Pet parent ordered his dog's 'last meal' — the restaurant's 'compassionate' response left him speechless
Preparing and coping with the death of a pet is a heartbreaking reality of its own. It is a different kind of love and grief, a defining factor of their bond with a furry pal. Hunter Metzger was shattered when he learned that his 8-and-a-half-year-old Great Dane, Iris, was soon to cross over to the other side, per WGAL. As any pet parent would, Metzger wanted Iris to enjoy her last days and decided to treat her to her favorite meal from Texas Roadhouse in Ephrata, Lancaster County. The staff learned of Iris’ story and added an affectionate gesture that has touched the hearts of hundreds, along with Metzger.
Iris had a nasal growth and was not responding to the medication after a while. Metzger was informed that she did not have much time to live. Alyssa Petersel Landsberger, Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and founder and CEO of mental health site “MyWellBeing,” noted how deeply the death of a pet can impact the parents, per For Women First. According to a survey on a pet site, “Pumpkin,” 95% of pet parents said they considered their animals as their family. 90% noted that society does not understand the impact and pain the passing of a pet can bring. However, for those who have furry buddies and have raised them, the news is something they hope they never have to hear.
78% of pet parents mentioned that the grief can be compared to the passing of a family member or a loved one. Landsberger noted, “You may continue to feel it for years, even during joyful times. It’s normal and okay.” Also, she mentioned that the grief is a “manifestation of how much love you felt for your pet and how tender your relationship was while they were alive.” Metzger knew that he wanted to give his precious canine the best last few days of her life. "So, we took her on car rides. We brought her around to visit family, and I said, 'You know, we're going to get her a steak dinner for her last meal,'" he said, per PEOPLE.
Her dinner had to be perfect, so Metzger placed the order, which was attended to by Texas Roadhouse employee Kate Weston. In a post on Facebook, she shared the details. The order read, “8 oz. New York strip steak, steak fries, mashed potatoes, and fresh-baked bread." There was an added instruction on the note that moved Weston to tears. It read, "Last meal for our dog. Prepare with love.” As an animal lover herself, Weston understood the importance of the situation and the meal. "In that moment, nothing mattered but getting Iris her last meal," Weston said. The staff worked on making the meal full of love, just as instructed. When Metzger arrived to collect the items, he was stunned.
“A few of the ladies in the room came up and offered their condolences and said, 'We saw your note. You know, tears in all of our eyes. We definitely prepared it with love’,” he recalled. Weston wrote in her post, “You best believe this was the best steak I’ve ever cooked.” Weston shared Ephrata, Pennsylvania’s picture of the meal and Iris enjoying it as best as she could. The container had “Made with Love” written, along with notes on the receipt from the staff.
Additionally, the restaurant offered the meal to Iris for free as their token of love. “Honored that I could be a part of this dog's life in the smallest way. So proud of my team. RIP Iris,” she wrote. "This kind of customer service and demonstrated compassion sets this Texas Roadhouse team a level above the rest! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!" Metzger said. He can be at peace knowing his beloved dog did indeed get the best last day of her life, thanks to empathy and love from kind strangers.