How Could You ?
I read this article today in the Friends of Beagle Welfare magazine, and it states that any beagle lovers should put this on their web site.
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 would 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 teribly busy, but we worked on that together. i remember those nights of nuzzling you in your bed and listening to your confidences and secret dreams and i beleived that life could not be any more perfect.
we went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream 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 the heartbreaks and disapointements, 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 and 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 fascinted by their pinkness, how they smelled and i wanted to mother them too. only she worried that i might hurt them and so i spent most of my time banished to another room or put in my crate.
Oh how i wanted to love them and protect them, but i became a prisoner of love. As they grew, i became their freind. 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 loves everything about them and their touch- because your touch was now so infrequent- and i would have defended them with my own life if need be.
i would sneak into their beds and listed to their worries and secret dreams and together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway at the end of every day.
there had been a time when others asked you if you had a dog, that you would pull a photo of me from your wallet and told them lots of stories about me.
these past few years you just answered 'yes' and then 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. yes you have made the right decision for your family but once 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, and of fear and 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 aed dog, even one with 'papers'. you had to pry your sons fingers loose from my collar as he screamed, 'no daddy, please dont let them take my dog'. i worried for him and what lessons you had just taught him about freindship 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 refused to take my collar and leash with you. you had a dead line to meet and now i have one. After you left the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming house move months ago and made no attempt to find me aother good home. they shook their heads and asked, 'how could you' ?.
They are as attentive to us in the shelter as their busy shedules 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 had changed your mind- that this was all a bad dream, or i hoped it would be at least someone who cared, anyone who might save me.
When i realised i could not complete with the frolicing for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, i retreated to a far corner and waitd. 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 seperate room. A blissfully quiet room. she placed me on the table and told me not to worry. my heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of releif. the prisoner of love had run ot 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 forleg 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 hypoermic needle onto 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 murmered, how could you ?
perhaps because she understood my dog speak, she said, 'I am o sorry'. she hugged me and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure i went to a better place where i wouldnt 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 er 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 becasue it is the composite story of the millions of 'formerly' owned pets who die each year in American and Canadian animal shelters. Please use this to help educate people, put it on your web sites, in newsletters, on animal shelter boards and vet office bulletin boards.
thanks, sorry for any grammer error but was copying this out of my book tonight.
Megs' Mum
I read this article today in the Friends of Beagle Welfare magazine, and it states that any beagle lovers should put this on their web site.
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 would 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 teribly busy, but we worked on that together. i remember those nights of nuzzling you in your bed and listening to your confidences and secret dreams and i beleived that life could not be any more perfect.
we went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream 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 the heartbreaks and disapointements, 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 and 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 fascinted by their pinkness, how they smelled and i wanted to mother them too. only she worried that i might hurt them and so i spent most of my time banished to another room or put in my crate.
Oh how i wanted to love them and protect them, but i became a prisoner of love. As they grew, i became their freind. 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 loves everything about them and their touch- because your touch was now so infrequent- and i would have defended them with my own life if need be.
i would sneak into their beds and listed to their worries and secret dreams and together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway at the end of every day.
there had been a time when others asked you if you had a dog, that you would pull a photo of me from your wallet and told them lots of stories about me.
these past few years you just answered 'yes' and then 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. yes you have made the right decision for your family but once 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, and of fear and 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 aed dog, even one with 'papers'. you had to pry your sons fingers loose from my collar as he screamed, 'no daddy, please dont let them take my dog'. i worried for him and what lessons you had just taught him about freindship 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 refused to take my collar and leash with you. you had a dead line to meet and now i have one. After you left the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming house move months ago and made no attempt to find me aother good home. they shook their heads and asked, 'how could you' ?.
They are as attentive to us in the shelter as their busy shedules 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 had changed your mind- that this was all a bad dream, or i hoped it would be at least someone who cared, anyone who might save me.
When i realised i could not complete with the frolicing for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, i retreated to a far corner and waitd. 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 seperate room. A blissfully quiet room. she placed me on the table and told me not to worry. my heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of releif. the prisoner of love had run ot 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 forleg 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 hypoermic needle onto 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 murmered, how could you ?
perhaps because she understood my dog speak, she said, 'I am o sorry'. she hugged me and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure i went to a better place where i wouldnt 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 er 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 becasue it is the composite story of the millions of 'formerly' owned pets who die each year in American and Canadian animal shelters. Please use this to help educate people, put it on your web sites, in newsletters, on animal shelter boards and vet office bulletin boards.
thanks, sorry for any grammer error but was copying this out of my book tonight.
Megs' Mum
