832 Dust to Dust, Ashes to Ashes (1/2)

After getting Liu Wenying's approval, Zhang Zian put the phone in front of Sun Xiaomeng's face so that she could read the chat information.

Euthanizing a pet was serious business, and written consent was needed to avoid disputes. Sun Xiaomeng knew Zhang Zian well enough, so she nodded to Long Xian in agreement and started preparing for the euthanasia.

The two of them worked together very well. Long Xian pressed down the Siamese cat's body, while Sun Xiaomeng injected it with anesthesia.

Zhang Zian and Fina watched silently from a distance.

The anesthesia took effect immediately: The Siamese cat stopped seizing, struggling, and screaming violently; its head softened and bowed down; its pupils lost focus and stared at the white walls in confusion.

Its brief life was about to end.

After confirming that the anesthesia had worked, Sun Xiaomeng held up another syringe. The needle sparkled under the bright light as a drop of clear liquid traveled down it.

Inside the syringe was a highly concentrated dose of potassium chloride, which would cause a sudden spike in blood potassium after the injection and the cat's heart to stop beating.

After the injection, there was no turning back.

Sun Xiaomeng looked at Zhang Zian once again. He nodded slowly, but resolutely.

She pierced the needle into the Siamese cat's body, then pushed a tiny amount of potassium chloride solution into its blood with her thumb.

Almost instantly, something flashed inside the Siamese cat's pupils. Then it disappeared permanently.

Sun Xiaomeng pressed he stethoscope into its chest to listen for the heart beat. After a few seconds, she announced, ”The sick pet is confirmed dead.”

It was the first time that both Zhang Zian and Fina had watched a pet being euthanized. It was quiet, without blood. Although it was a dangerous, rabid pet that was being euthanized, they felt it difficult to breathe. The treatment room was spacious, but it was still hard to breathe in there, as if the room were airtight.

”What a potent poison,” Fina said while watching the syringe, astonished. ”Tasteless and odorless, yet more potent than the deadliest snakes. Can't believe humans have invented such a potent stuff…”

Zhang Zian wanted to clarify that potassium chloride was present in everyone's body, and that it was not really a poison, but it was not convenient to explain in front of Sun Xiaomeng and the other girls so he gave up.

Sun Xiaomeng and Long Xian were used to seeing it happen and had performed pet euthanasias many times, but their faces didn't seem relaxed at all.

”How would you like to dispose the carcass?” Sun Xiaomeng asked. ”There are three options: cremation, you can keep the ashes after cremation, or self-disposal.”

Zhang Zian hesitated for a while. He felt that he should ask Liu Wenying since she was the owner, but considering her condition, it was wise not to bother her.

Since the pet was infected with rabies, it was clearly inappropriate to dispose of the carcass on his own. The so-called self-disposal was, in fact, claiming the carcass, then finding a place to bury it––but cat and dog carcasses that carried a deadly, infectious disease had to be buried very deep. Otherwise, wild dogs or other dirt-digging animals might dig them out, which would cause further spreading of the disease.

”Keep the ashes after cremation.” Zhang Zian chose the middle option. At least he could return the ashes to Liu Wenying.

Although it was not clearly specified, the cost might have to be paid by Zhang Zian for now. He could keep the receipt and ask Liu Wenying to reimburse him.

Sun Xiaomeng took her gloves off, then called a specialized pet crematorium for an appointment to pick up the carcass.