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By Rachael O'Connor
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A woman who overheard her two young children discussing death stayed quiet and listened as they came to terms with the fact their family pet would one day die.
Tiani Bender, 27, lives in Nevada with her husband Brodie and their two children, a 6-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son. The family also has 8-year-old German shepherd dog, Meli. Bender told Newsweek that the dog "joined our family just three months after Brodie and I got married, so we only know married life with Meli in it."
Recently, Bender was grooming Meli and recording herself doing so, and when her kids started speaking to the dog, it was all caught on camera. After her son said he loved Meli, his older sister told him: "You will miss her soon, because she will die."
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Bender can be seen freezing and listening closely as her son asks: "She will die?" However, the mom says nothing, even as her son asks his sister if mom Bender will one day die, too—but his sister replies: "No, not mommy."
Bender told Newsweek: "I felt a little caught off guard at first, as you could tell from my face, and wanted to give [my son] a moment to be able to process his emotions."
She added: "I think it's best for them to be able to process their thoughts and emotions before I interrupt, and he handled it so well after his initial shock."
In the video, the mother-of-two stays quiet until she is asked by her son directly if it's true that Meli will die and won't be back. Bender replies that dogs don't live as long as humans.
She reassures the 3-year-old boy that they will have more years with Meli, as the dog, who has been quietly lying down and allowing herself to be brushed, gets up and walks away.
The stay-at-home mom and photographer said that, while her daughter was in tears the first time she learned Meli would die, she still brings it up every now and then.
German shepherds like Meli have an average life expectancy of between 12 and 14 years, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC).
While most dog breeds have an average life expectancy of around 10 to 13 years, some have lived far longer: in 2022, the Guinness World Records (GWR) recognized a 23-year-old Chihuahua mix, Spike, as the oldest living dog.
The oldest dog ever is believed to be Australian cattle dog Bluey, who lived to be 29 years and 5 months old, according to the GWR.
Bender's video, shared to her account @tianishaye on July 1, has received over 1 million views and more than 86,000 likes as commenters praised her for how she handled the difficult conversation.
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"Tough but important conversation," one user wrote, with another sharing: "My sons' cat died over a year ago now and they still periodically tell me they miss her."
A third wrote: "My dad told me as a kid when my dog died that all our love for him kept his soul alive in our hearts. My dad died unexpectedly 2 yrs later and the lesson was such a helpful tool on grief."
Others kept things lighthearted, joking about Meli being present for the conversation on her death. One posted: "Sheesh ya'll I'm right here."
"Meli getting up because she doesn't want to hear about her upcoming departure," another added, while one comment read: "Melis like I thought this was just a brush session I'm dying?"
Bender told Newsweek it was "interesting to see how it made some people really sad and made others laugh," and described Meli as the best dog.
Her children are "always playing with her and messing with her; she only shows them love and patience back."
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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