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.
