• Hello!

    Either you have not registered on this site yet, or you are registered but have not logged in. In either case, you will not be able to use the full functionality of this site until you have registered, and then logged in after your registration has been approved.

    Registration is FREE, so please register so you can participate instead of remaining a lurker....

    Please be certain that the location field is correctly filled out when you register. All registrations that appear to be bogus will be rejected. Which means that if your location field does NOT match the actual location of your registration IP address, then your registration will be rejected.

    Sorry about the strictness of this requirement, but it is necessary to block spammers and scammers at the door as much as possible.

"How could you?"

Memphios

Memphios

Unknown Entity
Not sure if anyone has seen this before, but I just saw it in the local pet's section of craiglist and thought I would pass it along.

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 belly rub.
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 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 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 dog speak, 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. Please use this 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.

Please pass this on to everyone, not to hurt them or make them sad, but it could save maybe, even one, unwanted pet. Remember...They love UNCONDITIONALLY.
 
Very sad story, but wonderfully written.

A little over a month ago my grandmother was telling me a story, she had been to the house of a woman her age, and that woman had a dog that she had adopted a while back. The dog was very high energy, and even attempted to bite my grandmother, but looked very confused. The owner promptly did nothing, and my grandmother, having seen how far I've come with my dog and all of the training success, was quite disturbed to see this lady do nothing. So she suggested the woman get help, perhaps training from the likes of me. The woman ignored the idea, and said she was planning on taking classes, expensive classes, and I would have enjoyed the challenge free of charge.
I got a call the other night from my grandmother, during the conversation she brought up the dog, and how the woman "brought it back". I asked if she had pursued training, my grandmother said "yes, a couple of classes, but they didn't work". Of course this upset me, it is a lifetime commitment, and a couple of classes is nothing, especially with an uncommitted owner. My grandmother (who doesn't own dogs, but appreciates them) doesn't fully understand what "bringing the dog back" means. She thought it was good in a way that the dog would finally go to a good home that could properly train the dog, but quickly saddened when I explained the real process. I told her that the dog will most likely now be euthanized, because it is now more aggressive, has lost trust from being bounced around from place to place, and isn't as desirable to adopt as a puppy in most cases. She was very sad, and I was very angry that the woman would be so lazy, and insensitive to the responsibility She Took On.
This happens everyday, and bothers me to no end. Do your research, and make sure that the home you are providing is everlasting. Animals aren't disposable, and if you can't take complete responsibility caring for the dog it's entire life, don't get a dog. And if you do get a dog with issues stay the course, take training, and never give up, as it is your responsibility to provide for/train the dog.

This story is all too common, and very sad. Thanks for sharing though, this is a message that should be stressed everywhere!
 
Never seen it before and I balled.

Putting down my beloved dog, my childhood pet, was the hardest thing I've ever had to do, its been years now and I still cry over him. And when I read this, all I could think was please god don't let that be him when he died in my arms. Different situation, my Bear was very old, and at deaths door. It was supposed to be the humane thing to do, to end his suffering. But I still doubt. 15 is old for a Lab Shepard mix. or so they told me.

My dog now is a young boy. A rescue from a shelter, the whole litter was left in a trash can outside of town. and his mother and father beaten within an inch of life. The male actually past life, he didn't make it. I cried when they told me about the litter. Momma dog was already adopted. So I picked my little Ku. It took so long to get him to calm down, and hes scared of the oddest things. like trash cans.. well... I guess that isn't odd. In 22 years, I've bought only 4 animals. but owed probably close to 100. And I cant tell you how many times I've held a sick animal in my arms as it died from abuse that I cant understand and that was never from my hands. Not all of them ended that way, but enough to break my heart. Dogs and cats that were taken to the vet and had to be put down, no saving them. One had been shot in the head, a small black and white cat. Reptiles left in small tanks with no heat food or water until they withered away. One iguana came to me that way. I begged the kid for says to give me that lizard. Eventually I bribed him and payed him about 40$ to get it out of his care. It lived a month or so and got fat again. But it never recovered the ability to eat solids, I had to give it a veggie shake from a syringe. The URI got it in the end despite the medication it was on. I don't look for these cases. They come to me. always have. someone I know has a sick dog or cat they found they drop it o my door step or ask me to keep it for them for some time till its better then never come back for it.

Sorry about the novel. I guess my point is, I will never understand how we and a species can act this way. So preoccupied with ourselves that we cant even take care of animals we bring into our homes. EVEN PAY HUNDREDS FOR! Not that I'm accusing anyone. I know there are good ppl out there. But the actions of few do not end the suffering of many. The fact is we created most of the animals. Bred them to be what we wanted. Weather is a cornsnake that's purple, or a dog bred from a wolf to sit in your lap. And then when we have no more use or need of them. We move on to something else. What a waste of life. The sad part is... Most just don't care.

Not trying to steal the thread, just stating what I've seen in my short life, I'm scared to think of the things I will see in the next twenty years, or the things ppl who have lived lives twice or three times as long as mine, have seen, It truly is a wonder... the cruelty of mankind. Thank you for posting this. Sorry if I've offended anyone.
 
It definetely made me tear up... I can't imagine losing any of my pets, but especially not my dogs.
 
its sad to say that its true. but i know how hard it is to put a dog down. put down our carin terrior dusty a couple years ago and it was hard. i didnt wanna go at first, asked my dad to. then i finally manned up and did it. i dont know how people leave animals to go to the pound. we should have a place to take bad animal owners instead of bad animal owners taking their animals to a place. i mean, when the shelters are full, we have empty places we can throw people, like a big ole rock quarry we could fill in with stones when its full of their bodies.
 
I have seen this many times and every time it makes me cry. I just can't imagine ever doing that to any of my animals. It is heartbreaking to realize it happens every day.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top