Losing a beloved pet can feel like losing a piece of yourself.
The bond between a dog and their person runs deep, and when it breaks, the heartache is immense.
One Maryland pet mom believed she had made the most painful choice imaginable for her dog. Later, she learned the outcome was nothing like she thought.
Meet Kristie And Her Dog, Beau
When Kristie Pereira brought home Beau, a gentle hound mix from a Northern Virginia shelter, she was overjoyed to begin life as his mom.
Their days were full of play, cuddles, and quiet moments on the couch.
A few months in, though, Beau began to change.
Worried, Pereira visited her veterinarian, who suggested possible neurological issues. Beau was prescribed medication and she was advised to head to an emergency clinic if he did not improve.
The symptoms persisted, so Pereira took him to an emergency vet in Montgomery County, Maryland. There, she was told Beau faced serious medical concerns.
The emergency team explained that advanced, invasive testing could be performed, but it would be costly and unlikely to change the outlook. Euthanasia was presented as a recommendation.
After agonizing over the decision, Pereira brought Beau to Montgomery County Animal Services to be put to sleep.
A Twist No One Expected
Because the shelter does not allow owners to remain with their pets during euthanasia, Pereira said a final goodbye and surrendered Beau to the veterinarian.
“I don’t think that someone that just wanted to get rid of the dog would feel anywhere close to how I’m feeling about this and how I have felt about it. Like, none of it was easy,” Pereira told Fox 32.
Fox 32 reviewed the euthanasia request form that owners must sign, which prominently confirms the owner’s request for humane euthanasia.
The document also notes that if the animal is found to be treatable and adoptable, the facility may choose to provide care and place the pet for adoption.
That is what happened in Beau’s case.
A comprehensive medical review determined Beau had a liver condition. He received treatment and, instead of being returned to Pereira, he was transferred to his original Northern Virginia shelter.
Unaware of any of this, Pereira continued to grieve. Then she scrolled past a Facebook post featuring an adoptable puppy. It was Beau.
She could hardly process what she was seeing.
“An emotional rollercoaster, it’s [been], to say the least… He was like my little baby,” she told the station.
Montgomery County Animal Services told Fox 32 that if euthanasia does not occur, they generally do not contact the former owner unless the owner reaches out right away to reverse the decision.
Pereira remembered being told that if the veterinarian confirmed a serious condition and recommended euthanasia, she should make the choice she felt most comfortable with.
The adoption group expressed sympathy for Pereira’s situation. They also explained that their policy does not permit returning surrendered dogs to prior owners, which applied in this scenario.