HOW COULD YOU?
Jim Willis 2001
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 would 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 togather. 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 more perfect. We went for long walks and run 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 human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks and dissapointments, 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 "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 now was 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 togather 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 changed 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 allowed pets. You have 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 when 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 a good home.
They shooked their heads and said, "How could you?" They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedule 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 realised 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 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 place a tournique around my foreleg as a tear run 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 she understood my dogspeak, 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 myself -- a place of love and light so 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.
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The above story is meant for you. You heartless creature. He did everything for you. To him, you are his everything. When has he ever not greet you with a wagging tail and spontaneous licks when you came home from work? He follows you everywhere you go. When you watched TV, he lied quietly beside you. When you revised for exams till wee hours, he lied beside your chair and accompanied you. When you eat, he sit beside you and waiting for the chance that you will drop food on the floor where he will gobble it down. When you sleep, he growls and bites anyone who come near you, because he wants to protect you and knows that you are vulnerable when you are sleeping. He barks when he hears anyone at the corridor because he wants to protect your house and ensure your safety, warding off all possible intrusion. All he did when you are at work is to wait patiently for you to return home. When it is time to discipline him, you did not do it well, and thus he could not differentiate the right from wrong. His basic mentality is to do anything to protect you. And he does not know the method he used is wrong. Because you did not train him properly.
He did the best for you. Are you doing your best for him?
All he gets as return is you forsaking him. And you did not even want to give him that last look. To cuddle him and talk to him for the last time. Worse, you even carried the thought of sending him to SPCA, where you knew that he will be put to sleep, because he is no longer as cute and attention catching as puppies.
As he is currently staying at a kind generous pet sitter's place, you took that opportunity to kick him out of your house and out of your life. Does he deserves this?
You see him as a chore and obstacle. Fine. Now you have successfully gotten rid of him. Now you can have the peaceful life you want and unite as a happy family with someone who has been loyal to you all along kicked out. This is what you want. Congratulations.
The poor dog whom still think that you are his everything daydream of you all day long, waiting for one day to see you and go home. Even until this point, he refuses to believe that you have abandon him. The person whom he gave his everything.
I cried. Not because I am worried for him. But because I think it is so unworthy for him to give so much for a person and yet the person abandon him. It pains me to see his sad and moody face longing for your return. You have abandoned in such a tactful and genious way. You win. I fell into your trap.