Vet says all owners ask 1 question when saying goodbye
A vet has explained what happens when it’s time to say goodbye to beloved pets (stock image) (Image: Getty Images)
Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is one of the hardest things any owner has to go through. While many dogs, cats, and other family members simply slip away peacefully, in some cases the kindest thing to do is to get a vet to put them to sleep.
It’s an undeniably traumatic situation, but often it’s better to let them go than have them live through pain or an illness that will only make their lives worse. And many vets will be able to do this in the family home, meaning owners can say goodbye to their cherished pets in a place filled with years of happy memories. Now one vet who specialises in making pets’ final moments as comfortable as possible has shared the one thing all owners ask when the time comes.
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Dr John Murray has more than 18,000 followers on TikTok, where he regularly provides insights into his job providing euthanasia services. In a recent video, the US vet said owners face two difficult decisions when the time comes.
“The hardest part is deciding when it’s time,” he said. “The second hardest part? Everyone standing in the living room asking ‘where do we do this?’
“Interestingly, most families end up choosing the same place.”
He continued: “Suddenly, everyone’s looking around the house. The couch, the rug, the dog bed, the back yard.
“But there really isn’t a perfect room. Most families choose the place their dog already loves, like the couch where they watch TV with you every single night.”
Concluding, the Illinois-based vet said most families end up picking the same place. “It’s usually right where they spent the last thousand naps,” he said.
People shared their own experiences in the comments. One said: “I struggled more with what to have on… quiet vs movie vs music. I ended up putting on a Disney movie for some reason, no one paid attention but I just felt weird not having anything on.”
Replying, Dr Murray said: “That’s actually really common. A lot of families put on soft music or the TV just so the room doesn’t feel so quiet during such a heavy moment. There’s no right or wrong way to do it.”
Another said: “We let my boy go peacefully in the backyard. We initially were going to do it in the living room, but construction noise made us move outside.
“I’m so glad it went that way. The weather was perfect, the sun was shining and I can still hear the birds singing as he gently went to sleep. He was so tired. I miss him so much but so glad we could give him that final gift.”
Dr Murray replied: “That sounds like such a peaceful goodbye. A warm day, the sun, the birds… sometimes those little details become the memories that bring the most comfort later. I’m so sorry for your loss.”
Someone else wrote: “I had set up a place in our dining [room] as there was open space [that] would give room for us plus the vet and assistants. However, when the vet arrived our girl made her way to her bed in our bedroom. The mess didn’t matter to me. If that’s where she wanted to be then that is where she got to have her final moments.”
Dr Murray replied: “You honoured exactly what she wanted in that moment. Where they feel safest and most comfortable is always the right place.”
