Lion on the rocks by Cynthia Kelly. |
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Contact artist at ckelly@california.com |
Support RESCUE by fostering or adopting a needy pet!
Objective: To encourage responsible pet ownership! Don't buy from pet shops as it only promotes and encourages irresponsible
breedings. Do buy from devoted/reputable breeders who follow a code of ethics when breeding dogs. Do spay and
neuter your pets........ it's the healthy and right thing to do. Having litters of pups is not easy and it takes lots of
time, money, energy, devotion, commitment for the lifetime of the pets. There are enough animals already in the animal shelters
whose fate is bleak. Please consider fostering or adopting a rescue dog in need of a permanent and caring home.
Rhodesian Ridgeback rescue in northern California.
> "How Could You?" > Copyright Jim Willis 2001 > > Dear Friends - What follows is a
new essay I've written, which I hope will > help change some minds among those who consider animals disposable. That's
> not you, of course, but if it only sits in your in-box, then it is just > "preaching to the choir."
I hope you will post it where it can be read by > those most in need of its message, distribute it to your address
books, and > cross-post it to other lists. You are welcome to distribute it any way you > like, just
please retain the title and copyright line. > > > "How Could You?" > Copyright Jim
Willis 2001 > <jwillis@bellatlantic.net> > > 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 happybecause you >
were happy. Then the human babies came along and I sharedyour 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 > andpulled 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 > realitiesfacing 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. Atfirst, 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 baddream...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 shebears > weighs heavily on her, and I
know that, the same way I knew your everymood. > > She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg
as a tear ran down > hercheek. 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, orhave
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 >
> 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 > America's shelters. > > Anyone is welcome to distribute the essay for a non-commercial
purpose,as > long as it is properly attributed with the copyright notice. Pleaseuse it > to help educate,
on your websites, in newsletters, on animal shelter and > vet office bulletin boards. I appreciate receiving copies
ofnewsletters > which reprint "How Could You?" or "The Animals' Savior,"sent to me at the >
last postal address below. Tell the public that the decision to add a pet > to the family is an important one for
life, thatanimals 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 & neuter campaigns
in > order to prevent unwanted animals. If you are a member of an animal welfare > organization, I encourage
you to participate in the Spay/Neuter Billboard > Campaign from ISAR (International Society for Animal Rights); for
more > information,please visit: http://www.i-s-a-r.com > > Thank you,
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