How Could You?
A man in Grand Rapids, Michigan took out a full page ad in the paper to present the following essay to the
people of our community. It really touched my heart and i hope it will tours too.
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, age 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, comforte 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 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 Ihoped 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.
By Jim Willis 2001
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 and 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 adoption.