Loss & Grieving For Your Jack Russell

When your Jack Russell passes, you may find that the sudden absence of your dog is too upsetting to bear alone. This is a perfectly natural response. If you feel you need some help getting through this traumatic period, seek professional counseling. Ask your veterinarian or the humane society for recommendations.

You should not keep a Jack Russell’s death from your children, but you may need to exercise caution in explaining what has happened. Carefully explain euthanasia to older children. If you have very young children, you will probably want to shield them from the details. Instead, emphasize that, although your pet has had a long and happy life, he is now very sick and won’t get better. Tell them that the veterinarian is going to help end the dog’s suffering.

Be very respectful of a child’s right to grieve, and keep watch over the various forms in which that grief may be expressed. Allow your child to be sad or angry, as long as the emotions do
not become so overwhelming as to interfere with normal functioning after an initial period of mourning. Show that you too are saddened by the loss of your beloved Jack Russell, but concentrate on the positive, emphasizing that the terrific memories you all share of life with your dog will live on.