A woman from Utah was determined to ensure her dying dog enjoyed the "best day possible" before she was euthanized.
Sadie the Labrador retriever had been with Sophie Linnea through thick and thin. "Sadie came into my life 13 years ago when my parents divorced," Linnea told Newsweek.
"My mom is allergic to dogs and the first thing I asked my parents when they announced their divorce was if we could get one at my dad's. She was our divorce puppy!"
Sadie was by Linnea's side as she took her first steps into adulthood and was a loyal companion on many trips spent exploring the great outdoors. "She loved to hike, play fetch, and especially go swimming," Linnea said. "We couldn't keep her out of the water!"
However, everything changed this past September when Linnea noticed Sadie was experiencing some discomfort. She took her to a vet where her worst fears were realized.
"We found a tumor on her spine which would eventually paralyze her," she said. "Honestly it's crazy because we did a 9-mile hike in July and she was completely fine." Linnea said that Sadie "went downhill pretty fast" following the diagnosis, leaving her with little choice other than to have her euthanized.
The loss of a pet can be devastating and should not be underplayed. As with any form of grief, everyone deals with the feelings differently. In 2023, a study published in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science saw researchers examine 48 different studies looking at how people dealt with the loss of a pet.
One of the issues highlighted in the research was how euthanasia, while considered an honorable way for a pet to pass, created what was defined as "anticipatory grief" in the period leading up to a companion animal being put to sleep.
Linnea had a radically different approach to the period leading up to Sadie's euthanization though by hosting a "goodbye party" for her.
She was inspired by a post she read on social media about euthanizing dogs that said: "Just because it's the worst day of your life doesn't mean it can't be the best of theirs." Linnea said: "I decided I'd do everything I can to give her the best day possible."
She invited her immediate family over to spoil Sadie one last time. "She wore a party hat and her favorite bandana, I grilled her a steak which was her favorite food, baked her a little dog-friendly cake in the shape of a bone, and we played music and went around telling our favorite stories about her," Linnea said.
"I also brought a disposable camera so we could take fun pictures. She got lots of pats and kisses and compliments and we took her to the vet about an hour after for euthanasia."
Linnea was with Sadie as she passed. It was so difficult to say goodbye, but the memories they made that day helped ease some of the pain for everyone.
"We got to turn the worst day of our lives into more of a celebration, and we all couldn't stop talking about how happy Sadie looked," Linnea said. "That was special because she was so sick and in pain, but now some of our last memories with her are seeing her happy and smiling!"
Linnea has so many happy memories of Sadie and all the hikes, swims and trips they enjoyed together. "She made all of those experiences more enjoyable with her happy personality," Linnea said. "When I think of her I remember to lead with love and kindness like she did. She taught me to be softer and more gentle...she taught me pure unconditional love."
She would also encourage others to organize goodbye parties of their own should they be unfortunate enough to find themselves in her position.
"A pet might only be a part of our lives, but we are their entire world. It's up to us to make their lives special and magical, because to them every moment with us is a gift," Linnea said.
A party was the least we could do for her after she filled our lives with pure joy for 13 years, and thinking of her smiling happy face on her last day has been so healing for the whole family."
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