Dear Jack,
If I have guilt or regret it's that I didn’t wait long enough – that I put her to sleep too soon before maybe it was the best time. She was my best friend and I couldn’t bear to see her suffer a moment longer. I feel selfish because I didn’t want to see her in pain.
If you've ever been in real pain, you know what it's like to want to die. Believe me when I tell you that the guilt you would suffer from waiting too long is much greater than the guilt you suffer from letting go too soon. Veterinarians often say, “An hour too soon is better than an hour too late.” Rest assured; you did the very best thing for her at the best possible time.
Love, Jack
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About this letter
This letter is part of Jack McAfghan: Letters From Rainbow Bridge. A reader writes that their guilt is about not waiting long enough: they chose to let their best friend go because they could not bear to see her suffer a moment longer, and now they feel selfish. Jack's reply speaks directly to that regret.
What Jack says
Jack tells the reader that the guilt of waiting too long is much greater than the guilt of letting go too soon. He shares a saying often heard from veterinarians, that an hour too soon is better than an hour too late, and he reassures the reader that they did the very best thing for her at the best possible time.
If you question your decision
Deciding to say goodbye to a pet is among the hardest choices a person can make, and second-guessing is very common afterwards. It can help to remember that you made the decision out of love, with the information you had. Your veterinarian can talk through the medical side, and a pet loss counselor or support group can help with the guilt that follows.
