Matahari could barely walk anymore.
Hip dysplasia had robbed her of her mobility, and the cancer was advancing unchecked. Miguel Fernández, a radio host, made a decision that many pet owners fear they may have to face someday: having her euthanized so she would no longer suffer. He shared it on social media with the wound still open, thanking his dog for every year of companionship.
The response was not what he expected. Dozens of comments criticized him for “having killed her”, for not letting her “die naturally”, and for making a decision about a life that wasn’t his. Fernández did not remain silent: he explained that there had been no abandonment or haste, but rather a farewell with her by his side until the very last minute.
“I didn’t kill her, I freed her”, he wrote, and that phrase split social media into two camps that to this day continue debating whether compassion for a suffering animal has a limit that love should not cross.