How Could You?

March 13, 2004

after reading this i called my poodle . and gave her a hug and kissed her and

told her i loved her. WOW WHAT A TEARJERKER.

" Jan =^..^= " <camommacat2@...> wrote:A man in Grand Rapids, Michigan

incredibly took out a US $7,000 full page ad in the paper to present the HOW

COULD YOU? (By Jim Willis, 2001) I believe it is worthy of being passed on to

all animal lovers. It is awake up call for prospective pet owners to evaluate

and give consideration to as what the pet has to look forward to if the owner

falls down on his/her commitment to the pet (cats included or any little

creature).

How Could You?

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 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 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 and neuter

campaigns in order to prevent unwanted animals. Jim Willis

~ " We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a

little of each other everywhere. " ~

~ " If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me smile, the

entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand. "

March 13, 2004

Non-animal lovers may think I am crazy but I talk to my two cats and dog as if

they were human and I think they understand every word. The three of them pay

me back with such love and devotion that could make many humans put to shame. I

have never been able to understand people who get an animal on the whim of the

moment and the animal ends up like this one or on a deserted road somewhere. My

16 year old cat was born into a group of domestic cats turned feral that were

dumped on an isolated road in the desert not far from where my aunt used to

live. She fed the pack every day and when she left she caught him and gave him

to me. He was 10 months old at the time and had never been touched by human

hands during that time. I am the only person who can touch him and he worships

me. The same is true for my dog, he was a little over a year old when he was

rescued from a humane society in AZ. He had been beaten severly and would not

respond to anyone except to run and hide if he

heard anyone approaching. It took about 6 months before he realized I would

not hurt him even though when I extended my hand to him he would flinch. Five

and a half years later, he idolized me and finally began to come out of his

shell as far as other people were concerned. And now at the ripe old age of 9,

he is so active and wants to run circles around anyone to get them to play and I

tell everyone he is in his puppyhood. He found a voice, also, and has become my

watchdog and will not let anyone near me if he thinks they are going to harm

me....even if they raise their voice for any reason. It is not a vicious dog

stance that he goes into but gets right in front of me between him and the

person he thinks is going to harm me and is on guard for any occurance. The two

of them and the other cat who will be 16 in June are very loyal to me and I do

not think I could have made it through many flairs without them as they all seem

to sense it and gather around me whether in bed or

sitting on the couch. My little feral cat has a nickname of computer cat

because anytime I am here...he is right there either on the monitor top or the

flat surface of the printer( all 6 lbs of him). I hope more people will read

this and make a decision not to ever hurt an animal in this manner or any other.

Jan =^..^=

mike nelson <winchester19572004@...> wrote:

.....after reading this i called my poodle . and gave her a hug........

March 14, 2004

Jan - my babies came from the Humane society in AZ also! Where? Mine are from

Tucson. I miss it out there, we used to go to the dog park on a regular basis.

They have a bigger back yard here in VA, but Ithey don't have to go for a ride

in the car to get there and I don't play ball with my one dog as much as i ddid

ther (I used to throw the ball so much I was sore for 3 days afterwards lol)

Mike - I didn'tread the sorry right now when I received it on my computer (I had

read it before and didn't want to cry again) but I felt guilty for being mad at

my dogs and forgave them! ((3 times over the last 2 days they peed in my bed

while we were all sleeping there - I think I was justified being mad!!) But I

forgave them anyway. But I also know that no matter how mad I get at them, I

will NEVER get rid of them by choice. (This summer my parents are " babysitting "

while I am in TN for school) And if I do get rid of them, they will go to

someone who loves them as much as I do (like my parents).

- in CT - have you ever thought about driving somewhere relatively flat

and quiet (easier in some parts of the country than other) so that you can walk

outside? Kind of like mall walking but outside? Maybe even a parking lot?

(not pretty but outside when the weather is nice)

- I loved the I Believe and Love story poems!

Have a great day everyone!

McK in VA

March 14, 2004

" Meatball " as he is now lovingly called was named by the nameless creep that

abused him. The vet said at the time, his name could be changed if the new name

stuck to two syllables. Wrong.....he made the decision Meatball was still his

name and would always be. The Humane Society was in Phoenix and it was back in

1996 that he came out of it.

My cousin lives in Tuscon with her husband and they raised their three boys

there after moving to Tuscon in the early 60's. They have a Tax business. A

good friend of mine with whom I used to co-lead Cadet Scouts with moved there

several years ago since General Dynamics broke up in San Diego. Her husband was

one of the few lucky ones to be transfered to an affiliated company in

Tuscon....she had lived in San Diego for many years so it was a big transition

for her as is mine will be when I move to the Phoenix area in a few months.

Will you ever be going back to the Tuscon area?

Take care and be sure to reserve some of that care in the form of some TLC for

yourself.

Jan in San Diego. (for now)

McKinnon L <nmckinno@...> wrote: