Mom told her 4-year-old autistic son their senior dog had to be put to sleep — and his innocent question about ‘heaven’ left her speechless
There comes a time in every pet owner’s life when they must make the hardest decision for their pet’s well-being. A pet owner and mom of one, Cookie Mama, who goes by @mamadontbreak on TikTok, shared a heart-wrenching conversation with her autistic son explaining why their senior dog had to be put to sleep. The emotional mother held her beloved Black Labrador, Bella, in her arms as she talked to her 4-year-old, who was curious about the situation. She had made the difficult decision to choose euthanasia as a permanent relief from Bella's suffering. But her son’s eye-opening question about heaven and life moved her to tears.
“Bella was up all night,” the mom said in the clip with 12.7 million views. “She was crying, and she was in a lot of pain.” Her autistic son listened carefully before responding that he had slept well the night before. Though the mom acknowledged her son’s reaction, she quickly returned to her point about sending their pup to heaven. The mom explained, “Bella is going to go to Jesus, okay?” The hard truth was too intense for the little boy, who suddenly became morose and sat quietly with his head down. “I know it’s hard,” the mom said as she took him into a loving embrace.
To help answer the questions in his little mind, the mom asked if he had any questions about it. The boy nodded and then shared a rare insight about life in heaven. “When we go to heaven, Bella, you’ll still be with us. You’re just not going to be alive. You’re still going to be with Jesus,” he said. He expressed his remorse with little sniffs and dejection at losing Bella. “It’s not fair,” he choked up. The TikTok mom described the pup’s worsening condition to him. Bella struggled to stand up and could barely walk while enduring immense pain. “I think that this is the best thing to do for her,” she revealed.
The mom had planned out their final day with Bella and hoped to spend a great evening together before she would be euthanized by a veterinarian. The family would first head to the lake, where Bella could spend some time in the water, then enjoy a cheeseburger at McDonald’s. Their final destination would be the vet’s office, where Bella would be put to sleep peacefully. When her mom stated that Bella would not wake up again, her son baffled her with his innocence. “But what dog are we going to get?” he asked.
@mamadontbreak Today I have to let my favorite dog cross the rainbow bridge. To say its the hardest thing i have ever done is an understatement. Bella has been my best friend for 14 years. I got her when she was 8 weeks old, and she has been with me through addiction, overdose, recovery, breakups, childbirth, and everything in between. She saved my life multiple times, in multiple ways. I dont know how im going to do this but i know she deserves a dignified death. She is tired, she has been on painkillers for three weeks and can barely stand. After hearing her cry all night i have decided i can no longer be selfish. I will try my best to keep up with content but please understand if we have to take some time to heal, or if my content is a little different to help me cope. Any prayers or good thoughts are greatly appreciated, my heart is broken today 💔 #seniordog #goodbyemyfriend #bestfriends #dogsoftiktok #dog #rip #rainbowbridge ♬ original sound - Cookie Mama🍪
Unable to hold back her tears, the mother revealed she was not sure they would get another dog “right away.” It remained a possibility for the future. Seeing his mom crying, the son leaned in for another hug and comforted her. All this while, their senior dog sat patiently on her owner’s lap, as if she knew it was time to say goodbye.
You can follow @mamadontbreak on TikTok for more videos.