My son's gerbil is dying as I type this. I found him feeling cold. His mate, well she is okay. I guess it is old age. He is 5 years old and gerbils live between 3-5 years. His name is "Coke" and he is so gentle. He has gone to a corner to be by himself. Every once in awhile I to and hold him to warm him up.

My dilemma is that it is night time and my son is sleeping. Tomorrow is school and I know he will be ing his eyes out. This will be tough trying to get out to work on time tomorrow morning (Friday).

How do I tell my son? How should I handle breaking the news? I guess I have to wait till morning, shit!

What are my burial options (now I feel like a budding funeral director). It's has snowed here now, so burial in the ground is not an option.

I am so sad, I am trying not to cry.....

I need some advice and some cheering up. This is no joke.

No Nat he has not passed on yet. Just staying in a corner away from the nest all by himself. How lonely.

it appears this is due to old age, miss luv4u.

sometimes it just that time-i hope your son will heal quickly from this.

you are doing all you can, i am sure.

as for burial-i am afraid the only way i am aware of is in the backyard.

are there any areas that are not covered in snow?

When there is snow the ground is frozen, so it would be impossible. I don't plan on putting him in a plastic bag and chucking him in the garbage bin, hell no.

luv4u said:

poor little thing

luv4u said:

is the ground frozen everywhere? perhaps there is some sort of land to find.

good luck.

Might be able to find a spot of dirt.

I have him on my lap while I am typing.

luv4u said:

brave soul.

I got a roll of my t-shirt over him keeping him warm.

Eventually I may not be able to hold him till the end. He may bite only coz he feels threatened or scared. Gerbil bites are painful "after" you get bit. Usually they won't bite. Gentle creatures.

luv4u said:

this is so sad!!

He still on my lap. I know that when I have to go to bed, the dread of finding him dead during the night or in the morning.

luv4u said:

what a lovely name

How old is your son?
I would say that when you wake him in the morning, have the conversation right then, before he even gets out of bed, and talk to him about how gerbils don't live long like humans do. Tell him how Coke went peacefully, and how special your son is for loving Coke so much that he lived so long! Remind him he has a special job to do, loving the other gerbil, because she loves him (your son) too. and then ask him what he wants to do to honor "coke" because kids think of the best ways to share their grief, and the meaning of friends.

HowComeUdontBanMeAnymore said:

Thanks. My son named him when we bought him as a youngster. His former mate that died 2 years ago, my daughter named her

I'm not sure what to say. But I believe whatever decision you make will be the best.

bluesbaby said:

My son is 10. I like your advice. I know he will go ballistic

Chico1 said:

Thanks

luv4u said:

Well, being that age, too, remind him it is okay to be sad. Sometimes boys forget that as they get older.

Poor thing.....I know you will do whatever you need to do Luv

sinister said:

Lifes a bitch.

I'm so sorry Luv and like babyblues said, tell your son as soon as he wakes up. He will be heartbroken but I'm sure you will find a way to explain it to him

luv4u said:

No life is a Prostitute.....you ride it until it's time to get off....

sinister said:

I don't think I have any advice for you, because I'm over 30 and I'd go ballistic too for something like that, even though I understand that it's time.

Maybe there's a park nearby that has a spot of dirt that is not frozen?