In the 2008 economic crash euthanasia and abandonment rates for dogs rose 25% (Picture: Getty Images)The coronavirus crisis could result in up to 40,000 stray or homeless dogs , a charity has warned.

It would be a tragedy if this poorly evidenced representation of the most important function we perform in companion animal medicine were to dissuade anyone from seeking the best, most compassionate end-of-life care and advice that veterinary professionals and their support staff can provide.

“Asked my vet what the hardest part was about his job & 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,” read the tweet, posted earlier this summer.