In a story reported in August 2024, AskVet CEO Cal Lai described an AI chatbot allegedly telling a woman that her elderly dog was at the end of its life and recommending euthanasia. The account says the woman later euthanized the dog. But the public record does not include the full chat, veterinary records, or an independent assessment of the dog’s condition, so it does not establish that the dog was healthy or that the chatbot alone drove the decision.
What was reported
Futurism reported on August 24, 2024, on journalist Laura Preston’s account of a talk by Cal Lai, CEO of pet-health company AskVet. According to the report, Lai recounted an exchange between a woman and AskVet’s AI assistant, VERA. The woman reportedly contacted the chatbot about an elderly dog with diarrhea. VERA allegedly replied, “Your dog is at the end of his life. I recommend euthanasia,” and supplied information about nearby clinics. The woman initially did not respond, but reportedly later euthanized the dog. Futurism’s report is the primary source for the publicly circulated account; Yahoo’s version is a syndication, not independent confirmation.
The headline description that Lai was “proud” is an interpretation of his reported reaction, not a verified direct quote saying he celebrated an unjustified euthanasia. The account says he treated the chatbot’s apparent persuasiveness as notable because the woman had forgotten she was speaking with a bot. That framing is concerning in its own right: sounding human is not evidence of clinical competence.
What is known—and what is not
- Reported: Preston’s account, as covered by Futurism, says Lai described a VERA conversation about an elderly dog with diarrhea, a recommendation for euthanasia, clinic information, and a subsequent euthanasia.
- Not publicly established in the available reporting: the owner’s identity, the complete chatbot transcript, the dog’s medical records, the treating veterinarian’s assessment, or whether a veterinarian advised euthanasia before or after the exchange.
- Not established: that the dog was healthy, that euthanasia was medically unjustified, that VERA acted alone, or that the chatbot caused the owner’s decision.
- Also unresolved: whether the episode was a product demonstration, whether human-veterinarian escalation was offered, and what safeguards AskVet had in place at the time.
A 2025 paper in the Journal of Applied Philosophy later cited the episode while discussing anthropomorphism and user autonomy. That is useful ethical context, but the paper repeats the anecdote; it does not independently verify the dog’s condition or the conversation. Read the paper.
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Why the alleged recommendation is high stakes
Diarrhea is a symptom, not a prognosis. It can have many causes, and its seriousness depends on the animal’s overall condition and medical history. Determining whether euthanasia is appropriate ordinarily requires a veterinarian to assess factors such as pain and distress, prognosis, quality of life, and treatment options, then discuss those findings with the owner. The public account does not say what information VERA had, whether a veterinarian examined the dog, or whether there were other serious conditions.
That uncertainty cuts both ways: readers cannot conclude that the dog did not need euthanasia, but neither can the anecdote establish that a chatbot had enough evidence to recommend it. A fluent answer based on incomplete context is not a clinical examination. Even if a recommendation happened to align with a veterinarian’s eventual judgment, that would not prove the process was safe.
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End-of-life advice is especially consequential because it can shape an owner’s understanding of an irreversible choice. A confident chatbot can anchor a distressed person on a single outcome, create an impression of authority, or make its recommendation feel like informed guidance. The owner’s agreement—or later action—is not, by itself, evidence of informed consent or reliable medical judgment.
VERA then and AskVet now
VERA was described in historical company-linked material as a GPT-based veterinary answer tool drawing on AskVet’s accumulated knowledge. Lai’s 2023 announcement is promotional material, not independent evidence of the system’s safety or performance.
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AskVet’s current materials describe AI Vet Chat as an initial source of guidance, say it is not a replacement for a veterinarian, and warn users not to rely on the service in emergencies. See the company’s FAQ and terms. Those present-day descriptions should not be assumed to match VERA’s exact features or safeguards in 2023–2024; the product may have changed, and the available account does not establish what protections applied during the reported exchange.
Questions a responsible veterinary AI system should answer
The issue is not whether AI can ever help someone prepare for a veterinary visit or understand general information. It is whether the tool stays within a safe role when the stakes rise. A system used for pet-health triage should make its limits clear, explain uncertainty, and route urgent or irreversible decisions to qualified professionals rather than treating persuasion as success.
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- Human oversight: Can a user reach a licensed veterinarian, and are high-risk conversations reviewed or automatically escalated?
- Scope: Does the system distinguish general information and triage from diagnosis, treatment advice, and end-of-life recommendations?
- Transparency: Is it unmistakable that the user is speaking with AI, and does the system communicate uncertainty rather than projecting certainty?
- Clinical safeguards: Are dangerous recommendations blocked or escalated? Has the system been evaluated for both missed emergencies and unnecessarily alarming advice?
- Accountability: Are conversations auditable, are incidents investigated, and are users told how to report harmful advice?
- Data and incentives: How are health and location data used, and do commercial incentives favor engagement or reduced human-vet contact over cautious care?
These safeguards matter because errors can run in either direction. A chatbot might overstate the significance of a symptom and anchor an owner on a grave conclusion, or falsely reassure someone and delay urgent treatment. It may lack examination findings, complete history, or other clinical context. A nearby-clinic suggestion may be convenient without being a substitute for professional judgment.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do if a pet is seriously ill
- If your pet is struggling to breathe, rapidly deteriorating, severely injured, in significant pain, or may have been poisoned, contact a veterinarian or emergency veterinary hospital directly. Do not wait for an AI chat reply.
- Use a chatbot, if at all, as a source of general questions to raise with a veterinarian—not as a diagnosis or basis for euthanasia.
- For end-of-life decisions, ask a veterinarian about prognosis, pain and comfort, quality of life, and treatment or hospice options. If the situation allows and you remain uncertain, ask whether a second opinion is appropriate.
- Save screenshots or export the conversation if an AI tool gives alarming or dangerous advice. Ask the provider how to report the incident and what human clinical review is available.
What remains unanswered
The public account leaves important questions unresolved: Is there a recording or transcript of the talk? What did the full VERA conversation say? Did a veterinarian examine the dog or advise the owner? What safety rules governed VERA’s end-of-life responses, and did AskVet investigate or change its safeguards afterward? Without those details, the episode should be treated as a serious reported warning about AI influence—not as proof that a chatbot caused an unjustified euthanasia.
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