In some of the scariest stories, the dog's death is used to show the evil or danger of the situation. It can be a symbol of the loss of innocence. For instance, in a story where there is an evil entity preying on a family, the dog might be the first to sense it and unfortunately be killed, which sets the tone for how serious and menacing the threat is. However, there are also many really scary stories where the dog doesn't die at all and instead plays a different role like being a protector or a guide through the spooky events.
Well, Ramon does die in Scary Stories. The way his death is depicted is quite terrifying. It's part of what makes the 'Scary Stories' so, well, scary. His character is sort of caught up in the malevolent forces at play in the story. And as the plot unfolds, it becomes clear that he won't be able to escape his fate, and ultimately he dies.
Well, Ruthie does die. The whole atmosphere in the story builds up to this tragic event. There are a lot of strange and menacing things going on around her. And as the plot unfolds, these things start to close in on her until she succumbs to whatever dark force or situation is at play in the story. It's a very typical element in horror stories like this one, where characters often face a deadly fate.
In Based on a True Story, the dog is alive throughout the story. There are no events that lead to the dog's death. It's one of those things that might be a relief for those who are worried about such outcomes for the canine characters in movies.