Re: [gardeners] For you dog lovers "How could you"

trillium@Juno.com (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Tue, 13 Feb 2001 15:45:43 -0500 

I agree, what a horrible story!!!!!!!  It makes me so sad to think some
people do things like that.  But it makes me glad that 2 of my 3 cats
were "rescues."  

Elizabeth
trillium@juno.com

On Tue, 13 Feb 2001 13:51:46 -0700 "Alan Zelhart"
<rpcs30@email.sps.mot.com> writes:
> Geeze, thanks for dragging me down this afternoon, now I'm totally
> depressed!  Such a terribly sad story.
> 
> Alan        Chandler, Arizona        Sunset Zone: 13
> 
> http://members.home.net/gizmoaz/~gizmoaz.htm
> Over 145 Rose Bushes Planted! 75 Different varieties! Never a dull 
> moment!!
> 
> 
> byron bromley wrote:
> 
> > Had to pass this on
> >
> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > "How Could You?"
> >
> > Copyright Jim Willis 2001
> >
> > jwillis@b...
> >
> > 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 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 


>