Doey_Chan
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Apr 29, 2002, 4:21 AM
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HOW COULD YOU?
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this is very touching.
HOW COULD YOU? - A TOUCHING STORY FOR DOG OWNERS/LOVERS]
A man in Grand Rapids, Michigan incredibly took out a US$7,000 full
page ad in the paper to present this:
<u><b>HOW COULD YOU? By Jim Willis, 2001</b></u>
When I was a puppy, I entertained you with my antics and made you
laugh. You called me your child, and despite a number of chewed
shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best
friend.
Whenever I was "bad," you'd shake your finger at me and ask "How
could you?" -- but then you'd relent and roll me over for a
bellyrub.
My housebreaking took a little longer than expected, because you
were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember
those nights of nuzzling you in bed and listening to your
confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life could not
be any more perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park,
car rides, stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because "ice
cream is bad for dogs" you said), and I took
long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the
day.
Gradually, you began spending more time at work and
on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. I
waited for you patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks and
disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped
with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love.
She, now your wife, is not a "dog person" -- still I welcomed her
into our home, tried to show her
affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy.
Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement.
I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted
to mother them, too. Only she and you
worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time
banished to another room, or to a dog crate. Oh, how I wanted to
love them, but I became a "prisoner of love."
As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur
and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs,
poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears, and gave me kisses
on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch --
because your touch was now so infrequent -- and I would've defended
them with my life if need be. I would sneak into their beds and
listen to their worries and secret dreams, and together we waited
for the sound of your car in the driveway.
There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that
you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories
about me. These past few years, you just answered "yes" and changed
the subject. I had gone from being "your dog" to "just a dog," and
you resented every expenditure on my behalf.
Now, you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and
they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets.
You've made the right decision for your "family," but there was a
time when I was your only family. I was excited about the car ride
until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and
cats, of fear, of hopelessness.
You filled out the paperwork and said "I know you will find a good
home for her." They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They
understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog, even one
with "papers."
You had to pry your son's fingers loose from my collar as he
screamed "No, Daddy! Please don't let them take my dog!"
And I worried for him, and what lessons you had just taught him
about friendship and loyalty, about love and
responsibility, and about respect for all life.
You gave me a good-bye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and
politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a
deadline to meet and now I have one, too. After you left, the two
nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months
ago and made no attempt to find me another good home. They shook
their heads and asked "How could you?"
They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy
schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite
days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to
thefront, hoping it was you that you had changed your mind -- that
this was all a bad dream... or I hoped it would at least be
someone who cared, anyone who might save me.
When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for
attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I
retreated to a far corner and waited. I heard her footsteps as she
came for me at the end of the day, and I padded along the aisle
after her to a separate room. A blissfully quiet room. She placed
me on the table and rubbed my ears, and told me not to worry. My
heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was
also a sense of relief.
The prisoner of love had run out of days.
As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which
she bears weighs heavily on her, and I know that, the same way I
knew your every mood.
She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down
her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you
so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my
vein.
As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I
lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured "How
could you?"
Perhaps because she understood my dogspeak, she said "I'm so
sorry." She hugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to
make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn't be ignored or
abused or abandoned, or have to fend for myself --
a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place.
And with my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a
thump of my tail that my "How could you?" was not directed at her.
It was directed at you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of you.
I will think of you and wait for you forever. May everyone in your
life continue to show you so much loyalty.
A Note from the Author: If "How Could You?" brought tears to your
eyes as you read it, as it did to mine as I wrote it, it is because
it is the composite story of the millions of formerly "owned"pets
who die each year in American & Canadian animal shelters.
Anyone is welcome to distribute the essay for a noncommercial
purpose, as long as it is properly attributed with the copyright
notice.
Please use it to help educate, on your websites, in newsletters,on
animal shelter and vet office bulletin boards.
Tell the public that the decision to add a pet to the family is an
important one for life,that animals deserve our love and sensible
care, that finding another appropriate home for your animal is your
responsibility and any local humane society or animal welfare
league can offer you good advice,and that all life is precious.
Please do your part to stop the killing, and encourage all spay &
neuter campaigns in order to prevent unwanted animals. -Jim Willis
Doey Chan
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