The life of a shelter dog, I wanted to share this with everyone. Some have seen it before and some have not?

Question

"How Could You?"

By Jim Willis

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 anymore perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because you said ice cream is bad for dogs), 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 your 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 their 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 have 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 waiting 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 them 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 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-aged dog, even one with "papers".

You had to pry your son's fingers 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 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, looking into her kind eyes and murmured, "How could you?"

Perhaps she understood my dogspeak because she said "I'm so sorry." She hugged me, and hurriedly explained that 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 myslef: 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 you, my beloved master, that 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.

The End


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 shelters.

I just read both "A Dogs Plea" and " A Chained Dogs Plea" They too made me cry.

Answer 1

I read that one night when I was contemplating giving up on my severly dog aggressive dog. I just started bawling and knew that she was worth saving. It's been a lot of work but we have come a long way and she was absolutely worth it.
I think that is a wonderful story and I think everyone should hear it.

Answer 2

speaking as someone who has seen this all too often,I will never understand how people can just toss away a pet after years of being together.....I worked in a shelter and would cry everytime someone would come in with an older dog and claim "they are just too busy or have to move or we are having a baby so we dont want the dog anymore"what did this creature EVER do to deserve this?yes,I was crying as I read this....anyone with a heart would be!!!!!! now I've been rescuing bully breeds and what a heartbreak it can be!!! these breeds deserve so much more than a life of chains,fighting,breeding till they are used up and then just dumped,being the scapegoats for ANY dog attack even if a different breed was the real culprit........thank you for posting this even though its hard to read it is so true!!!!!! my dog just got a very big tearfilled hug and kiss from me(he was a rescue)with the promise he'd never have to worry again....

Answer 3

Beautiful, and heartbreaking, and all too frequently truthful, story having been shared by an especially beautiful person. I just cannot tolerate those "meat market" pet stores, or those evil people discarding precious pets at the shelters and in the streets. Personally, throughout nearly all my life, I've been doing anything possible to rescue abandoned and betrayed pets, and most become my truly best friends. I can't fathom the mindset of humans who could harm and betray these loving and loyal animals. God bless and protect all the innocent, precious animals and those angelic humans who do care and have compassion.

Answer 4

I volunteer at a shelter and do breed rescue work.
I've spent hours on the phones trying to place dogs before their time was up. I've wanted to take home 100's of dogs.

I'ver seen litters of puppies brought in, the owner "wanted the kids to experience" their dog having pups.

We place less than 25% of the animals brought in and we have a very aggressive placement program.

Spay and nueter is the ONLY answer.
Prevent overpopulation. Prevent unwanted animals that lead to neglect or abuse.

The worst abuse is the nice house in a nice neighborhood with a kennel "outback". The animal inside barks for attention and sees her owner once a day for 15 minutes if she's lucky.
She has food, water, yearly vet appointments, a dog house but lacks attention and companionship. The owner knows something is wrong, so they get another dog to "keep it company". Now you have 2 neglected dogs.

Please don't get an animal unless you are ready for the commitment.

Answer 5

I am sitting here crying because it is not only a heartbreaking story but heartbreakingly true.
so many people have the attitude that a 'pet' is disposable when circumstances change in their lives.
They dont consider that the 'pet' has bonded with you in the only way it knows how, by being your friend,companion,protector and has loyally been by your side through all trials.
I think every single person who buys or decides to own a puppy/dog/cat /animal of any kind should be made to read this first.
If they fail to be moved to tears by its honesty and sadness then they should not have access to a pet.
We have been turned down many times by house owners because they will not rent houses to us because we own a cat or a dog but I could NEVER give up either pet in order to live in the house I like .....the joy they give me is so much greater than the joy any house could.
Godbless you for sharing this I am going to paste & copy and send this on to friends in the hope that they will be moved by it and it will reach people who may be thinking about getting a pet or thinking of getting RID of their own.
This is also the tale of many dogs in Australian shelters too.

Answer 6

Unfortunately, the people who SHOULD read this are the people who won't. They should have a copy of this at every dog shelter and make the human read AND sign it before they give up their pets. I have had my dogs all their lives. They will die with me petting them as they go. If something ever happens to me, I have already made arrangements for their care. My worst nightmare is that any of my beloved pets, cats too, end up alone in a shelter. People make me sick.

Answer 7

WoW! That is so sad! My heart just broke into a million pieces! I'm trying to write this through the tears, it's hard so I just want to say that we all need to wake up and realize that maybe their feelings aren't exactly like humans but they do have feelings. I love my animals very much, I encourage everyone to grab your pet and let them know just how much you love them.

Answer 8

omg
that is soo sad
i need a tissue
i am crying up at the fact that this is true and happens all the time
and how the dog still didnt think bad of his owner and only thought of him returingng
dogs are better than humans

Answer 9

I totally agree!! I get so sick of people buying 500-2,000 dollar dogs just so they can put them in a 1,500 dollar bag!! There always good animals that need a home and would only cost 50 dollars. Adopt a pet today. Visit your local humane society today!!!!!!

Answer 10

Im crying right now well trying to write this. Its like who could abandon their dog like that. i think It should be a law that u cant stick a needle in a pet and watch it die.THATS NOT RIGHT!!!

IF I WAS BRAVE ENOUGH ID GO UP TO THAT WOMEN AND TELL HER SHES A RUDE PERSON!!!!!
I love my pets and i WOULDNT give them up for anything!