How Could You

[lovemelovemedog]

I just read this in another forum and cried my eyes out so I thought I would share it with you so all of you can realise how cruel us humans can be sometimes.


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 then 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.

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.

[lovemelovemedog]

Is it just me or did this effect anyone else?

[dobermom]

Its a good story, it has been posted before.

[ohmai]

omgosh, that's so sad.. I started tearing up near the end. =*[

[Mikessa]

I read this story on another forum once and it is sad.

[DaneGirl2208]

omg i know.. i saw this too on another site i cried for soo long its so sad

[.Little Texas.]

I know about that poem! Dax has it on her site, and she posted it on here once, something about someone who's parents wanted to sell their dog because of the *dangerous* dogs on the ban list. It is sad!! I always cry when I read it, and that's often, cause I'm a collector of poems, and I've got over 60 old Texan Poems, a few from Kansas, and then there's Missouri, and I think Virginia, and I've got a few good horse ones and all the ones on Dax's site, and this other site I got of Gooogle.

[RiverKayleesMuM]

Great this wasnt the best thing to read. Now I am crying my eyes out. It made me think about my dog I had three years ago and how my mom made me take her to the pound. I screamed at my mom no I will keep her from climbing the fence but my mom said it couldnt be done. I sat on the floor crying with my baby in my lap while my mom signed the papers and told me to go sit in the car. I took one last look at her eyes I knew I couldnt do it. Two days later I went back and saw her in the cage. I grabed her out and held her so tight she started squiming. I started crying so hard everyone was looking at me with weird looks. Here I was a 10 year old girl who should be in school holding onto a dog i dont even know(as far as they knew) crying my eyes out. I looked out the glass and saw my mom signing papers to get a dog my sister wanted but it didnt work out anyways. I couldnt believe it. I had to put her back in the cage as a lady behind started to look at her. With tears in my eyes I smiled and said she is the best and smartest dog, then left. How could I? How could I just leave her like that, in a small cage. I hate myself for what I did and I still blame my mother to this day but nothing will bring her back and I just hope she got a home and a great one at that.

[mara]

Those type of stories are very heart wrenching. The first time I read "How Could You" I cried for a long time. Then I hugged my dog for a long time.

[dobermom]

River thats awful you had to go through that! Remember it was not your fault.