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Date Posted: 09:46:31 04/23/02 Tue
Author: Regan Kilmer
Subject: Abandoned Pets

This is in response to the lady who is moving and feels she needs to abandon her dog. I know both of you are dog lovers as I am and thought you might be touched by this email.

<< > > >"HOW COULD YOU?"
> > > > > >
* > > > > > A man in Grand Rapids, Michigan incredibly took out a
> > > > > >$7000 full page ad in the paper to present the
> > > > > >following essay to the people of his community.
> > > > > >
* > > > > > 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 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'tlet 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 soner
> > > > > >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
> > > > > >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, If you give them
> > > > > >LOVE :) >>
> > >
> >
> >
> >>
>
>
>
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