It is hard writing this review through the sorrow of having lost my best friend and constant companion. If it helps someone else avoid the mistake I made...my dog was with me for 16 years. He had been a rescue from abusive owners and I was never sure of his real age. He gave me 16 years of unconditional love and affection. About a year ago my vet diagnosed cancer. At that time I decided that putting him through chemo wasn't something I wanted for him. We had a good year together, he wasn't in pain and was symptom free. In his last days he became symptomatic and his quality of life became dreadful, I knew it was time. Unfortunately it was late night and my regular vet was closed. Not wanting to see him suffer through the night I took him to Pet Emergency & Specialty. The vet we saw seemed compassionate enough, she agreed that his symptoms were most likely caused by the cancer. With in minutes of her exam I had a written proposal of diagnostic tests of costing just under a thousand dollars. At no time did she mention that it might be the most compassionate option to put him to sleep and alleviate his suffering. Being distraught and wanting to do whatever I could I agreed to the proposal. The first of which was getting X-rays. It was difficult getting him into the x-ray room and after the x-rays I had had enough. I didn't want my friend to suffer more. I spoke with the vet again and she thought more tests were needed. I asked if there was something she could do to alleviate his suffering and she recommended some medication and to follow up with my vet the next day. After an injection I took him home. It was the longest night of my life. He suffered through the rest of the night and the next morning my vet put him to rest. I would have done anything for my best friend. It cost me $500 at Pet Emergency and the anguish of putting him through useless tests. I had even felt guilty for not doing the recommended full work up and at no time was I offered the choice of putting him to sleep. The next morning my vet reassured me that it was the most compassionate thing to let him pass. As I look back I regret the suffering he endured in his last hours and anger at Pet Emergency for prolonging the inevitable. I hate to think that compassion and doing what is best has been replaced by the bottom line.