My daughter wil be 5 in 3 days

[momofboyandgirl]

My daughter is 4 going on 5. She found a screw-driver and I saw her fixing to put the screw-driver into the dogs eye. I stopped her and got on to her about it. I asked her why she started to do that and what if that happened to her. She told me that it would hurt. I also told her that if she did that the dog wouldn't be able to see. She showed no emotion or concern for the dog. We (my boyfriend and I) decided after what she almost did that we needed to find the dog a new home. We did this the weekend that she was with her dad. When she came back she wanted to know where the dog was and asked if we got rid of her. I didn't know what to say. I sat her down to explain what had to be done. I expected crying or some type of emotion and concern. And there was nothing. I was wondering if this was normal?

[momofboyandgirl]

The evening this happened I told her we had to get rid of the dog. I didn't aim for her to be away when the dog was given away, just that she was with her father when the exchange took place.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

No, it is not normal and does invite concern. It would be wise to arrange a psychological evaluation for her. It is understandable that you decided not to risk the dog's safety. Your manner of doing it, surreptitiously in the girl's absence, was ill advised. You should have been open about it with her vs placing the dog and then telling her about it. Such sudden and unexpected losses are not good for kids (particularly in this case, when her behavior resulted in the dog's departure).