A letter from a dog – "How Could You?"

by Jim Willis

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 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'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. T hey 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 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 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 American & Canadian animal shelters.

1st Barkday Party

Im so Happy...
noe wat?
i had my hand print on my cake,hehe...
but my owner was so angry.....
cz she said the nice cake was damaged by me....


See properly u cn see a hole under my name....
im proud i had my signature thr....


See all the food?
that all for us.....
all hand made ma owners...
we had apple pie, chicken pie, cookies with cheese,
cookies with kibbles, cookies with cranberries, and cheese stick....


Fatty me


See the white poodle 'Boy Boy'....
he so small in size and he is humping another
male poodle 'shampoo' a which is 3/4 times his size...
so daring...lucky shampoo just let him do whatever he
wanted and not attack him


yukkssss......the hat make me look so funny...


ayo i already said i dun like the hat....
i wun let u all take any pics till u take hat off from my head....


see that hand?
i almost got WHACKED on my birthday for trying to 'curi makan'


see im a good poser...
i was like a superstar....
so many camera's light was on me....


see all my frens?
erm thr's human's thr rite???
too bad all my frens wouldn't sit still so had to ask all of them for help....
just to carry all to take a group pic
let's see whether i can name them all....

From left to right.....
Lexus the red poodle, thr fierce Sushi, Milo the apricot poodle, Blossom the red poodle, Jasmine the white poodle, Shampoo the black poodle, Honeybee the red poodle, Brandy the red and shy poodle, Obama the black brown poodle, Bebe and Belle the Yorkshiere.
In front left to right...
Hershey the brown poodle, ME, Boy Boy the white poodle

Win Win's Day at Spa

So many times i went to Pets Icon never get any free
ribbons....but i got it specially for my birthday o....
cz i went thr on the day of my birthday.


see im so so fluffy


i look like a small piggy o.....


see my spa session...with my groomer Valarie jie jie


yee... malunya why post my ugly picture up???


see the environment


after bathing


see got rob oso o....

Count Down

HELLO everyone out there....
Its time to count down to my big day....
30mins from now....

hehe tell u all 1 secret....
since tomorrow is my BIG DAY....
i get the chance to go for SPA......
will upload some pics to share with you all soon....

wait ya....

12 Months old

hehe wana share stories with u all....
i am now the official PR WIN WIN at the park
Each time i see my frens....
i will go and say HELLO to them....



yes???? did any1 just called me???


feuh..... im so tired after 3 rounds in the park....
im so tired.... but ma owners
keep on asking me to walk so many rounds...



me possing for ma owners....
he wana take pics of me in a stay post....



im cute, im cute.....
i noe i am.....tak tau malu tim....



see im so tired but still must post a hapy face for them



i haven't started running yet dats y i still afford to can smile

1 Year Birthday

I'm 1 years old by next week....

ma owners are so happy and they are going to held a birthday party
for me and my friends to gather and play around......

till then pls wait, for me to load my birthday pics...........

11 Months Old

I noe its not clear but i have my ear furs tied up



can u see 1 side of my ear?


Me at park waiting for ma owner



waiting......



This is my Groomer.....
Am i Beautiful or not?



Even with my groomer i'm also very teh bao 1 o.....



haha you noe y gt so may pictures of my groomer?
cz she keep on saying this pic not nice take again....
my groomer so leng lui.....
load many many pictures oso ok de....