An elderly man brought his dog to be put to sleep because he couldn’t afford to save his pet. Seeing the man in tears and the dog in despair, the vet made the only right choice…
They say money can’t buy happiness, but sometimes money defines our fate. The elderly gentleman didn’t have a penny to spare when the bill for his four-legged friend’s life was handed to him.
The vet’s office was quiet. The vet observed the pair: a mutt lying on the table and the old man leaning over, absent-mindedly stroking the dog behind the ear. The only sounds were the labored breathing of the dog and the man’s sobbing. The elderly man didn’t want to part with his friend and was crying.
John Smith, the young vet, had often witnessed similar emotional displays from people faced with their pet’s euthanasia. It was understandable, as people grow deeply attached to their animal companions. But John felt there was something special about this case.
He recalled when he first saw the pair at his office door three days earlier. The quiet old gentleman had brought his 9-year-old dog Daisy for an urgent appointment. The animal hadn’t stood up for two days, which deeply worried the elderly visitor. As the man explained, he had no one else besides Daisy.
John conducted an examination. Indeed, the dog had a serious infection requiring immediate, costly treatment. Without it, the animal faced a painful death. “Therefore,” the vet had said bluntly, “if you don’t plan to treat the dog, it would be kinder to put her to sleep.” Now, John could easily imagine how the man felt then, but on that day, the young vet hadn’t realized.
After hearing these words, the old man, with trembling hands, emptied coins and crumpled bills onto the table—payment for the services. He gently picked up his dog and left. Today, he was back at the vet’s door. “I’m sorry, doctor, I could only gather enough money for the euthanasia,” the elderly client said, looking down.
And now, when the old man asked for just five more minutes to say goodbye to his friend, John watched them and couldn’t understand such injustice in the world. So often, people with plenty of money are indifferent to all living things, and here was a poor old man and his dying mutt, so full of emotion.
A lump formed in the young vet’s throat. He approached the man and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll treat her,” he said, his voice shaky, “I’ll cover the expense to save Daisy. She’s not old yet; she’ll run around some more.” The vet felt the old man’s shoulders shake with silent sobs beneath his hand.
A week later, Daisy was steady on her feet. The IV drips and proper care had worked wonders. The young doctor felt happy. Though it seemed like a small act for the unfortunate old man and his mixed-breed dog, it was truly an act of great kindness and a generous heart.
It’s comforting that such compassionate and empathetic people exist in the world!
