When Hunter Metzger placed a takeout order at his local Texas Roadhouse in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, he never expected the restaurant’s response to leave such a lasting impact.
On April 19, Metzger’s eight-year-old Great Dane, Iris, was nearing the end of her life. In an effort to make her final day special, Metzger decided to treat her to one last meal — a steak dinner from one of their favorite restaurants. What happened next resonated far beyond their small community.
About three weeks earlier, Iris began showing signs of respiratory distress. Metzger initially suspected a simple infection and started her on antibiotics. But her condition only worsened.
Eventually, veterinarians discovered a tumor in Iris’s nose that was unresponsive to treatment. Faced with a painful prognosis and no clear path to recovery, Metzger made the heart-wrenching decision to have her euthanized.
“Everyone loves their pets, and when it comes to making that decision, you just want them to leave with dignity,” Metzger told TODAY.com. “You want to hold on as long as you can, but it’s not always fair to the animal.”
On Iris’s last day, friends and family stopped by to shower her with affection, bringing treats and offering comfort. That evening, Metzger went online to place an order from Texas Roadhouse. He selected an 8-ounce thick-cut New York strip steak, steak fries, mashed potatoes, and fresh-baked bread — all favorites. In the special instructions section of the order form, he wrote, “Last meal for our dog. Please prepare with love.”
Kate Weston, the kitchen manager at the restaurant, was the one who saw the note.
“My to-go team showed it to me because they know how much I love animals,” Weston said. “I just thought, ‘We have to make sure this is the best meal we’ve ever prepared.’”
The kitchen staff went above and beyond. They carefully prepared the order, then added a handwritten note of condolence on the receipt and labeled the takeout box with the words “Made with LOVE.” When Metzger arrived to pick up the food, two employees came to the window to offer their sympathies in person.
“The whole experience just blew us away,” Metzger recalled. “She was put down later that night. The next morning, I saw an email notifying me that the restaurant had refunded the cost of the meal.”
Afterward, Metzger shared the touching moment in a private Facebook group in Ephrata. His post, accompanied by photos of Iris enjoying her meal, was soon picked up and shared across social media.
“This level of customer service and compassion puts this Texas Roadhouse team in a league of their own,” Metzger wrote. “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
Texas Roadhouse later issued a statement about the incident, saying, “We believe in treating our guests like family. While it was a small gesture, we hope it brought a moment of comfort during a very difficult time. We’re proud of our team for showing such empathy and humanity — values we uphold every day.”
Metzger’s story didn’t end there. He recently celebrated his birthday by returning to Texas Roadhouse, where he had the chance to meet Weston and the team who made Iris’s last meal so memorable. They spent time reminiscing about Iris, a gentle giant who always thought she was a lap dog and loved being close to people.
Reflecting on the experience, Weston said she hoped it served as a reminder that simple acts of kindness still matter.
“The world feels like such an ugly place right now,” she said. “But showing a little compassion can really change someone’s day. What could have been a really sad moment turned into something meaningful.”
Source: Today.com
