How Could YOU?

How could YOU???

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

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