I sat on the floor of the back room with a dog whose family couldn't make it in time, stroking her ears so she wouldn't be alone at the end. I've done this more times than I can count, and I'm good at it, the calm hands and the soft voice. But I take every one of them home with me, and I grieve for owners who never got to say goodbye.
More people experience this than they realize.
You give animals a gentle end and quietly carry the grief that isn't yours to hold.
If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.