How Could You?

just a poem i found. it will have you in tears

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 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

very true poem...

Ah lilly! That was like watchin Marley and me again! Though it's worse because its true. Makes ya wonder.....

good poem i seen it happen so many dogs but i'd never let nothin come between me and my dogs at the end of the day people will turn there back on you for no reason at all but with a dog no matter what you do or how bad it is they stil dont care and love you more than any person ever could

Yeah its sad and a tough job for an animal lover to put a dog to sleep

can i get that sent to my email..i want to have that over my fireplace with my dogs in a frame....please please

very nice. noone will make me get rid of my dogs. i moved house last friday week. i had so much stuff in the house and then my landlady rang. she said my nextdoor neighbour rang her and sed i'm after turning up with 2 dogs. she said i can stay there just get rid of the dogs. i told her theyre my familly and i'm not getting rid of them over a place to live or a person i dont know. she asked was i willing to move over the dogs. i said no your willing to move me over the dogs. found a place that evening and the landlord and his wife wanted to meet the dogs. they didnt allow dogs but they made an exception because they stay in crates...and felt sorry for me!! i'd live on the streets before i got rid of my dogs. i raised them from puppies, the least i can do is bury them like a family member when their time comes.

colm wrote:very nice. noone will make me get rid of my dogs. i moved house last friday week. i had so much stuff in the house and then my landlady rang. she said my nextdoor neighbour rang her and sed i'm after turning up with 2 dogs. she said i can stay there just get rid of the dogs. i told her theyre my familly and i'm not getting rid of them over a place to live or a person i dont know. she asked was i willing to move over the dogs. i said no your willing to move me over the dogs. found a place that evening and the landlord and his wife wanted to meet the dogs. they didnt allow dogs but they made an exception because they stay in crates...and felt sorry for me!! i'd live on the streets before i got rid of my dogs. i raised them from puppies, the least i can do is bury them like a family member when their time comes.

FAIR f**king play to you ,its a p;ity theres not more dog owners like you.Its sad ,but its nearly always good dog owners who have strife with landlords,dog wardens etc. and puppy farming ******* go on and on at their evil trade..

that wat were dealing with these days. only the good get punished

Colm your a true animal lover, i love your devotion to your dogs, fairplay

Lol, your neighbour was very watchful wasn't she? a 20month old and 10month and she noticed it 2weeks ago?? But Fair-play to ya :D

mark wrote:can i get that sent to my email..i want to have that over my fireplace with my dogs in a frame....please please

nice idea mark i can do it for you if you tell me what pic's you want in the background?

colm wrote:very nice. noone will make me get rid of my dogs. i moved house last friday week. i had so much stuff in the house and then my landlady rang. she said my nextdoor neighbour rang her and sed i'm after turning up with 2 dogs. she said i can stay there just get rid of the dogs. i told her theyre my familly and i'm not getting rid of them over a place to live or a person i dont know. she asked was i willing to move over the dogs. i said no your willing to move me over the dogs. found a place that evening and the landlord and his wife wanted to meet the dogs. they didnt allow dogs but they made an exception because they stay in crates...and felt sorry for me!! i'd live on the streets before i got rid of my dogs. i raised them from puppies, the least i can do is bury them like a family member when their time comes.

its a pity theres not more people like you out there colm, you wouldn believe the amount of dogs that have being put to sleep, rescue and rehomed because of that, dogs even 7 years old kicked out, and to be honest i cant understand how any1 could just say goodbye to their dogs just like that.
fair play i would do the same too

Since you brought this up, about older dogs been just abandoned. Someone i know threw out a Staffy at my house. I wasnt home at the time, but my mam brought the poor dog in, he was 9 yrs old at the time and a real softy. Unfortunatley i couldnt keep him. Due to space and other pets, i found him a home. At 9 yrs old multiply that by 7 and that was tha poor dogs true age. Some people just dont have any feelings towards their pets

its sad very sad eamo, just treated like disposable items.

Theres an old saying, what goes around comes around.

GoldenBoy wrote:Lol, your neighbour was very watchful wasn't she? a 20month old and 10month and she noticed it 2weeks ago?? But Fair-play to ya :D

i only moved in. i was in the house 3 hours. after putting things away n all.

eamo s wrote:Theres an old saying, what goes around comes around.

very true eamo