Posted by Harry Oldfield
on 22/6/2009, 19:30:58
81.111.93.103
A Man in Grand Rapids,Michigan took out a full page advertisement
$7,000 worth to have this printed in his local paper.This should be
compulsory reading for everyone thinking of taking a dog.
" How Could You" by Jim Willis.
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 shoe's
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 would relent and turn 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 secrets
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,is now your wife,is not a "dog person"-still I welcomed her into
our life and 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 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 their wobbly legs,poked fingers in my
eye's,investigated my ears,and gave me kisses on my nose.I loved
everything about them and their touch-because your touch was 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 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 doe's 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 know the
realities facing a middle-aged dog,even one with "papers"You had to
prise 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
loyalty and friendship,about love and responsibility,and about
respect for all life.You gave me a good-bye pat on the head,avoided
my eye's,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 said "How could you?".They are
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 realised 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 quite room.She placed me on the table a
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 for her.The burden that 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
many years ago.She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein.A
I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body,I lay
down sleepily,I looked into her kind eye's 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 forever.May everyone in your life continue
to show you so much loyalty.
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