'Prepare With Love': Man's last wish for his dying dog shows how we share each other's grief
Anyone who has experienced the joy of having a pet knows how pathetic it feels to lose them. For most owners, their pets aren't just animals but their entire universe, and they'd do anything to protect their joy. After spending some unforgettable years together, when the inevitable moment of separation finally arrives, the heartbreaking agony feels unbearable. While some grieving owners gradually slip into anxiety and depression, others find comfort in relishing their memories. Something similar transpired when a dog owner from Pennsylvania, Hunter Metzger, decided to treat his ailing puppy with a grand meal before her demise.
In early April of 2025, Metzger, the dog owner, reached out to Texas Roadhouse in Ephrata, a famous food outlet, and placed a pickup order for his dog, Iris. Describing it as her "last meal," he ordered steak fries, mashed potatoes, freshly baked bread, and New York strip steak, attaching a heartwarming note with it that read, "Last meal for our dog. Prepare with love." As per a now-viral Facebook post by Kate Weston, an employee of the restaurant, the dog owner revealed that the eatery did not charge him a single penny for his order, and also wrote heartfelt notes, offering their condolences. Once the food was delivered, Metzger saw something scribbled at the top of the container. It read, "Made with love," while stamped onto the back of the receipt were the words, "I am so sorry!"
This was Iris, Metzger's eight-and-a-half-year-old dog's last meal, following which he, unfortunately, was put down. According to WGAL, Iris had stopped responding to medications, and his condition was continuously deteriorating. Though Metzger knew he couldn't do anything to ease his dog's pain, he wanted to give him the "last best day ever." So, apart from treating Iris to a delicious final meal, Metzger took her on car rides to visit his family members. Needless to say, Iris formed a significant foundation of Metzger's life, and just like him, countless people across the globe struggle to cope with the loss of their pet. A study by the National Library of Medicine suggests that the grief of an animal's death is similar to the one we feel when a human being passes away, completely doing away with the hierarchy of heartbreak.
Reacting to Weston's post, Desi Schiro commented, "Dude, this is so f****** sweet. I’m crying silently at work so my coworkers won’t hear me. Thank you and your kind coworkers for being such wonderful humans, truly." Another pet parent, Brittany Majors, revealed, "I am petting my fur babies so hard right now! Your team and you are lovely; this is so wholesome, thank you." Kellie Nikoel shared, "Literally was just telling my husband next week when we put our old man down that I want to do this for him!"
On the other hand, Avery Merrick wrote, "I'm crying. Look at that sweet baby. Bless all those workers. That's the most painful thing about owning a furbaby: one day having to let them go. Their doing what they did is the sweetest thing. I'm sorry for your loss." Marielle Adrianna said, "Thank you guys so much for being the absolute best kind of humans. You all are truly a class act. Love to you, and rest in paradise, Iris!"
You can follow Kate Weston on Facebook for more such animal-related content.