Restaurant’s Heartfelt Gesture for Dog’s Final Meal Touches Hearts

Quick Smiles:

• Restaurant staff goes above and beyond for a dog’s final meal.
• A touching sendoff leaves a lasting impression on the dog’s owner.
• Community praises the heartfelt gesture.

In Ephrata, Pennsylvania, Hunter Metzger faced the difficult decision to bid farewell to his beloved 8-year-old Great Dane, Iris, who was battling cancer.

Determined to make her last day special, Metzger organized a gathering with family and friends to shower Iris with love and treats.

For her final meal, Metzger decided on a special treat—a juicy steak from a local restaurant.

He placed an order for an 8-ounce New York Strip, fries, and mashed potatoes, with a heartfelt note: “Last meal for our dog. Please prepare with love.”

Kate Weston, the kitchen manager, shared, “My to-go team actually saw the message. I was like, ‘Oh my god, we need to make sure that this is the best meal we’ve ever made.’”

When Metzger arrived to pick up the meal, he was met with an unexpected and touching moment.

The entire staff came out to offer their condolences, leaving him deeply moved.

The receipt included an apology for his loss, signed by the to-go and kitchen staff, and the container was marked with “made with love” in red marker.

“It just blew us away,” Metzger expressed.

“She was just put down later that night, and the next morning, I happened to check my emails and I saw they had also refunded my meal.”

Metzger shared his experience on the local town Facebook page, and the community responded with an outpouring of appreciation for the restaurant’s gesture.

A corporate representative acknowledged the act as simple but was “so proud” of the team for demonstrating “such empathy and humanity, values we strive to uphold every day.”

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