Jasper's Day is a hard-covered, illustrated children's book about how a young boy copes with the loss of his dog. The fact that this book is being reviewed in The Canadian Veterinary Journal shows a growing commitment by the veterinary profession to recognize the intense feelings of pain and sorrow resulting from the death of a pet.
For children, the loss of a companion animal is often their first experience with death. If it is not handled with comfort, understanding, and honesty, it may negatively affect how that child deals with loss, far into adulthood. It has been said that if you are old enough to love, you are old enough to grieve. Children should be permitted, even encouraged, to grieve the loss of a treasured pet in their own way and in their own time. They should be included in family discussions regarding euthanasia and should be allowed to be present at the final visit to the veterinarian, if they wish.
Marjorie Blain Parker does a wonderful job in helping children (and adults) to understand that grieving the loss of a beloved pet is a natural, necessary process. Jasper's family mourns his passing in a beautiful, touching way by dedicating the last day of his life to the dog, sharing in all his favorite activities, and saying good-bye to family and friends. The parents support their child's idea for “Jasper's day” and are honest and compassionate with their son. They explain how Jasper is very old and in pain, and how the veterinarian will give him a “shot” to end his life. The author should be commended for going so far as to say, “Jasper will be dead”; it is important to use realistic terms with children, so they can fully understand the finality of the act of euthanasia.
I think the only place where the story falls short is when the father goes off alone to the veterinarian with Jasper. A child of Riley's age should have at least been asked if he wanted to be with his dog to comfort him during his final moments. However, the father does bring Jasper's body back home for a peaceful burial service to bring closure to his death.
The words of this story are brought to life by wonderful illustrations that add feelings of warmth and affection. In fact, my favorite part of the book is the last page, which is filled with pictures that the little boy puts in a scrapbook to celebrate Jasper's life.
I highly recommend this book, especially to parents who wish to help their children cope with the loss of a pet in a healthy, loving way. Veterinarians may suggest the book to their clients prior to the euthanasia of the family dog. It may also be useful to psychologists, grief counsellors, and pet loss support group facilitators.