Please read before re homing

[luke2702]

How Could You?

Copyright Jim Willis 2001, all rights reserved

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 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. 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.

The End

[mask-of-sanity]

that brought tears to my eyes...............but its very true and is happening more and more these days ...........a dog is for life ..that seems to have gone out the window

[cpiggott22]

Oh my god, that's made me cry. That made me think of my beautiful GSD who was ditched after her owner met a new partner. For two years she waited, growing lonelier, more aggressive with other dogs, fatter, slower and ever more hopeless. I look at her now and my heart just swells after what she's been through.... being shut indoors for hours on end because she barks, getting 10 minutes of exercise and attention a day, getting a bed too small for her to lie out properly on and living in the equivilent of a cupboard because she's so big....and I can't help but love her to pieces. My relationship recently broke down but there's just no way I could ever live with myself if I sent a 10 year old dog back into kennels after what she's already gone through...it's me and her right 'til the end

[Johelian]

Everytime I read that I feel really depressed. A friend of mine had to give up her dog due to massive changes in her workload. She took her to a well-known dog home, and was totally distraught at leaving her there but knew it was for the best. A month or so later she called them up to see how the dog was doing - she was told that the dog had been put to sleep not long after being brought in, as she was considered "unlikely to settle in a new home". Considering the dog had been a cherished pet with no previous issues, this came as a shocking revelation to my friend.

[xXFooFooLaFluffXx]

ill post what ive put on the same thread in domestic classifieds
though it is upsettin to read, remember that was written by a human, not a dog, they are puttin human emotion onto a dog to play with your heart strings. thats probably not even close to what goes through a dogs mind. ive had to take a dog i had to a dogs home, i had tried to rehome her to homes but it didnt work out and in the end i took her to a home that had a no kill policy. She was better off with a family, not me, as i couldnt cater for her needs. i still miss her but it doesnt make me a bad person just because i took her there. i did it for her not me.

what does upset me is the fact animals are put to sleep for reasons other than health reasons, not the fact that some end up in homes - as for some, thats their best chance to get a good family to look after them and to get out of a situation that with all the good intent in the world could have been more unhappy than happy

[Jacs]

that was so sad, actually made me cry

[mask-of-sanity]

Originally Posted by xXFooFooLaFluffXx

ill post what ive put on the same thread in domestic classifieds
though it is upsettin to read, remember that was written by a human, not a dog, they are puttin human emotion onto a dog to play with your heart strings. thats probably not even close to what goes through a dogs mind. ive had to take a dog i had to a dogs home, i had tried to rehome her to homes but it didnt work out and in the end i took her to a home that had a no kill policy. She was better off with a family, not me, as i couldnt cater for her needs. i still miss her but it doesnt make me a bad person just because i took her there. i did it for her not me.

what does upset me is the fact animals are put to sleep for reasons other than health reasons, not the fact that some end up in homes - as for some, thats their best chance to get a good family to look after them and to get out of a situation that with all the good intent in the world could have been more unhappy than happy

you can see sadness in dogs eyes that are in shelters...i no mine pine for me if i am not here ....yes sometimes re homing is done for valid reasons other times it is done for selfish reasons ...imo if you get a dog you keep it no matter what , my relationship broke up and i cant work due to a back condition so live on very little money ..but my dogs never go without and i would never dream of re homing them, i would rather feed them than myself and belive me at times i do

[xXFooFooLaFluffXx]

Originally Posted by mask-of-sanity

you can see sadness in dogs eyes that are in shelters...i no mine pine for me if i am not here ....yes sometimes re homing is done for valid reasons other times it is done for selfish reasons ...imo if you get a dog you keep it no matter what , my relationship broke up and i cant work due to a back condition so live on very little money ..but my dogs never go without and i would never dream of re homing them, i would rather feed them than myself and belive me at times i do

i agree some look sad, but i bet they dont look sad at meal times! or when they go for walks! no one sees a dog 24 hours a day so no one knows if they "look sad" all the time.

how can you say some dogs are rehomed for valid reasons then in the same breath say if you get a dog you keep it no matter what, thats a contradiction in itself. And if it applies for dogs why doesnt that apply to all animals? if you get an animal you should keep it no matter what? in an ideal world that would work but in reality it just doesnt. i didnt rehome my dog because of money, i did it because she and the other dogs couldnt cope or settle with the move of house. It would have been more unfair to make her live somewhere were she wasnt happy. Or would that have been better? keep her somewhere she is miserable so long as she doesnt go to a shelter for rehoming or a chance at gettin a happier life??

[mask-of-sanity]

Originally Posted by xXFooFooLaFluffXx

i agree some look sad, but i bet they dont look sad at meal times! or when they go for walks! no one sees a dog 24 hours a day so no one knows if they "look sad" all the time.

how can you say some dogs are rehomed for valid reasons then in the same breath say if you get a dog you keep it no matter what, thats a contradiction in itself. And if it applies for dogs why doesnt that apply to all animals? if you get an animal you should keep it no matter what? in an ideal world that would work but in reality it just doesnt. i didnt rehome my dog because of money, i did it because she and the other dogs couldnt cope or settle with the move of house. It would have been more unfair to make her live somewhere were she wasnt happy. Or would that have been better? keep her somewhere she is miserable so long as she doesnt go to a shelter for rehoming or a chance at gettin a happier life??

its not a contradiction ....some do rehome for valid reasons eg: dog bit a child ......what i said is i would never rehome no matter what ....and some dogs dont do well in shelters..they stop eating and just curl up and stay there....i dont agree with people rehoming but thats me

[rebanna]

I have held many different animals as they were put to sleep when i was between A levels and vet school and it's hart breaking even with a stranger they will give you a lick and wag there tail wondering why your crying. (reason i didnt go) This made me cry glad im not the only soppy one