To whom it may concern: My name is Jim Cozzette I live at 91 jimal drive Middletown NY 10940 my phone # is (845)343-7062. I don’t know if anyone there received this as an email but I am trying to reach as many people as possible with this story. So I hope you can see it in your hearts to print this story Thank you very much.
HOW COULD YOU?
When I was a puppy, I entertained you with my anticsand made you laugh. You called me your child, and despitea number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered throwpillows, 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, becauseyou were terribly busy, but we worked on that together.I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed and listeningto your confidences and secret dreams, and I believed thatlife could not be any more perfect. We went for long walksand runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I onlygot the cone because “ice cream is bad for dogs,” you said),and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come homeat the end of the day.
Gradually, you began spending more time at work and onyour career, and more time searching for a human mate.I waited for you patiently, comforted you through heartbreaksand disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions,and romped with glee at your homecomings, and when youfell in love. She, now your wife, is not a “dog person” — stillwelcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, andobeyed her. I was happy because you were happy.
Then the human babies came along and I shared yourexcitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how theysmelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she andyou worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most ofmy time banished to another room, or to a dog crate.Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a “prisonerof love.”
As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung tomy fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, pokedfingers in my eyes, investigated my ears, and gave mekisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and theirtouch — because your touch was now so infrequent — and Iwould have defended them with my life if need be. I wouldsneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secretdreams, and together we waited for the sound of your car inthe driveway.
There had been a time, when others asked you if you had adog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet andtold them stories about me. These past few years, you justanswered “yes” and changed the subject. I had gone frombeing “your dog” to “just a dog,” and you resented everyexpenditure on my behalf.
Now, you have a new career opportunity in another city, andyou and theywill be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets.You’ve made the right decision for your “family,” but therewas a time when I was your only family. I was excitedabout 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 finda good home for her.” They shrugged and gave you apained look. They understand the realities facing amiddle-aged dog, even one with “papers.”
You had to pry your son’s fingers loose from my collar ashe screamed “No, Daddy! Please don’t let them take my dog!”And I worried for him, and what lessons you had just taughthim about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility,and about respect for all life. You gave me a good-byepat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused totake my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline tomeet and now I have one, too.
After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knewabout your upcoming move months ago and made noattempt to find me another good home. They shook theirheads and asked “How could you?”
They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as theirbusy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but Ilost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passedmy pen, I rushed to thefront, hoping it was you that you had changed your mind –that this was all a bad dream … or I hoped it would at leastbe someone who cared, anyone who might save me. When Irealized I could not compete with the frolicking for attentionof happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a farcorner and waited.
I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the endof the day, and I padded along the aisle after her to aseparate room. A blissfully quiet room.
She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears, and toldme not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of whatwas to come, but there was also a sense of relief.The prisoner of love had run out of days. As is my nature, I wasmore concerned about her.
The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her, and Iknow that, the same way I knew your every mood. Shegently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear randown her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I usedto comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid thehypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and thecool 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 itwas her job to make sure I went to a better place, whereI wouldn’t be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fendfor myself — a place of love and light so very different fromthis earthly place. And with my last bit of energy, I triedto 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, Iwas thinking of. I will think of you and wait for you forever.
May everyone in your life continue to show you somuch 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 compositestory of the millions of formerly owned pets who die eachyear in American and Canadian animal shelters. Anyone iswelcome 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, innewsletters, on animal shelter and vet office bulletin boards.Tell the public that the decision to add a pet to the family isan important one for life, that animals deserve our love andsensible care, that finding another appropriate home foryour animal is your responsibility and any local humanesociety or animal welfare league can offer you good advice,and that all life is precious. Please do your part to stop thekilling, and encourage all spay & neuter campaigns in order toprevent unwanted animals.
Jim – Thank you for your efforts! If you could please add under the copyright line, From his book “Pieces of My Heart – Writings Inspired by Animals and Nature”http://www.crean.com/jimwillis I added this link if you need the authors approval