How Could You? (WARNING: Not for sensitive types!)

[WillParkinson]

Please DO NOT read this if you're sensitive. This is a tear jerker of the highest extreme. It's made me cry and hurt each time I read it but I can't help it. If you read it please note that it's free to use as long as the writers copyright is on it and it's not used for commercial purposes.


A man in Grand Rapids, Michigan, 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 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.

[Shell Beau]

1. It did bring tears to my eyes!

:cry:

[Midlodemocrat]

2. Boy, you weren't kidding about the tears.

Very, very touching. Thank you for posting that.

[WillParkinson]

5. Thank you!

For reading it.

[pitohui]

3. this has been around for decades

even before the internet it used to appear in papers

i think it was more touching back in the day, because nowadays i wouldn't have the heart to criticize a man who had to make the cruel choice between taking the new job w. the tiny "no pets" apartment or his dog, his human family has to come first & times have changed to make it so much harder on ppl

i have friends who work in rescue, the reality is that older dogs can't be placed in a good home because for the most part everybody who wants a dog already has one and everybody else is allergic, one of my friends i'd be embarrassed to say how many older dogs & cats she has, she is prob. on the verge of being arrested as a "collector," but otherwise these older animals would have long since been destroyed, she has never ONCE succeeded in finding a home for an older dog, once she takes it home from the shelter to save its life, it's hers

so "how could you?" sounds v. unfair to me these days

if you care abt dogs, SPAY & NEUTER, the friend in my above story walks the walk, she is a v. active volunteer w. her community's spay & neuter program

[WillParkinson]

4. My kids...

Were all shelter adoptees. Misty was already an "older" dog when we got her. She's now about 12 years old. Star, our oldest cat, is about 10. Heidi is about 10. Each of them was past their prime when they were given to the shelters. (Well, actually, Misty was dumped on the streets, then taken to the shelter by us and then gotten back by us when we found out no one came to get her.)

Cider, Dot, and Bailey are all shelter adoptees. They were kittens and a puppy when we got them. We got them from a rural shelter where they were less likely to get adopted.

As for making the choice, I'm sorry, I work with a shelter, too. I've heard that excuse before and it never washes with me. That's like giving up your kid because you have to take a new job.

[fleabert]

26. That's like giving up your kid because you have to take a new job.

I totally agree.

I have lived in 6 states in 7 years, 9 homes in those states, and every single one allowed pets. Most without a deposit, and i am not wealthy. I just had to make an effort and it was the NUMBER 1 priority in finding a new place to live. Before number of bedrooms, location, size, price, looks, condition, style, parking, amenities, etc... no pets, no dice.

my dog depends on me like a child does, I would NEVER do anything to her that i would not do to a child.

[REP]

30. Damn Straight - Just a Bullshit Excuse

I've never actually met anyone who couldn't find a place to live with the animals in their care. I have met people who were too selfish or lazy to be bothered to find such a place, or who just got tired of the responsibility of caring for an animal and had all sorts of ways to justify it to themselves. It never washes.

[OhioChick]

6. Thank you

for posting. I am teary-eyed and it was overwhelmingly touching and true. :cry:

[flvegan]

7. Nice post. Also, in addition,

spay/neuter, but also adopt. Don't breed your animals, and don't buy from a breeder or pet store.

5-7 million companion animals that will be euthanized in our shelters this year are counting on you to not breed nor buy, while these homeless animals die.

[Fox Mulder]

8. This is one of the saddest stories I have ever read.

:cry:

It did bring tears to my eyes. :(

[KitchenWitch]

9. I am bawling right now

:cry:

[Elidor]

10. What maudlin garbage

Jesus christ on a cracker, what a revolting morality tale. I have never left a pet at a shelter like a callous asshole, nor would I, but really, this is just nauseatingly preachy. Anyone who cries over this tripe is easily manipulated.

[fudge stripe cookays]

11. And anyone who is not sensitive enough to realize...

that ignorant, callous people do this every day is irretrievably naive.

Anyone not moved to a little emotion over unfortunate animals really has a problem. I daresay you have very little empathy for anyone besides yourself.

[Elidor]

13. Daresay all you want. You're wrong.

I have little patience with anyone who wants to push my buttons. My emotions are not cheaply bought. It has nothing to do with unfortunate animals. It has to do with gullible people who like to cry. Passing this email around will never persuade a cold-hearted person to spare a pet. All it will ever do is make people cry, and for that it is a cheap waste of time.

[fudge stripe cookays]

15. I see.

So sensitive = gullible eh?

The only cold hearted person in this forum is you. Your moniker suits you really well.

[ofrfxsk]

16. Guess we should get rid of the Vietnam Memorial, the

Holocaust Museum and anything else that brings up the crazy emotions of us overly sentimental folks. After all, we just want to cry.
Hardhead? Try Hardheart.

[BigMcLargehuge]

18. ok, let's not go overboard here...

comparing this letter from the point of view of a DOG, with either the Vietnam Memorial or the Holocaust Museum is just... what's the phrase I'm looking for...

hilariously out of whack? Yeah, that's it. Hilariously out of whack.

The letter is certainly almost as sincere as a Susan Pawlass Schultz Hallmark card, so that has to count for something.... But, compared to the Holocaust??

[rockymountaindem]

19. Thanks for being realistic.

Next time we're at the samurai deli I'll buy you a sandwich.

[BigMcLargehuge]

20. mmmm deli sandwiches

[southlandshari]

21. Hey now!

Ok, ok, that's not really for you, Big - it's for the rest of those folks above you, but do you mind staying in between us for now? They're gettin' kinda mad at each other, and well, I'm a little askeered...


:hi: everyone!

[ofrfxsk]

22. My point was that I felt he was disparaging

the emotions of people in this thread. If you re-read my post, I wasn't comparing the lives of humans and animals. Merely the emotional outcome.
He was basically stating that we (animal lovers) don't have the right to get upset at the fact that millions of dogs and cats are needlessly put to sleep. We are "gullible" which reads as "stupid" hence my comment.
If you feel I crossed a line then please delete my post.

[BigMcLargehuge]

24. there's a difference between crossing the line of reasonable discourse

and breaking the rules at DU. Not every post I make is one as a moderator.

This is one of those times.

[ofrfxsk]

25. I really don't know why you are going after me

I stated my opinion in the first post. I felt that this person was attacking anyone who gets sentimental or cries as being stupid/gullible/naive.
Obviously, we could take away anything that could possibly make people cry and the world would be better. That is what he seemed to be saying.
I was basically stating that humanity does not work that way and I believe we are better for it.
Again, if you'd like to delete my posts, please do.

[WillParkinson]

33. BML....

For those of us who consider the rights of animals to be equal to those of people that's just a slap in the face, too.

You may find the comparison to be less than equal but that does not make it any less valid.

[flvegan]

23. Why exactly do you say that?

Trying to understand a cold heart, and all...

[fleabert]

27. anyone? really?

only _________ would not be moved by this. fill in the blank as you choose, but I think anyone who knows me can fill it in the way I'd like to. (and did before i edited, since it was really rude)

easily manipulated my ass.

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[WillParkinson]

32. Well...

Add me to the list. I'm easily moved by the plight of animals so apparently I'm easily manipulated. Thanks for the compliment.

Sorry to find out that you didn't like it.

[GrpCaptMandrake]

12. Yeah, it's heartbreaking

Having just lost our wonderful, magical, precious Labrador Retriever Miranda to old age, I can identify.

I'll take "How Could You" to another level.

As she weakened and died, Miranda began losing control. The spry, wonderful family member who had literally followed our daughter and flopped down to keep her from falling on her own fanny, struggled to rise.

My darling, lovely wife finally broached the subject: "Is it time to put her to sleep?"

Let me say here and now that I will henceforth always stop anyone who refers to an animal member of the family who says "put to sleep" and say "You mean, put to death?"

It ain't "sleep," sports fans, it's DEATH.

And I said to my darling, lovely wife, "No. Death is either the last chapter of life, or the first chapter of something else. I don't know. But I DO know its hers. Not ours. And I won't put her to death."

And we didn't.

Miranda laid on the cool, wood floor at our feet. And her precious daughter stepped around her with nothing short of real reverence. And Miranda lost control of bladder and bowels. But it wasn't much hassle, because, even though we were hand-feeding and watering, she didn't consume much.

And then came the day she died. As Whatever is my witness, she died smiling, looking in my wife's eyes.

So, we answered "How Could You" with love. And devotion.

[Lone_Wolf_Moderate]

14. Good God. That was the saddest story ever.

I swaer I choked up for a moment or two. When you knew the dog was only minutes from his demise...man, I tell you. When the kids cried for their dog, that was rough.

Now, if we can show that much love for our pets, surely we can show even greater compassion for innocent human life, like the hopelessly poor, the war torn, the abandoned...the unborn?

No politics, just saying.

[Cone10]

17. Read this before

I just had to put my dog to sleep last week because of a severe illness and I made the mistake of reading this on a web site for Cocker Spaniels. I cried and cried. Some people are more sensitive to a story like this. There is nothing wrong with people being moved by it. If it saves even one animal from dying in an over crowded shelter then it was worth it. I watched as my vet put a tourniquet on my dogs leg and gave him an injection and believe me it is a heart wrenching experience for anyone who has had to go through it.

[REP]

31. There's a Huge Difference Between Death to End Suffering and Dumping

You did what you did to save your dog from suffering. There's nothing cruel or cowardly about that. It's not an easy thing to do, but it is the most humane thing when an animal companion is so ill that life has become a burden. Anyone who can make this last loving decision for a beloved companion deserves respect and sympathy.

People who dump animals at shelters because they have become inconvenient are vile and beneath contempt.

[skoppa]

28. I had to put down my dog, toro,...

..because he would have seizures and then attack people. It made me so sad to think that we had done something so horrible to my family and friend. :cry:

[Buddyblazon]

34. I have two cats...

Coltrane and Bird.

Bird was taken too young from his mother by my GF's irresponsible friend. He still has nursing issues. She had him for one week and decided she didn't want him. She planned on turning him into the pound.

Knowing that Trane needed a buddy, I decided to take Bird (at the time she thought that "he" was a "she"). But not before I chewed her out. I told her that taking a pet was a committment to that animal until it passed. That you don't take a pet for a week, and turn it over to the pound when you get sick of it after a week.

She stared at me blankly like I was crazy. I'm a big guy, but I love animals. She just didn't get it. I'm still pissed at her and that was two years ago.

Bird is now 20lbs and just starting to really fill out. And he's a sweety. His laying between me and the keyboard right now purring away. And I just hugged both him and Coltrane and told them how lucky they were.

Yes, the holocaust was a horrible thing. If I could've saved even one person, I would have. But as caring human beings we have certain responsibilities in life. That's why I raise my voice against this war and do all I can to put a cog in the works. We do what we can. But comparing the two is ridiculous.

They may just be animals to some of you...but anyone that does what that woman did is an irresponsible fuck that has little regard for life. It speaks volumes about a persons character. If she had been a guy, I can't say I wouldn't have punched her square in the nose. And maybe that says something about my character.

[WillParkinson]

35. No one...

Save, perhaps, me, compared it to the Holocaust.

What the poster said was that we should remove anything that brings out emotions in people since another poster thought it was overly preachy and maudlin and that those who have emotions about it are easily manipulated.

Please do not think that someone compared it to the Holocaust.

[Buddyblazon]

36. Well I apologize for sounding preachy too....

but when I think about the situation that brought Bird into my possession...I get really worked up.

[Clintmax]

37. Good gods!

Tears? How about complete and total sobbing! :cry: Regardless what some people say, that is NOT tripe! Thanks for posting!