This Pet Owner’s Face Reveals Why You Should Never Say, ‘It’s Just A Dog’

Pet owners know and understand why the words “it’s just a dog” can be some of the most callous to ever come up in random conversation.

If you’ve ever owned a canine, or a particularly loving cat for that matter, then it’s no wonder such dismissal would send you into hysterics. Because they’re not “just dogs” or “just cats” or “just Vietnamese potbelly pigs.” The moment that you decide to make an animal your pet, it becomes family.

This is a reality that struck with blinding force on a recent Reddit post. Unfortunately, there isn’t much in way of details concerning the story behind the picture.

But the picture really is worth 1,000 words in this case, as it exemplifies the hurt and the pain that pet owners feel when they lose an animal.

While the above image is sad enough on its own, that’s just a part of the overall picture. This was reportedly taken after firefighters pulled the animal from a burning building and handed it back to its owner.

By then, it was too late. The dog had died of smoke inhalation, prompting the emotional farewell you see below.

This image made the top of the front page on Reddit Saturday, and it’s easy to see why. It taps into a common love that many share for their fur babies.

You want to reach into this thing and give the poor guy a hug.

Unfortunately for many in the Reddit community, the initial headline said “passed on” and they misread and thought it said “passed out.”

So when hundreds clicked through to the comments to see if the dog was okay, they got the heartrending news, and it was like being struck with the sadness of it all over again.

“The picture was ok, but I should never have clicked the comments and realize that I misread the title… This just breaks my heart, poor guy.”

“Same here, I was thinking ‘Yeah, I’d be pretty messed up too if I thought my dog died’ because the dog only passed ‘out.’ Son of a b***h I’m going to hug Lilo.”

“I had no idea we would see that much raw emotion. Usually it’s someone with their head down or teary eyes. That’s a full gown man bawling his eyes out at the loss of his best friend. It’s makes me sad just looking at it.”

Can you relate to this, pet owners? What’s the most heartbroken you’ve ever been over a pet?