes, it’s true. Dogs, cats, small pets and even horses show animal signs of grief. So remember to show them lots of love!
What should you do if your pet goes missing?
The Malcolm character in the story was missing at first, but turned out to be dead. Fortunately, some missing pets are found alive and well. If your pet goes missing, it’s important to act fast to find them!
Here are some steps you can take right now:
- Check your whole house at least twice. A tiny pet like a hamster could hide anywhere.
- Check your front and back garden. A house cat might hide in bushes or a shed because they’re scared.
- Ask neighbours to check their homes and gardens.
- Email local vets, animal hospitals and rehoming centres. Show them your pet’s photo.
- Ask your parents, carers, etc to put up missing posters around town.
- Ask an adult to check social media to see if someone found your pet.
- Ask God to bring your pet back or make sure your pet finds a new loving home.
I wanted to share what inspired The School Pet Who Went Missing, a lost pet story. The next book I’ll discuss will be The New Boy Who Hears Buzzing. If you want to know what inspired that story, sign up to my mailing list for future updates.
Thanks for reading!
