A man in Grand Rapids, Michigan took out a $7000 full page ad in the paper to present the following essay to the people of his community:



HOW COULD YOU?

By 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'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've

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 good-bye 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 directed at you, My

Beloved Master, I was thinking of you. I will think of

You and wait for you forever. May everyone in your

Life continue to show you so much loyalty.

---------------------------

A Note from the Author:



If "How Could You?" brought tears to your eyes as you

read it, as it did to mine as I wrote it, it is

because it is the composite story of the millions

of formerly "owned" pets who die each year in American

& Canadian animal shelters.



Anyone is welcome to distribute the essay for a

noncommercial purpose, as long as it is properly

Attributed with the copyright notice.



Please use it to help educate, on your websites, in

newsletters, on animal shelter and vet office bulletin

Boards. Tell the public that the decision to add a pet

to the family is an important one for life, that

animals deserve our love and sensible care, that

finding another appropriate home for your animal is

your responsibility and any local humane society or

animal welfare league can offer you good advice, and

That all life is precious.



Please do your part to stop the killing, and encourage

all spay and neuter campaigns in order to prevent

unwanted animals. - Jim Willis

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