How Could You? From your dog, Get hankie out
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>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'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 & 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.
1|1|awww....so touching and sad|blessedx5|I_am_blessedx5@yahoo.com|10:48:39|11/03/2009|
;0) 2|1|That was really beautiful!|sunriver|lithiasalt@cheerful.com|11:11:30|11/03/2009|
And I stoically told myself, "I can read it and not cry!"
Thank goodness I have a bunch of free kleenex in my stockpile! I didn't make it!
5|2|I didn't make it either|sytipton|sytipton@suddenlink.net|15:05:26|11/03/2009|
now to get my kleenex 3|1|when was this the GR press I live in Grand rapids and never say 1 full page|STEVE|STEVBOLT@WMIS.NET|13:33:12|11/03/2009|
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Always looking for Wine Tag good in MI. I have cash and stamps and more just plmk what you have. I will also trade for wine tags plmk what you have. Thanks DAWN
4|1|Thanks for sharing this. It is beautiful. It also is true that this was a full page ad. Info inside.|Ranalt|ainebailey@gmail.com|13:42:27|11/03/2009|
excerpt taken from link below;
A benefactor in Grand Rapids, Michigan paid his local newspaper $7,000 to publish this piece in a full page display because he believed so strongly in its message.
http://cats.about.com/library/reviews/aafprpieces.htm
Life is like a cup of tea,
It's all in how you make it.
Lisa
6|1|i didn't make it with out tears either |lydzkydz|lydzmcss@yahoo.com|15:14:39|11/03/2009|
and it is the every day truth about the poor animals in the world today
no one cares
i love my kitty and wouldn't do that to her
please include your user name on refundsweepers.
i appreciate all the trades made in the past.
THANKS!! 7|2|I cried too! the person who wrote this has a huge love for animals, bless his heart for making his voice be heard! This really caught me..|HONEY11|HONEY1@AMERITECH.NET|15:39:53|11/03/2009|
"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".
That line is soo true,what are yuou teaching your child? they learn from us how to honor these quality, to instill them in themself.
people do this to human babies/children as well neglect them, abuse and kill them...the innocent and those who cannot defend themselves.I wonder when the notion began that some of us humans deserve to live more than another human being or animal for that matter..we are the most cruel species on the planet, and for that I am ashamed of the human race and how people can be like this.
8|1|Oh boy! This was a tough one to read. :`( I didn't get very far before the tears started. :(|maraj|maraj64@hotmail.com|16:47:08|11/03/2009|
My 4-legged loved ones have ALWAYS had a forever home w/me & they ALWAYS will, spoiled as all get out too. :) I just wish everyone who decides to have a pet felt that way...
We live in the Land of the Free only because of the Brave!
Please identify yourself in 1st email w/name/username. Due to recent problem trades, if I haven't traded w/you before, I will probably require you send your end 1st or I'll need LEGIT trade references/feedback. I will be happy to provide the same. IF you plan to hold your end til you've received mine, I will need to know that IMMEDIATELY, BEFORE trade is finalized.
9|2|i started to cry as soon as i realized where it was going|BusterBrown|srfreezerqueen@hotmail.com|17:15:09|11/03/2009|
you all know what a softie i am for animals.... 10|1|That was really powerful.|Arizona|vbj48@cox.net|17:22:47|11/03/2009|
I have a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes.