Animals put to sleep?

Question

This is the saddest story make sure that you read all of it and have a
box of hankies handy. This in relation to getting a "No Kill" animal
shelter in Knoxville.

Pass this on to any pet lover that you know.

"How Could You?" by An Animal Lover

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 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 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 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
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 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 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.

The End

A Note From a Pet Care Professional

The dog in this story could easily be a cat, a ferret, a rabbit, or any
of the numerous animals discarded at shelters. Please remember that
animals are not disposable.

Answer 1

i have to go through this every day. i once had a man bring in his kitten saying it was the devil and he wanted it euthanized. the kitten was perfectly fine and affectionate and we ignored his malicious requests.

Answer 2

I beggan bawling at "No, Daddy..." It was actually written by one of the people that started a site called PowerPets which educates people of animal rights. Very nice story! The ignorance of people who think of their pets as anything but a family member with equal rights is discusting. I'm talking about the people that rehome an animal that has been replaced by a human baby, or because their new home isn't a place for it, or that their child is severly allergic. I often get suspicious that these are the three overly-common reasons for giving one up, and I think that most times people say this to a shelter just so they have a good enough excuse, when in reality, they just don't care and are too lazy to teach it to go to the bathroom in the right spot or whatever. But the people that actually make these decisions without thinking of their pet are just as bad. I'm not saying to choose a dog over your child, but there are ways to help any and evrey problem that may airse. It just takes work and time, which is why many people take an easy way out.

Answer 3

OMG I am in tears right now over that story, there is no way I could ever work at an animal shelter that wasn't a no-kill. I'd be bawling every time I had to do it. I agree with the person that said I would live in my car before I gave up my pets. I am allergic to cats and yet I have two of them. I would not give them up for the world. It makes me so angry when people get an animal only to give it up again. If they don't have time for an animal then they should never have gotten one to begin with. I am definatly going to share this story with many others. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Answer 4

Awww, i be attentive to what you're dealing with. I easily have a puppy mouse precise now who's getting up there in age (fantastically much 2 years previous now) and that i wish she purely is going peacefully while the time comes. besides, definite, the main common form of euthanizing animals is thru a chain of injections, or a gas. many times something to lead them to relatively calm and sleepy fantastically much, and then the euthenasia. yet for a small animal, one or the different is greater then sufficient. Their bodies are so tiny they do no longer want as many drugs as a much better animal could. And no, it would not bypass directly to the middle. It gets injected via a vein and into the bloodstream which works to the middle. No, you do no longer could desire to bypass away the room. i be attentive to somebody who had to place their guinea pig to sleep and he or she held him the full time. and that i did an identical with my canine. some people % to bypass away. yet no longer each and every person does. it relatively is all as much as you. And no, you do no longer ought to % cremation. purely be constructive you convey a splash field with you so they're in a position to place your mouse's physique in it afterwards. in case you have any questions approximately precisely what's going to ensue, call you vet. they're going to inform you each and every thing you desire to be attentive to. i'm sorry approximately your little mouse. good success with each and every thing.

Answer 5

That was really touching. Thanks for sharing it. I actually bought my home FOR my animals. I don't regret it one bit. If they couldn't come with me when I moved it wouldn't have been worth it. I had bad credit and took a "hard money loan" to keep them from ending up in a shelter. A year later I managed to get a traditional loan. I'll never understand most people. I know sometimes there is no choice but usually where there is a will there is a way.....

Answer 6

that was so sad i almost started to cry if it wsn't for the people here i would have had tears running down my face.

why do people have to do things like that to poor little helpless animals i mean what did they ever do to us.all they did was confert us.

the last part of the poem or story was the saddest.

i hope people reduce the amount of dogs put to sleep just because they can't take care of a dog anymore

whats the point of getting a dog if they cant take care of it

the poem or story was wonderful i hope many people read this and understand how the poor animals most feel

Answer 7

Wow. I am crying now as I type. So sad. I don't care if I end up living in my car, my dog is going with me if I can't find a place that allows pets. I hope everything goes according to plan for that shelter. Thank you for posting that.

Answer 8

Ummmm....... where's the question