© Getty Images
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Final hours - Cris Cristofaro looks over a puppy photo of his dog, Dino, as veterinarian Wendy McCulloch prepares to perform an in-home pet euthanasia on the 12-year-old Italian Spinone in New York City.
© Getty Images
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Put to sleep - The vet injects Dino with a sedative to put him to sleep ahead of a final euthanasia injection.
© Getty Images
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Caring and humane - On another occasion, Dr. McCulloch administers a lethal injection to pit bull-labrador mix Rocky, 14, at his owners' apartment, also in New York City.
© Getty Images
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Undying love - Owner Tomo McLoyd holds Rocky's paw as Dr. McCulloch euthanizes the animal at their apartment.
© Getty Images
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Tears - McLoyd watches as Dr. McCulloch carries out the procedure.
© Getty Images
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Happy memories - Pet owners Tiga and Togo McLoyd look over photos of their dog Rocky after Dr. McCulloch euthanized their pet.
© Getty Images
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Pictures of a life - Similarly, Lee Jae-hwan's pet dog Kkotgae is seen on his computer screen at his home in Namyangju, South Korea.
© Reuters
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Food for the next life - Lee Jae-hwan puts pet food on a memorial altar set up at his home for Kkotgae.
© Reuters
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Empty space - Lee Jae-hwan looks out while sitting on a chair that he used to place Kkotgae on.
© Reuters
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Hard to let go - Lee Jae-hwan sits on a bench with an urn containing the ashes of Kkotgae.
© Reuters
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Pet funeral parlor - Kang Sung-il, a pet funeral manager, checks urns containing pet ashes at a funeral service company in Gwangju, South Korea.
© Reuters
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Funeral service - Kang Sung-il seen leading a pet funeral ceremony in Gwangju.
© Reuters
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Happy and healthy - Kang Sung-il and his wife Ham Jin-seon play with their own pet dog Sancho at home in Incheon.
© Reuters
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Playtime - Ham Jin-seon dresses Sancho. This dog is happy and healthy.
© Reuters
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All together - The couple playing with their dog.
© Reuters
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Well looked-after - Kang Sung-il pours water for Sancho at his home.
© Reuters
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Heartfelt message - A pet owner leaves a message on top of a coffin containing the body of her dog before its cremation at a pet funeral service company in South Korea. The message reads: "To my love. Rest in peace and don't be sick any more. Please come to me again as my son in the next life. I'm sorry and thank you and I love you. See you again soon."
© Reuters
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A picture for posterity - Pet owners often choose to be photographed with their sick and dying animals one last time before having them euthanized, like this woman in South Korea.
© Reuters
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Remembering them as they were - A picture of a pet dog decorated with flowers is seen on a tablet at a pet studio in Seoul.
© Reuters
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Final resting place - An owner holds a funeral for pet dog Jaili, who died at the age of 19. The animal is buried at Wangzai pet cemetery in Wuhan, Hubei province, China.
© Getty Images
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House as headstone - A red roofed tiny house is the tomb of pet dog Shami at Wangzai pet cemetery.
© Getty Images
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Pet cemetery - Visitors pay their respects to deceased pets at Wangzai pet cemetery.
© Getty Images
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Pets and celebrities
- Famous people often choose to be buried alongside their pets. Here, American art collector and socialite Peggy Guggenheim (1898–1979) lies next to a plaque remembering her Lhasa Apso pet dogs.
© Public Domain
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The final goodbye to our beloved pets
August 28 marks Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day
© Getty Images
Owning a pet is one of the great joys of life. But when the time comes for an animal to pass on, it's often difficult to let go. Fortunately, trained veterinarians can ease the process of euthanasia. What's more, there are specialists who run pet funeral parlors, and there are pet cemeteries where the bereaved can pay their lasting respects to a favorite companion.
Browse this gallery for a look at the work of vets and others who help pets pass on.
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