Iris the dog with her steak – Courtesy Hunter Metzger

From Pennsylvania comes the story of a man who had to make the difficult decision to put down his dog, but who couldn’t believe the sendoff he received from the local Texas Roadhouse.

Receiving a to-go order with the note “last meal for our dog,” the staff made sure it came through with the tender care of a dinner prepared by family, for family.

Months ago, Hunter Metzger from Ephrata, Pennsylvania, discovered that his 120-lbs, 8-year-old great dane Iris had cancer. None of the treatments worked, and it was decided that the dog would be euthanized.

Following the great poet’s words however, Metzger was determined not to let his beloved pooch “go gently into that goodnight.” The day before end, family and friends arrived for a party in her honor—to feed Iris treats and shower her with affection. For dinner, Metzger got the idea to order a fat juicy steak from Texas Roadhouse.

He ordered an 8-ounce New York Strip, (no seasoning) steak fries, and mashed potatoes with butter, typing out in the special instructions field “Last meal for our dog. Please prepare with love.”

“My to-go team actually saw the message,” Kate Weston, the kitchen manager for Ephrata Texas Roadhouse, told TODAY.com. “I was like, ‘Oh my god, we need to make sure that this is the best meal we’ve ever made.’”

When Metzger came to retrieve it, the whole staff came out to offer condolences, “blowing him away.” The receipt apologized for his loss—signed by members of the to-go and kitchen staff—and the to-go container had the words “made with love” written in red marker.

Texas Roadhouse’s response -Courtesy Hunter Metzger

“It just blew us away,” Metzger says. “She was just put down later that night, and the next morning, I happened to check my emails and I saw they had also refunded my meal.”

THE HUMAN SIDE OF CORPORATE: Hero Bank Teller Saves Customer from Losing Millions on a Scam–by Asking a Few Simple Questions

Metzger later posted an account of the event on the Ephrata town Facebook page, with comments pouring in recognizing Texas Roadhouse as a valuable member of the community.

RESTAURANTS AS PART OF THE COMMUNITY: Burger King Workers Show up at Beloved Regular’s Funeral with Chair Engraved in His Honor

TODAY also spoke to a corporate representative, who admitted it was a simple act, but said they were “so proud” of their team for displaying “such empathy and humanity, values we strive to uphold every day.

SHARE This Beautiful Story Of Corporate Restaurant Empathy With Your Friends…