I think the story is building to a point where Lynda alleges that it isn’t simply bad luck, someone did something wrong and uses as an example the irresponsible person who allowed their animal to get loose in the first place. Them someone will have to tell her she was that person and she will be devastated.
I think someone should approach her now and introduce the idea that no-one would ever know for sure but there were lots of animals lost in the flood, even scruff. That way it won’t be such a shock when she finds out.