Posted on 12/04/2004 1:11:19 PM PST by treeclimber
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.
Breaks my heart because I know someone who has a dog they have to euthanize. They have had her for longer than I have been living. I have 2 dogs and they love me so much. One of them is technically my mom's dog, but she is mine, hate to break it to you mom. I am literally sitting here crying, good thing no-one besides me is in the office today.
Man.
Many people don't understand that getting a dog is a LIFETIME decision. If you get a dog, it's for keeps.
It is unfortunate that so many view a dog as a disposable object to be discarded at the first inconvenience.
Alias Puff the Magic Dragon.
I know how you feel, I had to put "my friend" down two years ago, because he was suffering so bad of old age, how do you sayu good-bye to them when you take them to the vet's office, it was so hard.....
You need to put a torture ALERT on this one!
I'm sorry I read it.
My husband and I love our three Golden Retrievers more than our knds!(just kidding)-kinda---
this is a killer for dog lovers.
This is very hard to read - and painfully true.
Thank you for posting it.
Many years ago, found a pup sitting on my best friend's grave (I go out every year to clear and clean around it). Named him Randy. Today, Randy is sitting in my former house with my ex-wife. He was too old to move around with me.
I'll pay for him to stay with someone next week when she's on holiday, and I'll pay for his shots &ct as well.
When I'm done with this TDY, I'll go back and pick Randy up for a visit.
When he dies, I'll take him home, and dig a six foot hole by hand, and lay him to rest.
You bet it's a lifetime commitment.
/john
BTTT
I have absolutely NO use for an owner that would do something like this!!!You can rest assured this sort of thing happens everyday and is indicitive of the unworthiness of the human race.
Strong stuff for those of us who love our furry critters.
It made my monitor go all blurry...
Oh man..........I can't see to type.
That's beautiful.
We have a Boston and a Boxer. We will have both of them until they die. When they do, I will bury them in the back yard.
The thought of just throwing either of them away is inconceivable. If having them inconveniences us, than so be it.
But, we when we got them, we were mature enough to understood that they rely on us for their shots, shelter and food; and they return it with unconditional love and acceptance.
No way in he** am I going to reward such loyalty with betrayal and death.
Well, I'm bawling now. I had to put my best friend to sleep a few years ago. I was too much of a coward to stay with him. I don't see what choice I had. He was incontitnent and I was spending all my time cleaning him up. He was arthritic, half blind, and half death. Dementia was setting in big time. I was broken up for a long time. I thought I was over it until now. I feel like I betrayed him.
I love my puppy so much. She has chewed every shoe down to the last two pair that I store up high. I can never imagine my life without her. My husband and children love her too. But when she was four weeks old and nursing in her sleep, I became her mommy and she my devoted pup.
She goes everywhere we can take her. I had to wash blankets in the big laundrymat machines and took her with me, we sat in the cold car and played. Later,she got a fantastic pig ear.
I can step out the door two minutes and she acts as though it has been two years. Almost 9 months old, so devoted, so loving.
My eleven year old son stomped his foot at me a coupla weeks ago in frustration. LOL.. she growled and raised her fur. It was tough for me to keep from howling with laughter so I could finish the punishment Of course I am sure future spankings will hafta be done behind closed doors too.
Love my Dozer, the most rurnt bag of fur I have ever known. I am sad for every dog who suffers at the hands of people with no regard for devoted dogs.
God, that breaks my heart. I wish I hadn't read it.
I feel for your friend. I'm sitting here with my 12 year old lab/chessie mix curled up on a cushion at my feet. She has her good days, but she is starting to get weak. Hubby and I aren't sure if she is going to make it through the winter.
It looks like you did the best thing for him.
If he was old and in pain, and he had nothing to look forward to every day than more of the same, you mercifully put him to rest and ended his pain.
Betrayal happens when a perfectly healthy and happy dog is thrown away by the family it loves because he becomes too much of a bother.
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