Star Chef Takes Time Off to Care for Dying Dog

When cookbook author Nagi Maehashi told her millions of followers she was taking time off work to be with her dying dog, the response was overwhelming.

Her golden retriever Dozer, 14, is battling a serious lung infection at a Sydney vet clinic. Given his age and existing health conditions, Maehashi knew this was likely his final chapter.

"I've cried a thousand tears and there's a million more to come," she shared on Instagram. "I'm stepping back from work for a little while."

Emergency veterinarian Lucy Freshwater says Maehashi is modeling something important. When possible, pets should spend their final days at home doing what they love most.

"Eating their favorite foods or going to the beach that one last time, or even just sitting in the sun in their favorite spot," Freshwater explains. Vet teams can provide pain relief and palliative care while pets stay comfortable with their families.

Matthew Herbert and his partner Aaron did exactly this when their 17-year-old border collie Rufus reached the end of his life last December. They organized a beach day, found a quiet harbor for one last swim, and gathered around the Christmas tree for early presents.

"He spent so long in the water just paddling around, you could tell he appreciated it so much," Matthew remembers. "That night we had a lovely time and took lots of photos."

Sunny's Take

What makes Maehashi's announcement so powerful is how it validates what pet owners feel but often hide. Organizational psychologist Amanda Ferguson says failing to process pet grief can lead to serious mental health impacts like arrested grief or adjustment disorder.

Ferguson points to new workplace legislation in New South Wales that encourages managers to support employees during pet loss. Some workplaces require a GP certificate for distress leave, while others allow flexible conversations with bosses about taking personal time.

"When leaders openly speak about their problems with their pets and their need for time to take care of them or to grieve, it's really important modeling," Ferguson says.

Freshwater adds that being present matters to pets too. "It means a lot to the pet for them to be spending their final hours or days with their owners by their side."

Maehashi's honesty is helping create workplaces where people can show up as whole humans, grief and all.