PET ABANDONMENT HURTS
"How Could You" is written through the eyes of the abandoned pet.
"Whatever Happened to Hope" is a true story about how the kids are affected.

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 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, 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. 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 or cat, 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. 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 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, 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. 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 meant for 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

© 2001 Jim Willis, Tiergarten Sanctuary Trust, http://jimwillis0.tripod.com/tiergarten/index.html

 

     

 

Whatever Happened To Hope?

The August day began just like every other summer day that year. The nine year-old girl did all the same things she had done many times before. She got dressed, fixed herself a bowl of Corn Flakes, ate, fed her dog Hope, cleaned up, and went outside to play with Hope.

It would be many years before the child would fully understand the impact that this particular August day would have on the rest of her life.

Things went much the same as they always had until after dinner. The little girl’s mother told her to stay around the house because they would be leaving soon. The girl wondered what her mom meant; they had never gone anywhere before.

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before her mom’s friend drove up, and the young girl was told to get in the car with her older brother and sister. She sat quietly in the back, looking out the window, enthralled with the many wonders whizzing by. This was, indeed, a real treat.

After some time, they reached their destination. The three kids were told to get out of the car and wait there. Obediently, they did as they were told. They got out and watched their mother and her friend drive away.

The three of them sat on the curb for many hours, and the little girl was getting sleepy.  “When is Mommy coming back? I’m sleepy, and I want to go home to bed."

Her big brother told her they weren’t going home. "Mom told me to stay here till our father comes home.”

“Oh, we’re going to see Daddy tonight”, the little girl thought to herself, “That’s why we’re here. I wonder what he looks like. I haven’t see or heard from him since he left a long time ago; I was in the second grade then, and next month I start the fifth grade.”

As time wore on, even the excitement of seeing her father again couldn’t keep the little girl awake. She lay on the curb and fell asleep. Eventually, her oldest sister arrived, took the three kids in the house, and put them to bed.

Suddenly, in the middle of the night, the little girl was awakened by screaming!

“I told you if I stopped support payments, she would dump the kids”, the little girl heard a man say.

It was then that she understood the real purpose of their trip. She would not be going home tomorrow. She would not be going home ever!

The little girl whimpered softly to herself. “What will happen to Hope? Without me there to protect him, will Mommy send him away? He won’t eat without me. He’ll cry all the time waiting for me to come for him. He won’t understand what’s happened. He’ll think I don’t love him anymore. Please, God, take care of Hope, and tell him I love him.”

 

     

View the presentation, Animal Kingdom by Larisa Cadiz.  (If you are unable to view the Flash presentation below, you may download the PowerPoint slide show here.)