Without disclosing the family's reasons for wanting the puppy euthanised, Dr Reeve shared some more details on Toby's story - which has a much happier ending than beginning.
A vet has been praised for his incredible response after he heartbreakingly revealed a family wanted their adorable seven-week-old Labrador puppy to be put to sleep.
The puppy, who has now been named Toby, weighing just 5KG, was not even old enough to have been removed from his mother - but his owners carried him to see vet Oliver Reeve and asked for him to be put to sleep.
Faced with the devastating request Dr Reeve had other plans for little Toby. Dr Reeve posted a photo of the Labrador Poodle mix, saying: "A seven-week-old puppy got brought into the clinic to be euthanised tonight. Very sad. Anyway, meet my new son." Without disclosing the reasons for the family wanting the puppy euthanised, Dr Reeve shared some more details on Toby's story - which has a much happier ending than beginning.
He said: "I gave them the option of surrendering the puppy rather than euthanasia. They opted for surrender. Probably best if I don’t discuss it. These situations are always more complicated than they can initially appear on the surface. Everyone’s journey is different."
Dr Reeve's daughter decided to name the adorable puppy Toby, reports Belfast Live, with her dad joking: "My daughter wants to call him Toby, which is a solid name. We’ll see if it fits. Pet names depend a lot on if my wife has had a really difficult child by the same name in her class, then we can’t use that name.
"I’m now having anxiety about making sure his puppy life is as positive and rich as can be and then trying to make a big plan for his socialisation. Things have come along way since our last puppy many years ago."
In response to the vet's tweet, one Twitter user responded: "Happy crying. This is beautiful. Would love to hear his name when you have one. Lucky boy to have you." Another wrote: "Well done Oliver. I had a one-week-old Staffy presented for euthanasia because of a deformed right front leg. She's two-years-old now and rockets around her Mum's house." Another said: "Is he a golden doodle? He’s beautiful." Another wrote: "I worked at an animal hospital as a temp many years ago. First day - abandoned kitten out the back. She came home with me and I still have her."
The vet added that he could not discuss why the owners wanted the dog euthanised, despite several people asking to know.