I read this sad story on another forum. i don't know if anybody is interested, but this happens all over the world, so it might touch your heartstrings.

How could you?

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 belly rub.

My housetraining 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 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 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 dog-speak, 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 animal shelters.

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Women are like milk cartons.
Its not so much what's inside nor how it looks on the outside.
It's getting those fucking flaps open!!!

Dear God, I can't believe I read the whole thing!!! It's so bloody sad!

I rescued my dog six years ago and we've moved several times together. I never understood how people could abandon their pet because they're moving!

Bringing your pet to an animal shelter and/or having it put to sleep is far more compassionate than letting it "go free" to fend for itself which happens a lot in our neck of the woods.



Get your PETS FIXED, people....it's the RIGHT thing to do!

And...if you can barely take care of yourself, don't GET a pet in the first place!

Sheesh...sorry to rant. This is VERY close to my heart. My mother-in-law at one point had 25++ cats, wild and tame, under her "care". It was less than caring and in my opinion, was animal cruelty.

All of our family pets are and have been abandoned strays that were found, or taken in to the Humane Society. (And yes, we get them all fixed, it's the sensible thing to do)

This made me cry... pets don't understand our cruelty.

I have a friend in a rural area who says people always "dump" their pets outside her house, thinking that country people will take in any animal that doesn't fend for itself. They have to have a lot of them put down anyway. RandyGal, I agree - some people just shouldn't have pets!

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It isn't what you call me, it's what I answer to that counts.

No Comment!---Sorry;Big;Bad-Ass;Former enforcer for motorcycle
gangs;has two very soft spots;Pets&kids! Irish

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Irish---Better to be dead & cool,then alive & uncool!
(Harley Davidson & the Marlboro Man)

That is terribly sad. Animals give their whole hearts to us and all they hope for in return is to be loved. Sometimes I think we have a lot to learn from our pets.

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Well as some of you know I do certain breed rescues as well as train and show dogs, Many people refer to the passing of the dogs as going to the Rainbow bridge. Here is a tribute to all of you who have taken in dogs from the street or from rescue.
The Bridge Unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray, damp as a swamp and as dismal as could be imagined. All of the recent arrivals had no idea what to think, as they had never experienced a day like this before. But the animals who had been waiting for their beloved people knew exactly what was going on and started to gather at the pathway leading to The Bridge to watch.

It wasn't long before an elderly animal came into view, head hung low and
tail ragging. The other animals, the ones who had been there for a while,
knew what his story was right away, for they had seen this happen far too
often.

He approached slowly, obviously in great emotional pain, but with no sign of
injury or illness. Unlike all of the other animals waiting at The Bridge, this animal had not been restored to youth and made healthy and vigorous
again. As he walked toward The Bridge, he watched all of the other animals
watching him. He knew he was out of place here and the sooner he could cross over, the happier he would be. But, alas, as he approached The Bridge, his way was barred by the appearance of an Angel who apologized, but told him that he would not be able to pass. Only those animals who were with their people could pass over Rainbow Bridge. With no place else to turn to, the elderly animal turned towards the fields before The Bridge and saw a group of other animals like himself, also elderly and infirm. They weren't playing, but rather simply lying on the green grass, forlornly staring out at the pathway leading to The Bridge. And so, he took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting.

One of the newest arrivals at The Bridge didn't understand what he had just
witnessed and asked one of the animals that had been there for a while to
explain it to him.


"You see, that poor animal was a rescue. He was turned in to rescue just as
you see him now, an older animal with his fur graying and his eyes clouding.
He never made it out of rescue and passed on with only the love of his
rescuer to comfort him as he left his earthly existence. Because he had no
family to give his love to, he has no one to escort him across The Bridge."

The first animal thought about this for a minute and then asked, "So what
will happen now?" As he was about to receive his answer, the clouds suddenly parted and the gloom lifted. Approaching The Bridge could be seen a single person and among the older animals, a whole group was suddenly bathed in a golden light and they were all young and healthy again, just as they were in the prime of life.

"Watch, and see.", said the second animal. A second group of animals from
those waiting came to the pathway and bowed low as the person neared. At
each bowed head, the person offered a pat on the head or a scratch behind
the ears. The newly restored animals fell into line and followed him towards
The Bridge. They all crossed The Bridge together.

"What happened ?..."
"That was a rescuer. The animals you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because of his work. They will cross when their new families arrive. Those you saw restored were those who never found homes. When a rescuer arrives, they are allowed to perform one, final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort those poor animals that they couldn't place on earth across The Rainbow Bridge."

Author unknown ...

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-Seems we got here just in the nick of time. Whats that make us?
--Big damn heros Sir.
-Ain't we just.

Oh my! *tears*

I feel like my heart bleeds for animals that are abandoned, stray, chained and only allowed a small circle to move around, beat ( I watched a local news cast of a man chasing a dog and beating him all the way into a laundry facility where a camera picked up the beating) and any kind of cruelty!

I have a few friends that have done similar things with their pets......and I couldn't believe it because before they had children.....these pets (cats and dogs) were their "children!" Oh geezzzzzzzz, I am so sad now.........

I hit a squirrel the other day and I knew I shouldn't but I looked in my rear view mirror to see if maybe, just maybe, he didn't get hurt and he was flopping all over the street and I started crying and I couldn't go back cause I knew no matter what I did it was gonna die anyway and I cried all the way to work and couldn't get the mental picture of that squirrel out of my head for days! I even have a hard time killing the common house fly! I could NEVER treat a pet (a family member) like this!

Wow! I am blown away at this story! I gotta go now!

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Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~

not sure to thank you. missing my cat who got run over in front of me yesterday. crying scares me and this story sent me over the edge. reminded me of right after my first divorce. the judge placed a lot of emphasis of my pre-father criminal record. he tried to terminate my parental rights based on who i was before my daughter. as you can imagine it was a rough time. the dog's constant mourning was more than i could handle and i took him to the pound.

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i'm funnier looking

aww dzbuster...*hugging you hard*

Rough day to see your pet run over..I'm so sorry.

Let me repeat though, there is nothing wrong with bringing your pet to the pound even if it IS his final home. It's a far more humane thing to at least know they've been cared for than just abandoning them to the wild.






Many people don't agree with having your pet put to sleep, and we've had several cats that we could have nursed for years before they finally died. We chose to have them put down while they were still relatively healthy. It's not a kindness to keep them going past the time they would have normally gone.

My MIL however, believes that putting them down is cruel so she kept her golden retriever to the point where he could no longer walk, hold his bladder or see. He ended up with maggots in his beautiful coat and in his flesh and my husband and I finally dragged the poor dear to the vet. The vet was angry as hell that the animal had been "loved" so much that the owner could not do what was best for the PET.

It still sickens me to this day to know how cruel we are to animals because we claim to "love" them..............

oh man..sorry...another soapbox speech.

People do the same to their human loved ones every day... love is blind in more ways than one, I think. Hence the "euthanasia" debate, and hence doctors have to tiptoe around end-of-life care for fear of a patients family....

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It isn't what you call me, it's what I answer to that counts.

Mmmmmm yes, you are very right six.

Life is unkind to pets and humans alike sometimes.

So sad..........and good point.

six---Sometimes;you are burdened(?)with a mother like myself;
and there is nothing that you can do;except prolong the inevitable
She is 89;my father died yrs. ago;and now lives(exists)in an assisted living home.She spends thousands of $;a year;on useless
Drs.fees;medical tests;and pills!She is( super)religous and constantly says that she wishes the Good Lord would take her.
My wife;kids;and I;think it is stupid;but what can you do?She's;
still;my mother&I love her!
On the other subject;there used to be an ad(I don't know what
for);on TV;that showed;what looked like a medium sized shepard;
on a chain in a backyard.You could hear;a party; going on inside;
and a person saying-Didn't you used to have a cute puppy?A voice;then said-Yeah;but he's not so cute anymore.I leave him
outside;all of the time;now!After seeing it a few times;I knew what was coming.I used to change the channel;because I could'nt
take it! Irish

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Irish---Better to be dead & cool,then alive & uncool!
(Harley Davidson & the Marlboro Man)

Are we missing a point here?

Animals under our care are a deep responsibility, for their care

their wellbeing and their quality of life.

I have seen too many examples of people's attachment and

emotional dependence on their pet holding the animal here

long after a rational person would have made the decision that

the animal's pain exceeded it's quality of life.

Think of the animal, folks. It depends on you.

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Calm, quiet, smooth, devastating