Letter from a puppy to its owners
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. They 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.
( fuck shit up the best you never had, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 17:21, 41 replies)

That's not fair.
I can't have tears at work.

*Promises to hug cat when I get home*
( Blind Meach Cautiously optimistic, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 17:24, closed)

*blubs like a little girl*
*clicks*
(Flim-Flam the Magnificent "You is talking loco and I like it!", Thu 4 Mar 2010, 17:27, closed)

Oh great...
You've turned me into a cry-baby.

My little dog 'Monkey' will always be more important than stinky babies, or indeed 'stinky girls'.

I won't click I like this..you understand why..right?
(Galahad is out of his gourd on yellow bentines, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 17:27, closed)

Well that's nice and light hearted
I think i'll just go and stab myself in the neck
(Dwarfsmuggler Has hogtied Snow White, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 17:27, closed)

Well that's a nice light hearted response
I think I'll go play with some kittums now
( fuck shit up the best you never had, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 17:30, closed)

Kittums?
Is that a baby cats tummy

Sorry for the unsubtle reply, I didn't really anticipate sadness at work
(Dwarfsmuggler Has hogtied Snow White, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 17:37, closed)

It's whatever light hearted fluffy thing gets you through the day and stops you from crying at stories someone stole off the internet
Sorry I made you sad, just it's a subject close to my heart as I see it all too often.
( fuck shit up the best you never had, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 17:40, closed)

I thoughT you wrote it
Still fucking blub-tastic though.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 17:50, closed)

You what though she wrote it?

(Bazongaloid, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 18:05, closed)

Hahahaha you got me banged to rights, guv
*hands self in to the nearest spelling concentration camp*
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 18:07, closed)

This is exactly why
I have had and always will have rescue dogs.
*clicks*
( Tourette's ( . )( . ) has a monkey hair in her fried egg, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 17:29, closed)

yes
And exactly why I don't have a dog right now even though I'd really love to have one - it wouldn't be fair because I know I'm going to be moving around a lot and just can't make a commitment.
(xanthine, Sun 7 Mar 2010, 18:53, closed)

Of all the stories I've read on these vast archives,
of all the wretched tales of unrequited love, ruined childhoods, failed relationships and all the horrible ways in which humans have inflicted needless misery upon one another...of all those stories, this is the first one to have made me shed a tear in my own office.
(LongJohnBaldry, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 17:29, closed)

Heavy.
Reminds me of when I got my first rescue dog. Talk about 'not convinced' for the first few days.

I thought I had the most fussy dog in the world.

He rocks massively. Until he died. Poor little fucker. At least he had a number of years being doted on, walked at least twice a day, a pigs-ear/smoked bone at weekend and more toys that he could realistically play with.

Thank you for making animals better for a living.
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 17:32, closed)

I was chopping onions, honest!
*Wipes away errant tear*

*Clicks*
(bill, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 17:35, closed)

Very well written
But fucking sad, I could never do that to a pet of mine,especially a dog or cat, once family always family! Take the best years of it's life then kick it to the curb once it becomes un-compatible with your lifestyle. *shakes head*

PS Not saying you did this, prob just a bit of creative writing.
(bROKEN aRROW PUA HVI Master, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 17:41, closed)

tut tut
stolen as well.....that is a shame, very well written by someone anyways.

www.sutusbulldogs.co.uk/puppies1.htm
(bROKEN aRROW PUA HVI Master, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 17:43, closed)

Hey, I never claimed to be the author and I said up there stolen off the internet
Just thought I'd share it.
( fuck shit up the best you never had, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 17:48, closed)

Fair doo's, not sure if you have to be totally original on here, you certainly do on image challenge but hey, Good for bringing it to peeps attention, it was good in a very sad way. Im gonna give my cat extra hugs tonight....*boo-hoo*
(bROKEN aRROW PUA HVI Master, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 17:50, closed)

have you not read Spanky's
stories??
(Kip, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 23:48, closed)

and this is why i won't have animals
i know i'm too selfish and forgetful to care for them properly, so why should i put them through shit for no reason?
( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 17:52, closed)

Fuck's sake
I really wish I hadn't put purple, non-waterproof mascara on today, it's just run down my face like beetroot juice due to the fact that I'm sat in my office silently blubbing my eyes out at that.

*goes to bathroom to attempt to scrub face*
(Rakky (forgot her password) The muffin maverick, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 18:05, closed)

This does beg the question..
Why women buy mascara that ISN'T waterproof?

Strikes me, that for such an emotional breed, buying mascara that isn't waterproof is a false economy.
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 18:09, closed)

utterly
heartbreaking. being a dog owner, recently seperated from my ex, I just hope that my dog does not feel like this ever. She is and always will be the most special thing in my life. Hopefully we have got the balance right with her.
(Purpledoris I've got afeckin' job, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 18:12, closed)

My Dog Albie is 3 now...
& I'm his 3rd owner. How anyone could ever want to get rid of this big wrinkly faced retard is beyond me, I wouldn't give him up because of a marriage split, & I wouldn't give him up for a new flat, these fuckers did, & it's their loss, I bloody love him.
(Dr Fishfinger Want's to see a fat man give a tit wank, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 18:22, closed)

I've read this many many times
I'll come clean. I work in this industry. Its me that has to do the "final job". Its not nice. In fact its extremely upsetting at times. I go to the dog pound each week, hoping each time that they will say that there are "none to go". This last year has been pretty bad with up to 5 a week.
I actually think that "no kill" shelters actually increase the likelihood of this occurrence (because it legitimises dog dumping). The simple fact of the matter is that local councils will only pay for so long and the charities must pick up the tab for any longer stays.
The real issue is the fact that it is way too easy to acquire a pet and they are treated as a disposable commodity. Unfortunately (and I see this all too often) owners can be extremely irresponsible towards their pets. Thankfully the vast majority of pet owners are better than this and my experience is generally positive.
I sometimes wonder that if those "dumping" their pet were to see that pet put down (whilst still healthy), whether they would be quite so keen.
Apologises for the lack of amusement but its not an amusing issue soz.
(gearanach #wankwankwank, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 18:48, closed)

Yes...and no
First, thanks for doing your job. It's an awful one, but at least it's not a death from abuse, starvation, or neglect.

Secondly, "no-kill" shelters can help--or hurt. Here's a link to PAWS Chicago, which has kept track of recorded euthanasias in the Chicago area for over ten years. Although PAWS is "no-kill", because they've put so much emphasis on a hugely successfull spay-neuter program, and worked on making the problem of pet overpopulation more noticeable to the public they've really reduced the numbers. They also take a lot of animals from "kill" shelters which have simply run out of room:

www.pawschicago.org/about-paws-chicago/mission/

The numbers are still horrendous, but they're far, far better than they were even a few years ago.
(herbivorous, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 19:09, closed)

I have a bit of an issue with no kill shelters to be brutally honest. Some of the dogs I've seen in shelters have been kept caged for too long and have developed behavioural issues as a result
which unfortunately no amount of training and TLC will correct. It happens in cats too, but not as often for some reason and it's always devastating to see. Sometimes the more humane thing to do is to euthanise.
( fuck shit up the best you never had, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 23:54, closed)

Totally and completely true
That's why the good ones, like the organization above, either work extensively with fostering, so the animals have long-term "homes" until adoption, or they're like PAWS, which has developed an interesting no-cage shelter. There's also a cat organization near my home which has a large, old house that they've split into different sections--each type of cat gets to live in its own section (Kittens, seniors, ill/weak animals, etc.)

There are a lot of stupid people that just say "OMG THE KITTEHS SHOULDN'T DIE!", but there are also a lot of intelligent folks that really strive to provide decent quality of life.

I honestly don't think it's feasible, yet, to have nothing but "no-kill" shelters, but I do like to reward the ones that do it well.
(herbivorous, Fri 5 Mar 2010, 15:27, closed)

Wipes nose on sleeve
:(
(insomniac-surfer oh go on then, just this once, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 18:51, closed)

That's lovely
and depressing at the same time. Think I'll go give my dog a belly rub.

I'm off to Youtube to find a clip of Fry's dog in Futurama- a similar story of canine devotion.
( uberdeity Wondered why Owen Lars knew of the term "hell" on, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 21:31, closed)

Fry's dog
Here you go

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uU7-X0iHes

Click for the original story too, reminds me how lucky my auntie & uncles dog was. Originally she was brought into the family when my cousin was in her teens, but since then she went to uni and moved out. They kept that loveable pooch regardless of the change to the household for over a decade and doted on her as they always had done. When they went away for a while (my other cousin lives in New Zealand) they always made sure either I or someone else stayed in the house to look after her right up until the end.
(Mmmmminty all the beatles are aliens except for George, Fri 5 Mar 2010, 22:38, closed)

Great
Lovely, now I am bawling my eyes out at work!
(Magrat rockin' your undies since, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 22:03, closed)

Cheers Hun.
*goes to hug the dog, but can't cause she got put to sleep three years ago (she was 18), tries to find the cat........ nope.... Fish'll have to do.
(Kip, Thu 4 Mar 2010, 23:29, closed)

And here I was
thinking the dog was getting a home at the end until i read 'tourniquet' and the penny dropped.
( thyrf as in turf, but not, Fri 5 Mar 2010, 0:51, closed)

My dog will be waiting at the gate for me to get home from work today, as he always does. You can see in his face he's so excited to see me - I'll give him a extra tummy rub tonight.
(Snabblim Dropfritt, Fri 5 Mar 2010, 8:44, closed)

I have 4 cats
all from rescue centres (long boring story about why I have so many which I won't go in to here). Would love a dog but have to be responsible as I live on my own & couldn't take a dog to work, plus the cats (who will be given even more affection than usual this evening as a result of this post) would probably move out of their own accord if I did.

I don't understand why people go to puppy farms etc when there are so many dogs in rescue places that are in need of homes. Plus people don't think things through before getting a pet - yes they will puke on your duvet, require lots of money being spent on jabs, annoy you sometimes when you're trying to read/wank/cook/sleep/have a shit (or any combination of these) so think before you get a pet.
(lkjshaglkasjdhglkhjz lkcvl; g;aodh;owih, Fri 5 Mar 2010, 11:09, closed)

you fucker!
I've just had to rehome my beautiful dog due to a marriage breakdown and me moving to a flat. This has made me struggle for composure at my desk in a very open plan office. She's gone to a great home with a young couple and they keep me updated, but she got me through a lot and I'd had her from 7 weeks old. Beautifully written and far far too sad.
(mr_spongmonkey, Fri 5 Mar 2010, 11:31, closed)

Holy fuck I'm not reading all that
summarise please
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Fri 5 Mar 2010, 12:22, closed)

Just a dog...
From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog," or, "that's a lot of money for just a dog." They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a dog."

Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog." Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog," but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog," and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "just a dog," then you will probably understand phases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise." "Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. "Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.

Because of "just a dog" I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.

"Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog" but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a human."

So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog." just smile, because they "just don't understand."
( ogwen69 has returned from Reddit, Sat 6 Mar 2010, 21:18, closed)

cheers
just made me finish a very happy day by crying. don't have a dog, but have a lovely cat who's got me through so much, so gave him a huge cuddle, told him I love him, then got into a playfight with him. i'm a soppy shit.
(ratthingbazzterd, Sun 7 Mar 2010, 22:36, closed)