How Could You? (Dog lovers, pls read)
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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 housetraining 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, 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, especially their touch - because your touch was now 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. 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 or cat, 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 goodbye 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, 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 meant for her. It was you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of. I will think of you and wait for you forever.
May everyone in your life continue to show you so much loyalty.
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Copyright © Jim Willis 2001, all rights reserved
http://www.crean.com/jimwillis -
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my tears nearly dropped.
i have a dog, a jack russell terrier, and i really love him a lot. tho he's naughty at time, chewed my PS2 joystick cable, pissed on my bed, shredded my credit card into pieces which i never failed to give him a few twacks of the cane, but he's juz like a child to our family.
like the story u extracted for this topic, he's always the first one in the family to greet me whenever i'm back home. i play wif him, watch tv wif him, sleep wif him, almost do anything together wif him when i'm at home. even sian cha bor (he's a babe magnet), and also go to bbq session together
i really cant imagine what's life is like w/o him. it'll be a real bore as i stayed at home most of the times.
and then now i've plans to go china soon. it really hurts when the thoughts of leaving him came into my mind.... *sob* -
Haizz.. si bEi saD sia.
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hav de sam dOg as ya. Its reLi a "Destroyer" bUt still pamper hEr..Originally posted by danger7755:my tears nearly dropped.
i have a dog, a jack russell terrier, and i really love him a lot. tho he's naughty at time, chewed my PS2 joystick cable, pissed on my bed, shredded my credit card into pieces which i never failed to give him a few twacks of the cane, but he's juz like a child to our family.
like the story u extracted for this topic, he's always the first one in the family to greet me whenever i'm back home. i play wif him, watch tv wif him, sleep wif him, almost do anything together wif him when i'm at home. even sian cha bor (he's a babe magnet), and also go to bbq session together
i really cant imagine what's life is like w/o him. it'll be a real bore as i stayed at home most of the times.
and then now i've plans to go china soon. it really hurts when the thoughts of leaving him came into my mind.... *sob* -
really!? yeah, super "destroyer". juz now juz punctured my nike air shoe. luckily it's not a new one, that pair of shoes abt 3 - 4 years old liao. if new one, i sure cane him and make him face the wall for at least 2 hours!Originally posted by pOki7:hav de sam dOg as ya. Its reLi a "Destroyer" bUt still pamper hEr.. -
I've got a shiba inu... who else here got dog and what breed?
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Actually, to be frank, I heard this over the radio while I was in the base gym when I was in America... and my tears rolled down! (lucky no one else was in the gym) Damn sad when I heard it, cos I used to have 2 dogs about 10 years ago... We put the first dog to sleep when we moved to my new HDB flat cos my mum was worried that the HDB people will come to check.
My parents brought him to SPCA while they left me at my auntie's place (I like to go there cos got computer to play)... When I went back and found out that they had finally brought him to SPCA I cried... was sad for a few days. I knew that they were going to do it, but I didn't know when. My mum didn't really like the dog much, cos he's very naughty, but she said that when they left SPCA and heard him barking, she cried as well...
So this story reminded me of what WE did to our first dog...
Rocky, I'm sorry... -
goodness..
really so sad siah..
me have a cross breed- maltese+jack russell..m i swear i won't do the same thing to her.. -
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Haiz...
a damm pitiful story....
wht take dog when u can't care for it through its life....
it makes people wonder....
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We didn't know... when we got two dogs things were ok lor, but then at that time some idiot wrote to the Forum page about ppl having two dogs in HDB flats, and it was their focus during the time we got our new flat...Originally posted by DaWuGui:Haiz...
a damm pitiful story....
wht take dog when u can't care for it through its life....
it makes people wonder....
now think also heart pain... how we just let him go... I will never ever do it again. fine fine lor, i don't care. i'm not going to kill my dog... -
parents are soo cruel to their kids pets.
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...i like dogs..esp puppy.....
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i prefer cats... but i like dogs too...
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I h8 cats.Originally posted by Mazohyst:i prefer cats... but i like dogs too...
so impersonal. just come to you when they are hungry...
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that must mean tht ur a shallow person.Originally posted by Storm:I h8 cats.
so impersonal. just come to you when they are hungry... -
maybe i am, maybe i'm not. you dont' know me. nice of you to pass judgment like that!Originally posted by Mazohyst:that must mean tht ur a shallow person. -
no problem... to quote tht movie, you feel cats are impersonal, and you prefer the company of an emotionally shallow animal. a cat doenst trust anyone at first, but once it trusts you, it will be loyal to u forever.Originally posted by Storm:maybe i am, maybe i'm not. you dont' know me. nice of you to pass judgment like that! -
what movie is that, oh Deep-one?Originally posted by Mazohyst:no problem... to quote tht movie, you feel cats are impersonal, and you prefer the company of an emotionally shallow animal. a cat doenst trust anyone at first, but once it trusts you, it will be loyal to u forever. -
A dog trusts you and is loyal to you from the get go, and some will even defend you with their life if need be...
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think it was meet the parents... and you don't have to address me like that... i understand tht a lower being like you would find it hard not to revere me... but please... i don't like the connotation.
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haha... trying to draw me into a flame war. nah, i pass...Originally posted by Mazohyst:think it was meet the parents... and you don't have to address me like that... i understand tht a lower being like you would find it hard not to revere me... but please... i don't like the connotation. -
ah... you are wise.. you may yet achieve my level of intelligence if you continue to perservere.