Yesterday, we said goodbye to a cherished canine friend. Tigger, my parents’ beloved dog and a treasured member of our family, was in too much pain to carry on. His cancer had spread, and the kindest choice was to let him rest peacefully.
Tigger lived a joyful life—one filled with adventures, endless love, and plenty of kisses. He will be deeply missed but forever remembered.
While browsing the internet, searching for something to ease our hearts, I came across a social media post from a colleague. It beautifully explained what truly happens when your dog enters that room—the one where they’ll fall asleep forever.
I hope these words bring you the same comfort they brought my parents during such a difficult decision.
And I hope, with all my heart, that your furry companions are now running freely through endless green fields, chasing butterflies under a warm sun.
The End Has Come
Our beloved Tigger was in so much pain, and there was nothing more we could do to help him. It was only a matter of days or weeks before he would cross the rainbow bridge. We all knew, deep in our hearts, that we loved him too much to let him endure such unbearable suffering.
When our family vet gently asked my parents if they wanted to be with Tigger in his final moments, their answer was immediate and certain. They couldn’t imagine leaving him to face that moment alone. They stayed by his side, offering comfort, love, and the familiar warmth he had known his whole life.
Later, as I scrolled through the internet, I realized just how right my parents’ decision was.
I know how deeply it hurts to see your dog leave this world.
I know it’s a pain that never truly fades.
But I also know that being there brings a sense of closure—one we all need.
I can’t speak for everyone, but I know that neither my parents nor I would have ever forgiven ourselves if we hadn’t been there for Tigger in his final moments.
A social media post from Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital truly opened my eyes, and I hope it opens yours too:
When you’re a pet owner, it’s almost inevitable that your pet will pass away before you do. If the time comes when you must take your beloved companion to the vet for a humane, pain-free goodbye, please remember this:
You have been the center of their world for THEIR ENTIRE LIFE. While they may have been just a chapter in yours, you were their everything—their family, their constant.
It’s an unbearably hard decision, and the pain of losing them is undeniable. But please, I beg you: DO NOT LEAVE THEM.
Do not let them transition from life to death surrounded by strangers, in an unfamiliar room. When you leave, they look for you—they search every face in the room, hoping to see yours. They don’t understand why you’re not there, why you left when they needed you the most.
Don’t walk away because it feels too hard for you. Imagine how hard it feels for them. In their final moments, they deserve your presence, your love, and your comfort. And if you can’t be there, people like us—veterinary professionals—will do everything we can to make them feel safe. But no one can ever replace you in their eyes.
This message hit me deeply, and I hope it resonates with you too. If we love them in life, we owe it to them to love them through their final breath.
From a tired, broken-hearted vet:
Don’t abandon your dog in their final moments, no matter how hard it might be for you.
Anything more would only take away from the raw truth our dear colleague from Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital shared.
Until a brighter day comes…
With love,
Liam and his remaining four-legged friends.