It's the way the father phrased it. There are other ways to make a child feel better after a loss rather than so candidly.

Actually, I don't see what's so mean about the phrasing either. It's just the same as telling a child that grandma has gone to heaven. He tried to lessen the pain by making it sound as if the dog is much better off dead. at least he's doing something he likes. The father tried, I'm sure nothing he said would have lessened the poor girl's pain of losing her pet

Well. He tried.

hehehe ?

Just a hunch but I don't think that is why OP posted it here.

I don't really see anything wrong with what he said. She loved the dog, chances are she as gonna cry for more than half an hour anyway.

Some people aren't good with emotion. I think he did a good job in trying.