When the Kindest Act Is Letting Go

Carina Milligan, Managing Director of TAILS Lantau, comforting an elderly dog in his final moments.

We don’t often share the moments when saving an animal means letting them go.

Not because they aren’t important, but because they’re hard to look at. They don’t come with happy adoption photos or wagging tails. And yet, they are just as central to why TAILS Lantau exists.

Today, with the help of a member of our community who previously adopted from TAILS, we brought an elderly dog to be humanely put to sleep. It wasn’t a rescue with a happy ending, but it was one that mattered.

He had been living with a large wound on his neck for a long time. From the outside, it looked like a tumour, tragic, but perhaps unavoidable given his age. The truth was far worse. It was an infected dog bite that had never been treated. Over time, the infection worsened until it finally burst. By the time we saw him, he was suffering badly.

His owners told us they had no money for veterinary care. There were no treatment options left that would have spared him further pain. The kindest, most responsible choice was to end his suffering.

TAILS covered the cost, so he would not endure another moment of agony. We have since been offered contributions by generous community members. This is how this work happens: we have the knowledge, the network, and the reach, but not endless funds. We rely on people stepping forward together, in acts of compassion that mean more than we can express.

We want to extend our deepest thanks to Dr Queeny and the team at Lantau Community Veterinary Clinic, who responded immediately and ensured this good old boy passed as peacefully as possible. He was met with care, calm, and dignity in his final hours.

This is the work people don’t always want to see. Advocating for suffering animals is not easy. Sometimes we are blocked by a lack of resources. Sometimes by bureaucracy. Sometimes, it is due to the reality that an animal has been left too long without care. And sometimes, despite everything we wish were different, the best help we can offer is a peaceful goodbye.

TAILS Lantau is not only about rehoming cute puppies and kittens. We are here for the sick, the old, the neglected, and the dying. We are here when animals are inconvenient, expensive, or heartbreaking. We are here when no one else steps forward, when cats have the flu, or puppies have parvo, and when the community calls, we answer, and we help where we can.

We believe firmly in what we are doing: a volunteer-driven, community-led charity showing up for animals when the system cannot. Caring for strays in Hong Kong is complex, and that reality makes experienced, responsible charities more important than ever.

Euthanasia is never taken lightly. It is not a failure. It is an act of responsibility, mercy, and respect. This dog did not leave this world unseen. He was met with kindness. He was held. He mattered.

Behind every adoption story is a quieter reality: emergency vet visits, hard decisions, unpaid bills, and emotional tolls carried by volunteers.

We don’t share these stories for shock. We share them for honesty. Because animal welfare isn’t just about happy endings. It’s about showing up, especially when the ending is painful.

Thank you for standing with us, even when the work is hard.