A vet technician has begged owners not to drop their dogs off to be euthanised alone.
I know, deep breaths for this one.
A Reddit user under the name u/rescuemum, who works at a vet clinic, has advised owners not to leave their pets alone as they take their last breath.
They wrote: “I work at a vet clinic and I’m sick of people dropping their dogs off to be euthanised. It might be hard to say goodbye, but it’s hell for them.
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“They already don’t like the vet, they’re confused, they’re scared, they’re sad, and they’re looking for YOU when they take their last breath.”
While the user said vets can provide the animals with some ‘love and comfort’, the poor pets are ultimately faced with a stranger in their most vulnerable moment.
The technician recalled how one woman dropped her dog off at the clinic in the morning, despite the fact that staff informed her a vet wouldn’t be in until later that night.
They wrote: “Today a lady dropped off her 13-year-old dog to be put to sleep after I told her we didn’t have a vet in the clinic as she was on farm calls all day. She insisted on leaving her there at 9 am, knowing that our vet wouldn’t be back until well after 6 pm.”
However, the woman claimed to be too ‘busy’, and her pooch was sadly left without a familiar face all day before passing.
They added: “I kept her with me for most of the day, took her for a small walk, bought her a cheeseburger and doughnut on my lunch and laid on the ground and cuddled her while she cried, scared and confused.
“I kissed her and told her she was a good girl while she crossed the rainbow bridge, but her eyes never stopped looking for her family.”
They concluded: “Dogs know what’s happening, don’t do this to them. Be there when they cross that bridge. It won’t kill you, I promise.”
Many were left stunned by the PSA, as one person shared: “I am bawling right now. This is why I can't have another dog.
“I couldn't go through watching them die and admitting I love them more than most humans.”
Another said: “My parents did this with our dog. They couldn’t stay in the room because they didn’t want to see it, so I was the only one who stayed with him. It was sad as f**k but I’m so glad I was there to hold his paw as he passed on.”
While another lamented: “Ugh, that breaks my heart. Thank you for being there for that sweet girl.”
So, owners, please be there in the room when your furry little fiend passes.
If you can’t deal with the heartbreak, you might have to invest in some sea monkeys instead.
Charisa Bossinakis