If You’ve Ever Had To Put A Dog Down, This Will Break You

The decision to put a dog down is never an easy one, even though it’s often in their best interests. Nevertheless, it’s difficult to say goodbye when you’re looking back on a lifetime of memories and saying farewell to a best friend.

That’s the exact experience that a Redditor recently had, but he received something in the mail that made it hurt a little less, if only for a moment.

The veterinarian, who had the dog euthanized, was so moved by the relationship between owner and pet that he sent this lovely card with a hopeful message that every dog owner, who’s had to let go, needs to hear.

Naturally, this spawned hundreds of comments and boosted the image to the top of the Front Page. While most shared their condolences or tried to break the sadness with a little playful humor, it was this story, written by an “unknown author,” that had the whole place feeling, as one commenter put it, like a truckload of onions had just exploded in the living room.

I remember bringing you home. You were so small and cuddly with your tiny paws and soft fur.

You bounced around the room with eyes flashing and ears flopping. Once in awhile, you’d let out a little yelp just to let me know that this was your territory.

Making a mess of the house and chewing on everything in sight became a passion, and when I scolded you, you just put your head down and looked up at me with those innocent eyes, as if to say, “I’m sorry, but I’ll do it again as soon as you’re not watching.”

As you got older, you protected me by looking out the window and barking at everyone who walked by. When I had a tough day at work, you would be waiting for me with your tail wagging, just to say, “Welcome home. I missed you.” You never had a bad day and I could always count on you to be there for me.

When I sat down to read the paper and watch TV, you would hop on my lap, looking for attention. You never asked for anything more than to have me pat your head so you could go to sleep with your head over my leg.

As you got older, you moved around more slowly. Then, one day, old age finally took its toll and you couldn’t stand on those wobbly legs anymore. I knelt down and patted you lying there, trying to make you young again. You just looked up at me as if to say that you were old and tired and that after all these years of not asking for anything, you had to ask me for one favor.

With tears in my eyes, I drove you one last time to the vet. One last time you were lying next to me. For some strange reason, you were able to stand up in the animal hospital; perhaps it was your sense of pride.

As the vet prepared us for your crossing over, you turned your head and looked at me as if to say,
“Thank you for taking care of me.”

I thought, “No…. thank you for taking care of me.”

Okay, friends, you can cry now. If you or someone you know has had to put a dog down, or any pet for that matter, I hope you get some comfort from these two beautiful displays.