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A "broken-hearted" vet has revealed how frightened pets search for their owners who have chosen to leave the room when they are put down.

In a viral social media post, the anonymous vet wrote that animals “don’t understand why you left them” in their dying moments.

“I beg you DO NOT LEAVE THEM,” the message shared by Hillcrest Veterinary Clinic in South Africa read.

“DO not make them transition from life to death in a room full of strangers in a place they don’t like.

“The thing you people need to know that most of you don’t is that THEY SEARCH FOR YOU WHEN YOU LEAVE THEM BEHIND!!!!”

“They search every face in the room for their loved person. They don’t understand why you left them when they are sick, scared, old, or dying from cancer and they need your comfort.”

The vet added that owners should not be a “coward” and to do the right thing by comforting their pets.

The post signed off with, “From a tired broken-hearted vet” and has been shared over 87,000 times.

One man, named Randy Mason, was one of more than 4,000 commenters to share his own distressing experience at the vets.

He wrote: “Had to let my beautiful 20 year old Siamese go. I insisted on holding my baby as he crossed...I kept telling him I loved him and he knew I was with him.

“I wanted him to see me and know that I'd always be with him...he gave me so much over the years and I still miss him every day...”

Another user, named Jenna Jackson, commended the veterinary clinic for sharing the message.

“So glad you posted this. I’ve heard people say “it was too hard for me to stay.” REALLY ? Too “hard” for you?

“That time isn’t about YOU. It’s about THEIR last minutes on this earth.

“I dont care how much It hurts you. Do the right thing for THEM. All they gave you was unconditional love,” she added.

The vet’s emotional post was prompted by a tweet from pet owner Jessi Dietrich from Knoxville, Tennessee.

She said she asked her vet what the hardest part of his job was.

“He said when he has to put an animal down 90% of owners don't actually want to be in the room when he injects them so the animal's last moments are usually them frantically looking around for their owners &tbh that broke me,” Ms Dietrich wrote in a tweet.