1776Reporting
A talented UK veterinarian took his own life using euthanasia drugs meant for animals, after becoming overwhelmed by the pain of putting down pets whose owners refused to pay for treatment, according to his grieving mother.
Dr. John Ellis, 35, struggled with the stress of euthanizing animals due to their owners’ unwillingness to spend money on medical care until it was too late, his mother, Tina Ellis, told a coroner’s court. She described how Dr. Ellis was deeply affected by having to end the lives of pets that he believed could have been saved with proper care.
“He was finding that destroying,” Tina Ellis said during her testimony. “I’ve got somebody saying they won’t pay to help their animal and they’re sitting there with a brand new car outside. Other people who were really struggling would do anything to save their animals.”
On November 6, 2022, Dr. Ellis told his family he was going to his office to collect a package. He later told a nurse he needed medication to euthanize a dog at a friend’s house. However, instead of returning to work, Dr. Ellis took the euthanasia drugs to a friend’s home, where he secretly used them through an intravenous drip, ending his life. The friend found Dr. Ellis later, after he had passed away.
The coroner’s inquest revealed that Dr. Ellis had been dealing with multiple personal struggles. His mother shared that he was planning to end his long-term relationship due to infidelity, and had been suffering from sleep deprivation and financial stress, at one point even sleeping in his car when on call. “All of those things completely built up, and he was finding it difficult,” Tina Ellis said.
Assistant coroner Simon Burge ruled the death a suicide, calling it “a huge waste of a talented life.” Dr. Ellis had worked at Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists, a practice that described him as “a wonderful person and an incredibly talented vet,” and shared their sadness at his passing on social media. “Time with John never failed to make your day a brighter one. He will be terribly missed by all who knew him.”
The tragic loss of Dr. Ellis has left many wondering about the pressures faced by veterinarians, especially those working with animals whose fates are often in the hands of owners who cannot or will not pay for treatment. Dr. Ellis’ story highlights the emotional toll such work can take, particularly when the responsibility for ending lives weighs so heavily on a compassionate soul.
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