Owner shared final moments with his dog before she was put to sleep — and the internet wept with him

Most pet owners want the best for their furry friends. However, sometimes, a pet's well-being can force them to make difficult decisions. Similarly, a man named Steven Anderson – who goes by @steven_anderson03 on TikTok – whose dog was about to be euthanized to end her suffering, bid a tearful goodbye to his beloved dog. Anderson wanted to cherish every moment before his pet was put to sleep. He shared his challenging and emotionally overwhelming experience with the internet.

"Enjoying every last moment before her euthanasia appointment in 1 hour," Anderson wrote in the text overlay of the video. He was lying in a yard with his dog as he filmed their goodbye. The pooch lovingly licked his arm as he called her closer. He was trying to hold back tears as he planted multiple kisses on the pitbull's head. Eventually, he couldn't stop himself from crying and started sobbing as he kept giving his dog kisses. She immediately sensed Anderson's distress and licked his entire face to console him. The dog gave him several kisses and licked his tears until he stopped crying. Anderson panned the camera to show the setup of toys and blankets he had put out to spend time with his dog outside.

Anderson laid his head on the dog's head and rubbed his nose on her face to comfort her as he tried to calm himself down. He wanted to get the best of his final moments with his best friend. He repeated, "I love you so much," to his dog many times as they lay there. He shared that he wanted to bid farewell by giving her all the love he could give. The caption read, "Me saying goodbye. Giving her love and kisses before the euthanasia, feeling broken." The video received over 8 million views and more than 721k likes. People shared their thoughts on the painful goodbye in the comments.

@mrs.clarke.2024 wrote, "The people that are saying they hate euthanasia and not to do it, do you really think you're helping this man? This dog is very clearly suffering and by the looks of things, very likely due to cancer." @liss3288 commented, "I believe euthanasia in dogs should only be applied when they are suffering and no longer conscious. But who am I to judge? Fly high, little angel of God and may the family find comfort." @123456tada expressed, "The fact that we can make sure they don’t suffer is the gift we can give back to them for all the years of unconditional love."

@clius93 remarked, "The way she licked your tears is so pure...euthanasia still carries some stigma. Just be with your fur baby until the last moment. You are her world. She may want you to hold her till her last." @joooooj98 shared, "'I'd endure a lifetime of missing you for the privilege of loving you.' I can see that your love for her was as pure as her soul. I hope you can find solace in the fact that your love was the best." @tinacomesfirst pointed out, "I am so sorry. I lost my soul dog last November. Life hasn't been the same without her."

You can follow Steven Anderson (@steven_anderson03) for more lifestyle content.