Texas Roadhouse staff make dog's last meal special
Hunter Metzger and Kate Weston first crossed paths on what could have been a very dark day.
Metzger and his family were preparing to say goodbye to their Great Dane, Iris.
"We wanted to give her that last best day ever. So, we took her on car rides. We brought her around to visit family and I said, you know, we're going to get her a steak dinner for her last meal," he said.
The family made an online order at the Texas Roadhouse in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, and included a message explaining the situation.
"The to-go people know I'm such an animal lover. They showed me, and I was like, 'Oh, my God, I've got to make this the best steak ever,'" Weston said.
She wrote a note on the receipt and decorated the meal container with hearts and messages.
"I pulled in and walked up to the to-go window and said 'I'm Hunter. I'm here to pick up my order,'" Metzger said. "And a few of the ladies in the room immediately came up and offered their condolences and said, 'We saw your note. You know, tears in all of our eyes. We definitely prepared it with love.'"
"In that moment, nothing mattered but getting Iris her last meal," Weston said.
Metzger was so moved by the experience he made a post about it on a community Facebook page. He didn't expect the reaction.
"It's just been really neat to read through the comments and the support and the love from people all around the world 鈥� not just here in the U.S. We've seen Australia, United Kingdom," he said.
"It's insane," Weston said. "My brother texted me and said, 'Hey, I just saw your post on some random restaurant group I'm in.' I'm like, 'What do you mean?'" Weston said.
It turns out the restaurant doesn't just serve great food.
"We needed that bright spot in this tough time," Metzger said.
Texas Roadhouse paid for Iris' meal.
The Great Dane was 8 and a half years old.
Metzger said she was no longer responding to medication to treat a nasal growth.