Dog owner at vets heartbroken after spotting sign on desk: “Not prepared”

A veterinarian has left the internet in tears with their kind gesture, after a video of a candle that lights up only when animals are being euthanized went viral on social media.

The clip, shared on TikTok last Saturday, by Oscarthepugglelondon, shows the dog owner waiting at the clinic to have their pet checked when they see a lit candle and a note for patients, hanged by the counter in the waiting room.

The note read that the candle lights up only when a pet is being euthanized at the doctor’s office, so that other patients know what’s happening and can keep quiet in a sign of respect.

It came with a caption that reads: “We are sitting in the vets waiting for [Oscar’s] vaccination booster and I just noticed this sign in the waiting room. Fly high little buddy.”

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) about 920,000 shelter pets are euthanized every year, including 530,000 cats and 390,000 dogs.

Peta says that true euthanazia, or “good death,” is delivered by an intravenous injection of sodium pentobarbital, so the pet’s death is gentle, painless, quick and dignified.

Some shelters in smaller communities use what Peta describes as “unacceptable and cruel methods,” such as gunshots, to end the lives of animals who require euthanasia, though this is rare.

Other shelters in the U.S. still have the gas-chamber method, slammed by the Humane Society, which can lead dogs to suffer from convulsions and muscle spasms as they slowly die.

The video, which has left the internet sobbing, has received more than 705,600 views and 55,000 likes, and users are loving the idea of the candle and its meaning.

TikToker Lady J commented: “thanks, now I’m crying. beautiful of the vet to do that,” while Charlotte Louise wrote: “our vet did this when we said goodbye to our sweet kitty boy before Christmas. it was so appreciated.”

Another user Angie ice posted: “I would have appreciated this when I had to say goodbye to my fur baby,” while oldgranny008 added: “That’s so lovely for the vets to do this, but so sad. RIP buddy.”

LeaMT argued: “All vets should do this.” And Lori Martinez wrote: “I had to put down my senior boy years ago and when I walked out alone with his collar, complete strangers walked up and hugged me so hard.”

Another TikToker 9999summaers commented: “You could see the dog felt something,” while petra ryan wrote: “Wow. I love the candle and what it means.”

Tom O’Rourke posted: “My vet does this, I’m thankful I’ve never seen it lit as I would be [a] mess in the waiting room sobbing with whomever was in the room. Fly high.”

Newsweek reached out to Oscarthepugglelondon for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.