-Caveat Lector- Off post but should be read................ > > How Could You? > A man in Grand Rapids, Michigan took out a $7000 full page ad in the > paper to present the following essay to the > people of our community. It really touched my heart and I hope it will > yours too. > > HOW COULD YOU? > By Jim Willis 2001 > > > 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 mor! e 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 ga! ve me kisses on > my nose. I loved everything about them > and their touch -- because your touch was now so infrequent -- > and I would have 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 the front, 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 h! ad 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 th! at my > "How could you?" was not directed at her. > It was you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of. I > will think of you and wait for you forever. > May everyone in your life continue to show you so much loyalty. > The End > > 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 and 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. > > [ And if you don't believe that dogs think, read "A Dog Is Listening" by > Caras. LJ ] > > <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. 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