Losing a dog is the most painful thing that a dog owner could feel. In every happy and sad memory that we shared with them in their short lives, we knew that they were bound to cross the rainbow bridge. Last November 1, 2024, singer and actress Mandy Moore lost her 14-year-old dog named Jackson, whom she called Jackie. And just like that, the actress’s popular “Only Hope” song that she performed in the 2002 movie “A Walk to Remember” couldn’t be more sadder.
In a social media post, Moore shared a heartfelt message to Jackie along with a series of the dog’s solo shots as well as photos with her children. She paid tribute to her departed dog, wishing him a great time crossing the rainbow bridge. Moore hoped that Jackie reunite with his sibling, Joni, who passed away in 2020.
Moore began her message by calling Jackie his “beautiful boy” and thanked him for the 14 years they shared together with her family. In the post, Moore actually revealed that Jackie wasn’t a fan of children or fellow animals, but still, he showered them with love in the best way he could.
Moore said that Jackie scared away people due to his “big bark,” but she noted that Jackie was the “most gentle guy,” who’s actually scared of his own shadow.
She wrapped up the post by mentioning another one of her departed dogs, Joni, who left them last 2020. Joni was 13 years old when he died peacefully, and Moore mentioned how much Joni loved her brother, Jackie, reminiscing the special bond that they shared together.
Moore hoped that Jackie would swim in a giant pool with tennis balls to play with. It is well-known among Moore’s fans just how much Jackie loved playing with tennis balls. If you’re one of Moore’s fans, you’d probably remember that back in 2019, Jackie almost died after shredding and eating the ball. He was rushed into emergency surgery. The singer-actress thanked the doctors who saved her Jackie’s life.
RELATED: Ty Pennington’s Heartfelt Goodbye to His Departed Dog Georgia
All About Losing A Dog
Many of us experienced our first real heartbreak when we lost our childhood dog, and that’s one thing they don’t tell you about adulthood. Every pet loss or grief that you are feeling contributes to how close you feel to your pet. For many of us, our dogs become an instant part of the family, so losing them feels like you’re missing one member. While some of us only had our dogs as family members. Can you imagine the heartbreak of going home to a quiet house after your dog dies?
Accepting Your Dog’s Death
There’s no right amount of time to grieve for the loss of your dog. During the process, you may feel different stages of grief, such as denial, anger, and bargaining. The process of grieving is unique to each person. It defines the level of attachment you have with your pet, the circumstances you’re in right now, and how your personality copes with loss. But if you observe that you’re not making any progress, then you might need some help from a mental health professional, and that’s perfectly fine.
In case you’re reading this since you lost your pet just recently, here are some healthy methods that can help ease what you’re feeling:
- Express your pain through communicating, journaling, or any art form
- Honoring their loss with a memorial or charitable cause to shelter dogs
- Taking care of your physical health, like getting enough rest and eating right
- Finding hobbies/outlets like running, hiking, going to the gym, etc.
- Seeking grief counseling
- Joining support networks
RELATED: 10 Ways to Check If Your Dog is Dead or Unconscious
From The Club
I feel like this story completely shadows the grief that I’m feeling right now over losing my childhood dog, Calix. Like Jackie, Calix was also 14 years old when he was put to sleep last weekend. These past few days feel like a blur to me as I’m juggling university and work while grieving for the loss of my beautiful boy. I’m just hoping that the remaining days of the year be more kinder to grieving dog owners like me.
