Animal sanctuary separates 200 lb. jaguar from best friend Jack Russel and out of fear for doggo's safety, but after the two stopped eating, they had to be reunited: ‘Friendship doesn't care about differences’

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Feb 2, 2026 11:00 AM EST

With a 185 lb. difference between the Jag, the jaguar, and Bullet, the Jack Russell Terrier, these two became the most unlikely of friends. However, the employees worried for Bullet's safety, so they separated them. What happened next was undeniably clear - they became overwhelmingly sad and stopped eating. So, the staff decided to reunite them, and their problems disappeared!

We always say that animals (and cats, purrticularly) are the best fuel for pawsitivity and hope, and we mean it. There are lots of things you can do to make you feel better nowadays, but fur us, their will never be something more wholesome and inspiring than cute animal videos or funny cat memes. They're so unserious, unpretentious, and remind us that good things do happen in the world. One of the purrrest examples of this is unique animal friendships. Animals that might never have been introduced in the wild find friendship in captivity, and form the most heartwarming relationships. We've seen cats befriending otters before, and dogs adopting kittens, but we've never seen a 200 lb. jaguar becoming best friends with a 15 lb. Jack Russell Terrier. 

The sanctuary staff introduced Bullet, the JRT, to Jag (the jaguar) when he was a cub. He was lonely after being abandoned by his mother, and they hoped Bullet's playful, pawsitive energy would influence Jag for the better… and they were right. They became besties after a short time, but as Jag grew larger and larger, they began to worry for Bullet's safety. 

They made the difficult decision to separate them, but then immediately recognized the error of their ways. Jag and Bullet stopped eating. They would pace around their enclosures, looking for each other. The employees reunited them, and all was well again.

What do a jaguar and a JRT have in common? Almost nothing. And yet, they play beautifully together, and even share food. Their relationship reminds us that even with large differences between us, the most impurrtant thing that matters is connection. You don't have to see eye to eye all the time, but with mutual love and respect, anything is pawssible.

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  • 01
    When a dog and a jaguar were separated for safety, they became depressed and stopped eating, so they had to be reunited
    via animalheroesworld
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    animalheroesworld The moment a they realized these two couldn't survive without each other.
    via animalheroesworld
  • 03
    When a dog and a jaguar were separated for safety, they became depressed and stopped eating, so they had to be reunited born from a mutual choice to seek out each
    via animalheroesworld
  • 04
    When a lonely jaguar cub named Jag arrived at a South African sanctuary, he found a best friend in the most unlikely place-a tiny Jack Russell named Bullet. Most people thought Bullet was in danger, but the two clicked immediately, playing "rough and tumble" and even sharing their food and beds. The bond became so strong that when staff tried to move Jag to a bigger enclosure alone, both animals fell into a deep depression until they were reunited.
    via animalheroesworld
  • 05
    When a dog and a jaguar were separated for safety, they became depressed and stopped eating, so they had to be reunited To understand how these two became inseparable
    via animalheroesworld

  • Jack Russells don't have any concept of fear, even if the thing in front of them is an apex predator with claws bigger than its face. Bullet's confidence rubbed off on Jag, and allowed them to develop a respect and play language that we, as I Can Has Cheezburger writers, have never seen before. It's really incredible to watch.

  • 06
    moranafuduric I'm sorry, but Bullet is clearly a 300 pound lion
    via moranafuduric
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    When a dog and a jaguar were separated for safety, they became depressed and stopped eating, so they had to be reunited we must look back to Jag's arrival at the sanctuary
    via animalheroesworld
  • 08
    pen_y_fan75 Them Jack Russell's are something different!
    via pen_y_fan75
  • 09
    When a dog and a jaguar were separated for safety, they became depressed and stopped eating, so they had to be reunited and confident nature would provide the companionship
    via animalheroesworld
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    sav_17_ Jag a 200lb jaguar. What a effort in naming
    via sav_17_
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    When a dog and a jaguar were separated for safety, they became depressed and stopped eating, so they had to be reunited sanctuary staff became worried about the
    via animalheroesworld
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    saint_rico.za Friendship doesn't care about differences; only good companionship.
    via saint_rico.za
  • 13
    When a dog and a jaguar were separated for safety, they became depressed and stopped eating, so they had to be reunited their health than the risk of them being together
    via animalheroesworld
  • 14
    dawsor65 They're each other's emotional support animal!
    via dawsor65
  • 15
    When a dog and a jaguar were separated for safety, they became depressed and stopped eating, so they had to be reunited that defies the most fundamental laws of nature
    via animalheroesworld
  • 16
    willolson91 I wouldn't be too concerned about Doggy those Jack Russells are pretty scrappy 100
    via willolson91
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    the_all_animal_experience - We'll always be friends forever, won't we? Yeah, forever.
    via the_all_animal_experience
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    rebeccadianegeigerman Animal friends aren't judgey.
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    via animalheroesworld

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animal sanctuary friendship jaguar best friends doggo animal friendship big cats Cats jack russell terrier animals
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