It Would Be My Honor

Dexter's 12th birthday party

I first met Dexter,  the most handsome German Shepherd, and his wonderful family when he was eleven years old. It was a new patient exam that was started by Natasha, an amazing assistant with a special affinity for shepherds. Dexter had a gentle and soulful presence that was impossible to miss. His mom, Kristen, told us countless stories about his “gentle giant” nature with her two young children. Over the next year, both myself and Natasha formed a bond with this remarkable dog and his special family. 

One day, Kristen called me to explain that Dexter had started to act abnormally. While it was subtle, she was incredibly attuned to him, and she noticed he began panting a little more than usual. If Kristen was worried then so was I. So following that conversation, Dexter came into the office for an exam with both myself and Natasha. 

After his evaluation, x-rays were taken to get a better look at Dexter’s chest. When those x-ray images popped onto the screen, my heart sank. They revealed a mass in his chest on top of heart failure, which was causing fluid to accumulate in his lungs. This was why he was panting more. It’s never easy delivering bad news to owners, but it’s even harder when you form a bond and those owners start to feel like family. 

Through her tears that day, Kristen shared that they were planning a special birthday celebration for Dexter just two months away—a party with tennis balls and a steak dinner. The thought that he might not make it to his birthday party broke all our hearts. So in that moment, it became our goal to help Dexter reach that milestone.

Together with a lot of medication, amazing owners and a bit of luck, Dexter not only made it to his birthday, but he lived for close to another three months beyond that. There were some scares along the way, but his heart, though weak, continued to fight, even as the rest of his body grew frailer. One day Kristen reached out to me to tell me that she felt it was time to say goodbye to her sweet boy. His heart was no longer our main concern, but now his back legs had weakened and could no longer support him causing his quality of life to deteriorate. 

While owners often acknowledge how difficult this part of my job is, Kristen recognized the added challenge of euthanizing a dog that I had formed a special bond with. She asked if it would be too difficult for me to euthanize her beloved boy. Without hesitation, I told her that, I would be there. Although I couldn’t verbalize it then, I later, realized just how true that was.

When I had to make the difficult decision to let go of my own dog, Max, I asked my friend if she could be the one to euthanize him. “It would be an honor” she replied.  And ever since, those words have stuck with me. When Kristen asked me to help Dexter in his final moments, that’s exactly how I felt—honored.

It was my honor to help Dexter pass peacefully that day, surrounded by love, and with a special treat—a McDonald's breakfast sandwich. 

It’s never easy walking a family, especially one with children, through this painful process, but it’s even harder when the dog feels like your own. That day, in our final appointment together with Dexter, Natasha and I bid farewell to one of our favorite patients along side his family. I’m so grateful that an amazing dog like Dexter got to experience the love of such a kind and selfless family. Even now, Kristen’s children still run up to me, giving me hugs and thanking me with words that always bring a tear to my eye: “Dr. Cosentino, thank you for helping Dexter live as long as he did.”

I have a memorial for the patients of mine that take a piece of my heart across the rainbow bridge with them. Next to my desk, copies of their nose and paw prints hang with their names. Whenever I see Dexter’s nose print, I remember the honor it was to be his veterinarian.

(Details and picture posted with owner permission.)