The day started out slow and mundane, which is a rare occurrence at the veterinary clinic. I was content filing paperwork and talking about my favorite desserts with a co-worker, when one of the receptionists made an all too familiar announcement over the radio.

“We have two dogs ready to go back for their baths.”

I struggled to find the microphone that was clipped somewhere to the collar of my scrub top. Right as I found it, I heard another co-worker reply.

“I’ve got it.”

I was relieved that I did not have to stop what I was doing and give two dreaded baths, which always seem to be wet and unpleasant experiences for me.

One of the dogs that came in was scheduled to get a rabies vaccine and a medicated bath. Before administering the vaccine, the doctor examined the dog. He was a 2-year-old English bulldog that appeared to be perfectly healthy.

Several minutes after getting his shot, he was brought back to the bathing area. While he was in the bathtub, my co-worker recognized that something was not right. The dog collapsed and instantly stopped moving. My co-worker frantically carried the soaked dog over to the treatment area where the doctor immediately began performing cpr.

The clinic quickly turned into a real E.R. Everyone pitched in to grab equipment, set up the dog’s breathing tube, and assist the doctor with compressions as she called out orders. I watched as each minute went by, and the dog’s heart monitor showed no signs of any heartbeat. Many of us stood around, hoping that this story would have a happy ending like in the movies. After performing about 15 minutes of cpr, she made the call to stop. Conan died.

The whole clinic was shaken up, and some were even crying. The entire mood of the clinic had drastically changed within 15 minutes. Our staff deals with animals dying on a regular basis—whether it is caused by cancer, euthanasia, getting hit by a car, or being attacked by another animal—but this death was different. No one ever expected it to happen.

As we were forced to get back to work, many of us quietly reflected on what had just happened. I returned to filing paperwork at my desk that was adjacent to the room that the owner was in. My heart broke when I heard him crying after being told the shocking news. He brought his young dog in for a routine visit to the vet, never imagining that it would be the last time that he would ever see him.

It was at that moment that I realized how precious life is. I know that this story is about a dog that died unexpectedly at a veterinary clinic, but it carried a weighty lesson. It made me stop and think about how quickly life can be taken away.

James 4:14 says, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

Humans and animals are drastically different, but there is one common characteristic that we share: We are both made of flesh and blood and have a temporary existence. We do not have the luxury of knowing what the future holds or how long that existence will last.

Life can feel like it is constantly on fast-forward—the older we get, the quicker the years seem to fly by—but it is important to press pause and reflect on this topic. Do not take life for granted, whether it is our own or our loved ones’.

Thank God every day for the time we have here on this Earth. If you have this attitude at the forefront of your mind, your whole perspective on the day will change. It will affect how you treat others and spend your time. Enjoy special moments with family and friends, make memories, and appreciate the little things in life, because you never know what tomorrow has in store.