A Vet Explains Why It's SO Important To Be There With Your Pet When You Put Them Down

Loving a pet means being there at every possible minute, including the end of its life

Everyone who’s owned a pet knows what it’s like to feel true, unconditional love. Where people often fail at that, our dogs and cats (and even birds, reptiles, horses, whatever) don’t know how to do anything else. The least we can do to return the favor is be there for them at the end of their lives, but a viral post from a veterinarian makes it sound like a lot of people don’t actually do that.

In the post, which has gone viral on Facebook and Tumblr, a vet explains that too often, owners leave the room when their pets are put to sleep.

“I beg of you DO NOT LEAVE THEM,” the post reads. “Do not make them transition from life to death in a room full of strangers in a place they don’t like. The thing you people need to know that most of you don’t is that THEY SEARCH FOR YOU WHEN YOU LEAVE THEM BEHIND!”

My God, can you imagine? I’m sorry, but if the thought of your beloved pet’s little face scanning a room full of scary, unfamiliar people, trying to find you, the human it loves, in the literal last moments before its death doesn’t move you to tears, you have no business owning an animal in the first place.

And in case you don’t believe this is an actual thing, there’s a viral tweet that backs it up.

90 percent. Apparently that many owners choose not to be with their pets when they take their final breaths. That is heartbreaking.

Holding my dog when she was put down amid her battle with cancer was undeniably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. But after she was injected, she crawled into my lap like she had done countless times before, and I knew she wasn’t afraid. To her, she was curling up with me for a nap, just like she would do on any other day. And when her eyes closed and she drifted away, I knew she was at peace, being held by her human.

This has obviously resonated with far more people than just me, though.

https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/1023256036290035714

Don’t deny your animals the chance to feel as safe and loved in their last moments as they have their entire lives. They give us all their love. They deserve this.

And now, to stop the absolute flood of tears, here are some animal GIFs you can peruse while you hug the crap out of all your pets. You’re welcome.