Mobile hospice vet Faith Banks believes it is important to offer loving and comforting words during a pet’s final moments – but there’s one particular sentiment that she disagrees with
One of the hardest things about owning a pet is having to say goodbye when they reach their final days – even if the animal has been freed from suffering.
Many owners prefer to be by their animal’s side, holding their paw, as they pass away, while others would rather wait in the hallway for it to all be over. Mobile hospice vet Faith Banks believes it is important to offer loving and comforting words during their final moments – no matter how painful it is to watch them pass on.
And in a new TikTok video, she discussed the profound impact of last words on not just humans – but animals too. She said “The last words you say to your pet are very special and very meaningful.”
Faith shared her experience of listening to the audiobook The Collective Regrets of Clover, which tells the story of a death doula – someone who assists people and their families through the dying process. “In the story, she talks about a journal that she keeps with all the last words that people say just before they die – some of them are very deep and meaningful and some of them are very frivolous,” she added.
According to the veterinary expert, animals can perceive the sentiment in emotional words spoken to them in their last moments. She added: “I hear the final words many people say [to their pets] and they do stick with me.
Many are the common or traditional things you’d think people would say – ‘I love you, thank you, I’ll miss you, see you again, wait for me’.” But there is one particular common word uttered by grieving pet owners that she disagrees with.
“I’m sorry’ is one I don’t love to hear because I feel that those people have done so much for their pet,” she explains. “I understand you’re sorry you can no longer be together but I hope they’re not apologising for anything they have done wrong.”
Many TikTok users shared their experiences of saying goodbye to their beloved furry friends. in the comments section. One user said: “I said ‘It’s okay, you can go now. Mama will be fine.’ I lied, I wasn’t fine then, I am still not fine now. but he closed his eyes and took his final breath after my lie. I guess it was okay then.”
Another revealed: “I believe the last words I said, were you better come back and see me so I know you’re OK”. Meanwhile another shared a touching moment, explaining: “My 22-year-old cat passed away this past Friday, in my arms. while I was holding him I spoke to him, that I loved him so much and that I was going to miss him and thanked him for his unconditional love.
“I just wanted to be there for him more, and I feel that whatever I said cannot even compare to what he has given me the past 22 years. I miss him so much, I just hope he felt how much I felt but could not describe, because the sadness of letting go was taking over and got at a loss of words. Now I am looking for him in everything.”
