Veterinarian Explains What Pets Do Before Passing Away

Aug 14, 2020

Having to say goodbye to your pet isn't easy, particularly if that pet is in a significant amount of misery and pain that putting them down is the only option. Oftentimes, pet owners have to put down their pets if they are terminally ill or too old to live healthily.

While it is a difficult decision, it's typically the most humane option for the specific situation.

Although putting a pet down is often in the best interest of the pet, that doesn't alleviate the uncomfortable and distressing feelings that come with it. This moment can be so emotional, that many owners avoid being there the moment that their pet is actually put down. They say goodbye to their pets before leaving them with the veterinarian to take care of everything else.

However, a veterinarian working at The Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital wants pet owners to reconsider their decision to leave their pets alone in their darkest hour.

In a post on the hospital's Facebook page, the veterinarian shares that in almost every situation, pets will die before their owners. In the event that the owner has to take their animal to be put down, the veterinarian shares that while it is without a doubt a sad time for the owners, being put down is the saddest moment in a pet's life.

For pets, their owners are with them for their entire life, while pets are only with their owners for a portion of the owner's life. While it is emotionally trying for owners to witness their pet being put down, for pets, being left on death's door alone and afraid is the worst feeling they will ever experience. The vet goes on to share:

 "The thing you people need to know...is that THEY SEARCH FOR YOU WHEN YOU LEAVE THEM BEHIND!!!!"

After pets are left alone to be put down, they search frantically for their owners, hoping to find a familiar face. They're afraid and alone and they don't know why. The vet shares that owners that think that they couldn't bear to watch their pets be put down are cowards. These pets are at their most vulnerable and vets are the only ones that are able to comfort them and try to explain why their owners left them alone, as they sit minutes away from being put down.

Instead of avoiding having to face their pets as they die, it's essential for owners to stay with them. While this moment will be painful, owners have the joy of being able to comfort their pets as they take their next step in life.

Signed, "from a tired broken-hearted vet", the veterinarian's message immediately went viral. Gaining more than 111,000 shares in a little over a month. This veterinarian shed some light on a subject most of us would rather avoid.

By showing readers what it's like from the perspective of our furry friends, we can all better understand just how much we mean to our pets.

What do you think about this vet's call to action? Have you ever faced such a difficult decision? If so, how did you handle it? Reply with your thoughts in the comments and make sure to pass this on to the other pet owners out there.