Recently Tagged with "tear"

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 bacame 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 cound not be anymore perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, sotpes 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 heartbeaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped with glee at your home comings, and when you fell in love. She, now your wife, is not a "dog person" - still I welcomed her into our home, tired 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 facinated 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 upon 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," amd you resented evey expenditure on my behalf. Now, you have a new carrer 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. I 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 on with "papers." 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 collor and leash with you.

You had a dedline to meet and now I hve 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 hopping 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 cound 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 quite 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 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 gentlyt placed a tourniqauet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her and 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 sleepily, looked into her kine 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 want 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 for this earthly place.

And with my las bit of energy, to tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my "How count you?" was not directed to 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 loytalty,

A note from the author: If "How Could You?" brought tears to your evye as you read it, as it did 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 and Canadian animal shelters. Anyone is welcome to distribute the essay for a noncommerical purpose, as long as it is properly attributed with the copywrite notice. Pleas us it to help educate, on your websited, in newsletters, on animal shelter and vet office bulletin boards. Tell the public that the decision to add a pet to the family is an important one for life, the animals deserve our love and sensible care, that finding another appropriate home for you animal is your responsibility and any local humane society or animal welfare league can offer you good advice, and that all liffe is precious. Please do your part to stop the Killing, and encourge adoption.

I made templates for the head and full body too. I also made a tutorial for beginners to make their own tear bear and template.
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You can access them from my store, you don't have to buy anything. I just wanted to share. If you do use them, please vote "yes" in my guides. I also included instructions on how to make a tear bear and make your own template for beginners.
Thanks!
Please vote "yes" in my guides.